In this heartfelt episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford chats with Brigitte Muller, a South African marketing strategist and long-term expat living in Tampa, Florida. They delve into the complexities of expat life, from the economic realities that drive difficult moves, to the richness and challenges of adapting to life in a new culture, grappling with grief from afar, and the deep sense of purpose that keeps expats motivated.
Key Topics Covered
1. Brigitte’s Expat Journey:
Brigitte shares her decision to leave South Africa due to economic uncertainty and concerns for long-term security. She candidly speaks about the heartbreak of leaving a beloved homeland and the laborious process of immigrating to the US, including the emotional and practical hurdles she and her partner faced on arrival.
2. Finding Reward in a New Land:
Despite the struggles, Brigitte discusses the rewards of her move: better economic opportunities, access to travel, and, eventually, US citizenship—unlocking newfound freedom and ease of mobility around the world.
3. Navigating Grief and Distance:
The group explores the unique grief that expats face when losing loved ones from afar—compounded by financial, logistical, and emotional obstacles. Brigitte shares her experiences and the painful reality of being unable to return home for important events.
4. Coping Strategies and Maintaining Connection:
Brigitte and Tanya discuss how intentional communication and setting aside time for meaningful connections with friends and family back home can help mitigate the guilt and regret that distance can cause. They touch on the importance of creating a “rainy day fund” for emergencies and embracing rituals that keep them connected to their roots.
5. Living with Purpose as an Expat:
Brigitte reflects on “the price of expat life” and describes how her passion for supporting South Africans at home—by hiring them in her digital marketing business—fuels her daily life. Purpose, she explains, balances the intensity and emotional highs and lows inherent in expat living.
6. Advice for Expat Listeners:
Brigitte encourages expats suffering from distance and grief to find local communities around shared passions, facilitating connection, belonging, and a sense of home in their new environment.
Contact Brigitte:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigettemuller/
https://www.youtube.com/@brigettemullerxdigital
https://www.facebook.com/brigette.muller/
Memorable Quotes
- “The American dream is a real thing. You work hard, you really can make a good living for yourself.” Brigitte Muller
- “The price of anything is the amount of life you are willing to pay for it.” Henry David Thoreau
- “I own it with everything in me… I listen to the music, I seek out the food, I seek out people to speak to just to get that taste of home for a minute.” Brigitte Muller
Home is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!
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