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
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 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.
Listen to this episode if you want to learn:
- Why it's so important to do your research on where to study abroad
- How to find an apartment and a job abroad
- The pro's and con's for doing a 1-year Masters program in the UK
- Why it's so important to socialize with other students within the first weeks
- Why studying abroad changes the trajectory of your life and opens new opportunities, possibilities and ways of thinking to you
These are my favorite quotes of the episode:
- 07:12:“I was like, 'oh yeah, I will have a Masters by the time I am 21' - and I don’t know why I was very excited about that. It was just cool to me. Now I look back and who cares.. I mean, yes, I got a good job. If I had gone back, I would have probably chosen something that was a little bit longer. Because by the time I have the energy and time to have settled in the country and the environment, my course was almost over.
- 18:00: "I feel like when you go outside, you meet people who are doing completely different things which you never ever thought was even possible, and then you’re like “this is so cool”. You going to Kuala Lumpur, for example, that’s really like cool to me.
- 22.24: "I think I would say do your research on where you want to go. Id say really do your research on where you want to go and not just think this country is nice, or this university is nice. But you need to look at everything. You need to look at the people, the country, the language, the education, the degree you’ll get, the friends you think you can make. You need to look at it holistically."
- 23:21: "Even just something like socializing. I didn’t realize the need for socializing. I am a bit introverted. So to me, I did not realize the need that in the first few weeks of college I need to like socialize as much as possible. That actually makes an impact on the rest of your stay there, because those friends will be with you pretty much throughout - and I didn’t really realize that."
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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