How managing the ups and downs of studying abroad leads to inner growth - with Livia in Denmark

In this episode, my guest Livia talks about her early upbringing and how her parents empowered her at an early age to go abroad.  She went to an international camp in Finland at the age of eleven, language camps in Malta and Ireland, and at the age of 16 she moved to Argentina as an exchange student for 11 months. Further down the episode, she talks about why studying in Italy wasn't for her and what led her to study in Denmark. As a result, she shared her challenges, frustrations but also the perks of living, studying, and working in Denmark. Finally, she uncovers high cultural differences between Denmark and her home country and gives valuable advice to the listeners who want to go abroad, too.
 
Listen to this episode if you want to learn:

• How to improve your language skills by attending language camps at an early age
• That it's hard to move abroad but why it's worth it
• How to overcome pushback for moving abroad from society
• How and why you should study in Denmark
• How to get paid for studying
• Why you shouldn't be in constant contact with family and friends when moving abroad

These are my favorite quotes from the episode: 

• "I definitively did not expect it to be as different from the Italian culture given its proximity" (29.18 min)
• "I've definitely become more open than I would have ever been if I had stayed in my hometown or home country" (43.18 min)
• "Abroad has become much closer to home than we used to think" (39.50 min)
• "In actuality, you can't fall behind if you're not running the same race" (45.26 min)
• "You can do so much more than you think you are capable of!" (46.55 min)

Do you have any questions, tips for improvement, or you're seeking more inspiration for moving abroad? Then follow me on: IG & TikTok: @chrigerdes and YouTube: Beyond-an-ordinary-life
If you like this podcast, then please hit the subscribe button and give me a rating or review. This helps more than you know to get this podcast out to like-minded people who want to learn how to move abroad, too! I appreciate your help a lot!

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Livia’s Journey abroad
• 2:56 Why she went to an International camp in Finland
• 4:22 How she improved her English skills in language camps on Malta and Spain
• 5:21 How she studied at a school in Argentina at the age of 16
• 5:52 How she gained work experience abroad working as a Spa Receptionist on Lanzarote
• 6:26 Why she decided to study abroad in Denmark
• 8:05 Why she faced pushback from society for wanting to go to Argentina
• 9:29 Why she was struggling with moving abroad whilst being in a relationship
• 13:33 Why studying abroad is a great experience and a time of loneliness at the same time
• 17:00 The benefits of studying in Denmark
• 17:30 How to get paid for studying in Denmark
• 21:25 The truths about finding a student job in Denmark
• 26:30 The ups and downs about studying in Denmark
• 40:24 Why not to neglect the social life when studying abroad
• 43:10 How Livia grew through her experience abroad
• 44:26 Why you shouldn’t be constantly talking to family and friends at home