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Almost Local
Kind Conversations about embracing Life Abroad; Honest reflections of expat life, one coffee and story at a time. Read more in our Journal at www.almost-local.com
Maria’s ‘Almost Local’ podcast tackles something many of us experience but rarely discuss—the complex process of making a foreign country truly feel like home. Maria creates space for both the vulnerability and resilience that shape the immigrant journey. Thank you, Maria. Your podcast fills an important gap—giving voice to stories that connect us across cultures and borders. Karina from New Zealand.
Almost Local
EP 5 — Three Moves, One Story Still Writing
A Journey of Three Moves: Finding Home Again
In this episode of Almost Local, host Maria broadcasts from Auckland, New Zealand, sharing her journey of moving between countries.
From her birthplace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to New Zealand, then to the Netherlands, and back to New Zealand again, Maria reflects on how these moves have shaped her and her family. She discusses the challenges of fitting into a new environment, dealing with personal loss, and rediscovering oneself.
Maria also invites listeners to join the Almost Local community for more stories and support in navigating life abroad.
🎒 Grab your free Little Expat Workbook – your pocket guide to navigating expat life with more clarity and confidence! [Download it here]
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🎙️ Wanna be part of the crew?
Got a voice, a story, or just a love for mics and meaningful chats? You could co-host an episode with Maria or share your journey on the blog! Slide into our DMs or visit almost-local.com to pitch your idea.
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Welcome back to Almost Local. I'm Maria, your host, and I'm broadcasting from beautiful Auckland New Zealand, specifically from the lovely sun headers, my new home. If this is your first time here, a warm welcome. Homeless local is a vibrant community for anyone exploring and navigating life abroad. Whether you are navigating the apps and downs or both of expert life, or you're just trying to find your footing in a new country, you are not alone. Many of us have left familiar places behind, and I really hope this space brings connection and support as you curve out your own story. Today's lucky number is three. Three moves, three years, three versions of me. Let me walk you through my recent journey from Argentina. To New Zealand, to the Netherlands, and back to New Zealand. Where I'm at the moment, and this isn't my first moving, I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but my parents moved to Mar Plata Rio in Brazil. Mar Plata again, and Buenos Aires I thought. This is it. I'll finally be a Portia, but life had other plans for me. 2016 New Zealand. My kids were three and five. They were always climbed into my legs. I was needed constantly. It was pre COVID and I was a very different person back then. 2022, the Netherlands. After Lockdowns after loss, my travel business had pause. My dad had passed and I hadn't seen him for three years. I didn't get to say goodbye. It was a quite kind of a heartbreak. 2025 back to New Zealand. The kids are teenagers now. They barely need me, except, well for rides and wifi and I'm not entirely sure who I am here anymore. This is a new chapter, a new me. I'm learning it all again, rediscovering, not just this place. But myself, three moves. One story still being written. Episode number five. Today is all about coming home yet again and what it really means to find your place in the world, even when that place has changed. And you have to, if you want to read more stories, connect or help grow our community. Visit our website, almost local.com, or follow us on Instagram at Almost Local. Thank you so much for listening to this new episode of Almost Local. I am keeping them short so that I can introduce you. Step by step and little by little to this, new episode in my life, and introducing you to the almost local community. In the next episodes, I will be sharing a bit more about life, in New Zealand where I'm actually, Living at the moment. It's been only two months since our recent move from Europe. So I will be sharing more in the coming episodes and I will of course have, other guests, interviewing and chatting about their own experiences, navigating life abroad. So. If you want to be part of the community, you can follow us on Instagram and read our blog posts at, our website, almost local.com. Thank you for listening, and I'm going to enjoy my morning coffee.