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
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 decided to study in Malaysia and why it is the complete opposite to Denmark
- What to consider when planning an exchange semester (e.g., pre-approval, applying for monetary support and grants etc.)
- How not to pay tuition fees
- What is important to consider when studying abroad in Malaysia
- Uncovering the cultural differences in Malaysia and the biggest differences between studying in Denmark and Malaysia
- How to make national and international friends abroad
- Lessons learned and the mistakes you can prevent when studying abroad
These are my favorite quotes of the episode:
- "Be culturally aware. Be aware of how your culture is different from theirs and be very accepting of that it's different and it's fine."
- "I thought I did my research but apparently I should have researched more."
- "They always have ladies night. Every single night is ladies night."
- "Bite your tongue. Like choose your battles! Is it really that important?"
- "At least at my exams I noticed that a lot of people would try to cheat. I saw one guy put Post-it notes underneath his shoes"
- "You're going to go in there. You're gonna have an open mind and just be very social and talk to everyone and just introduce yourself. You don't have anyone now. You have no one to lean against."
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!