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!
Beyond An Ordinary Life
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 longer amount of time in Vietnam helped her learn a lot about herself, but also about her two friends that accompanied her.
Listen to this episode if you want to learn:
- The importance of setting expectations with travel buddies to reduce conflict
- The perks of travelling with friends vs. solo travelling
- How to experience other cultures the best way possible
- How to juggle planning a trip vs. adjusting to unexpected changes
- What you can learn from travelling
- Vietnam travel tips that you need to remember
Nhi and I met during our exchange semester in Malaysia, studying at the University of Kuala Lumpur. In the next episode, we will talk about our experiences studying in Malaysia as well.
These are my favorite quotes of the episode:
- "In the end it's the memories that you can never get back, or it's just an experience that will be forever in your memory."
- "A talk before you go travelling together and just talk about your expectations."
- "..Because I thought I knew these people so well and then when you get there it's like everything annoys you.."
- "Of course I am going to remember that moment as something positive. I am not gonna think back about all the times we had to go around in the middle of the night to find a hostel.."
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!