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Quiero un Panino con Cheese
Ever tried answering the question “Where are you from?” and gave a 10-minute monologue? Ever caught yourself switching between three languages in the middle of a sentence? Ever wondered what home really means when you’ve had more than one?
If so, welcome to Quiero un Panino con Cheese, the podcast for parents, kids, and families living the beautiful chaos of multicultural life.
Hosted by Gaia Striano and Hazel Swayne, two moms who have raised children across borders, this show explores the joys and challenges of Third Culture Kids—kids who grow up between cultures, languages, and identities.
Quiero un Panino con Cheese
When Going Home Gets Tough with Annegret Bertsch, CPC
After years of living abroad, returning home might seem like the easy part—but for many, it’s the hardest transition of all. In this episode, we dive deep into the often overlooked phenomenon of reverse culture shock—what it is, why it hits harder than expected, and how to navigate it with more awareness and compassion.
We’re thrilled to welcome Annegret Bertsch, a solution-focused coach certified through Erickson International, with a background in Mathematics and English. Annegret has lived in across Europe, America, and Asia, and recently repatriated to Germany after years abroad.
Together, we explore powerful questions, including:
- What exactly is reverse culture shock, and what commonly triggers it?
- How long does it take to truly feel “at home” again?
- Why are the expectations of those around us so different once we’re back?
- How do identity, language, and even pronouns shape our re-entry experience?
- What are some practical tools we can implement to ease the adjustment of going back home?
Whether you’re preparing to return home or supporting someone who is, this conversation is packed with valuable insights to help you better understand and navigate the emotional complexities of coming home.
You can find Annegret on Instagram, on LinkedIn and at Coaching Because
Please hit the follow button and enter our crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as we open up about our personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe solo, or whatever gets you moving!