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
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 Masters in the UK (pre-Brexit) instead of the US. Learn how cultural differences between India and the UK challenged her perceptions of punctuality, and why it was difficult for her to move from a collectivistic to an individualistic country.
This is part 1 out of 2.
Listen to this episode if you want to learn:
- Difference between collectivistic and individualistic countries
- Why you should not only try to make friends from your country of origin
- What a GMAT is and where you need it to study abroad
- Why Aadya thinks that British people are super polite
- What a cultural melting pot is
- Why it is important to make friends with internationals and locals and not only people from your hometown
These are my favorite quotes of the episode:
- 14:34:"When he left I was actually kinda overwhelmed and sad because I hadn’t been away from home before."
- 17:41:"We were actually making jokes even when the pandemic started because for physical meetings every time someone was late they’ll be like “oh traffic” and then I was like what are you gonna say now “internet traffic” for virtual meetings?"
- 18:46:“I think just they way they talk is super polite and I loved it, I absolutely loved it”
- 25:12:"I love being exposed to different cultures. I don’t want to be someone who just only hangs out with other Indian people or other people from the US when I go somewhere new. Because I think that defeats the purpose."
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
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