Beyond An Ordinary Life
Welcome to Beyond An Ordinary Life! I'm Christina Gerdes, your German host and a seasoned expat who has lived in countries such as the USA, Mexico, Malaysia, and Denmark for over five years. Through my travels, I've become more culturally aware, developed language skills, made international friends, and explored some of the most stunning places on earth.Are you someone who dreams of going abroad and experiencing new cultures? Then this podcast is for you! I aim to help you overcome the common barriers to moving abroad, with informative discussions and tips from my guests who are also experienced expats. From why you should go abroad, to the various options you have, potential challenges you may face, and how to overcome them - I've got you covered.Whether you're planning to move abroad, or just curious about the expat life, this podcast offers valuable insights and practical advice that can help you take the leap. Don't let fear hold you back any longer - it's time to explore the world and all that it has to offer. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @chrigerdes, and start living Beyond An Ordinary Life!
Episodes
29 episodes
Cracking the Danish Code: Expert Advice for Internationals living in Denmark - with International Community Odense
So, let's talk about the rollercoaster ride of moving to Denmark – from the headaches of Danish bureaucracy to battling the dark winter blues. Believe me, I've been there myself and I am still learning about new coping strategies after 5 1/2 ye...
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47:08
Bali unzensiert und ohne Filter: Exklusive Einblicke in Julia's 4-monatiges Experiment als Digital Nomad - mit Julia Litzlbauer
Heute sprechen wir offen und ehrlich mit Julia über ihre Erfahrungen als Digitale Nomadin auf Bali. Von den anfänglichen Zweifeln bis zur Selbstständigkeit und dem umstrittenen Reverse Cultural Shock – das wird spannend!Themen, in die...
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54:30
Mein Leben im Ausland hat meinen 30. Geburtstag versaut!
Meine Einladung an dich unten Mein Leben im Ausland hat meinen 30. Geburtstag versaut! Zumindest wenn du mein 20-jähriges Ich gefragt hättest.Damit willkommen zu meinem neuen Podcast-Format! In dieser Episode erkunden wir d...
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Episode 26
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12:46
Job Hunt Mastery: The Secret Sauce for Landing a Dream Job in Denmark - with Kate Dahl
Find a job as an international in Denmark is hard. But fear not – Kate has uncovered the secret sauce for success. Tune in to discover: Kate's captivating journey to Denmark for love. The inspiration behind Kate's...
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Episode 25
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32:44
Arrived By Accident, Stayed On Purpose: Mariola's experience as an International Entrepreneur in Denmark
Today, we're diving into Mariola's wild ride from accidentally landing in Denmark to rocking it as an international entrepreneur. It's a rollercoaster of life, culture, and business in the heart of Denmark. 1. Background ...
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56:04
Ostfriesische Heimat im Herzen, Ferne im Kopf: Die emotionalen Achterbahnfahrten meiner Auslandsabenteuer für mich und meine Familie
Kann man Familienmensch sein und im Ausland leben? Ein Balanceakt zwischen schlechtem Gewissen und seinen Träumen im Ausland folgen, um sich selbst treu zu bleiben.Das ist die wohl persönlichste Podcastepisode, die es je auf meinem Podca...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:02:10
A Hollywood Dream: An Actor Moving Abroad with No Job, No Apartment, No Language Skills, but a Dream at the age of 37
From the movie theater to my podcast - meet Carlo Loiudice. Join this inspiring journey with Carlo as he shares the incredible story of his leap from Southern Italy to the vibrant city of Berlin 12 years ago. Imagine moving to a new country wit...
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Episode 22
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1:06:06
Erasmus Plus für Azubis: DIE Möglichkeit, voll finanzierte und organisierte Auslandserfahrung zu sammeln
Sophie, eine 23-jährige Azubi aus Deutschland, nimmt uns in dieser fesselnden Podcast-Episode mit auf eine aufregende Reise in die Welt von "Erasmus Plus für Azubis". Erfahrt, wie sie die Möglichkeit ergriff, voll finanzierte und organisierte A...
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45:01
In the Same Boat: Growing through the Adventures & Hardships of Living Abroad
Join us on this captivating episode as we explore Marina's extraordinary journey of self-discovery. From overcoming shyness to embracing the unknown, Marina's experiences living and working abroad will inspire you. Discover her thrilling advent...
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Episode 20
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46:45
Mastering the Expat Journey: Unlocking the Secrets to Career Success and Personal Development Abroad - with Expat Coach Jessica Morari
Embark on a captivating discussion as Jessica Morari, an expat and career coach, joins us to explore the remarkable experiences and insights on the transformative power of living abroad. In this thought-provoking podcast episode, Jessica shares...
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Episode 19
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1:04:59
Wanderlust Diaries: The Best of Year One - Celebrating 365 Days of Adventures Abroad
In this special anniversary episode, join me as we revisit the most insightful moments and memorable highlights from all 17 episodes of the past year. Get ready to listen to the most insightful learnings about life abroad, and thought-provoking...
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Episode 18
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38:23
Solo Travel & Cultural Immersion in Kuala Lumpur: Lessons from a Danish Student's Study Abroad Journey
In this episode, join Jasan, a Danish student, as he takes us through his exchange semester in Kuala Lumpur. From feeling lost in the process of preparation to the transformative power of solo travel, Jasan shares captivating insights that shap...
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Episode 17
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1:07:31
Small Town Girl to World Traveler: One Woman's Story of Pursuing Her Passions Abroad and Navigating Regrets
In this episode, I share my personal experience of leaving my small hometown to pursue a life abroad. I faced resistance from my family, and left behind my friends and a long-term relationship to follow my dreams of exploring the world.T...
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Episode 16
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8:14
The Ultimate Guide to Navigating Expat Life in Switzerland: Insights from an Expat Coach Part 2
Welcome to part 2 of our interview with Mariana on this episode of the podcast. In this episode, we discuss some practical tips on how to determine where to move and budget your move. Mariana shares her experience of financing life in Switzerla...
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Episode 15
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34:18
The Ultimate Guide to Navigating Expat Life in Switzerland: Insights from an Expat Coach Part 1
Join me as I delve into the inspiring story of Mariana, a brave expat who left Portugal in 2018 for a new life in Edinburgh. Discover the challenges she faced and how she persevered through the struggles of settling down abroad. In this first p...
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Episode 14
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32:32
Cultural differences and language barriers: The truth about how to find a job in Denmark as a foreigner - Chrysa in Denmark Part 2
Today, my guest Chrysa is sharing her journey moving from Greece to Denmark. She uncovers the truth about finding a job as a foreigner and why she thinks it's important to leave your home base to move abroad. Listen to this episode i...
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Episode 13
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36:27
Overcoming pushback from family and how to survive the first week abroad – Chrysa in Romania and Turkey Part 1
Today, my guest Chrysa is sharing her journey abroad with us, leaving Greece to study in Romania. She also shares her experience being paid to doing a European Voluntary Service in Turkey for a few months and how you can do it, too. <...
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Episode 12
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24:08
How traveling can turn your life around: from working as a police social worker to becoming a Reiki & Sound healing teacher - Isabel in India
Today, my guest Isabel is sharing her journey going from a police social worker to becoming a Reiki and Sound healing teacher in India. Learn how she was able to find her real passion and purpose in life through traveling in countries like Bali...
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51:22
Top #1 thing to consider when studying abroad and why it's critical to do proper research - Aadya in the UK (Part 2)
In Part 1 in episode 9, my guest Aadya shares her story of living abroad in the United States of America during her childhood and moving ten times to different cities due to her Dad's jobs. Find out why she loved it and why she decided to do he...
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Episode 10
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32:29
Cultural clashes & mistakes to avoid when making friends while studying abroad - with Aadya in the UK (Part 1)
In this episode, my guest Aadya shares her story of living abroad in the United States of America during her childhood and moving ten times to different cities due to her Dad's jobs. Find out why she loved it and why she decided to do her Maste...
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Episode 9
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36:27
Erasmus exchange and relationships: how to survive a long-distance relationship abroad - with Alina in Belgium
Another way of spending time abroad is doing an ERASMUS semester abroad. In this episode, my guest Alina and I speak about her exchange semester in Belgium and why Belgium wasn't her first choice initially. Listen to this episode if ...
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Episode 8
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39:00
Tips on how to take a gap year to travel after high school - with Laura in New Zealand and Australia
After graduating from high school, my guest Laura and her friend decided that they wanted to travel together to New Zealand and Australia. In this episode, Laura shares the perceptions of taking a gap year in Denmark to follow their dreams, as ...
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Episode 7
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23:10
The ultimate guide for going to an international boarding school at the age of 16 - with Carina in the UK (German)
Before starting high school, Carina wanted to gain experience abroad by going to a boarding school in England at the age of 16. Listen to this episode if you want to learn:Why you should visit the school before select...
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Episode 6
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18:56
How to plan and navigate your exchange semester like a pro - with Nhi in Malaysia
Following up the episode where Nhi talks about her travels in Vietnam, this episode deals with her experience studying at the Universiti of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Listen to this episode if you want to learn:Why Nhi...
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Episode 5
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1:03:18
Bye schoolbag, hello backpack: how traveling abroad can test your friendships - with Nhi in Vietnam
Another way of spending time abroad is travelling in a country for a significant amount of time. So did my guest Nhi who is talking about her experiences of travelling to Vietnam for 2 months after graduating from high school. Travelling for a ...
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Episode 4
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46:17