Living Abroad in Okinawa, Japan featuring Erwin and Tara Lewis

Living Abroad in Okinawa, Japan featuring Erwin and Tara Lewis

Erwin, Tara, and I go way back – we all met in college at NC State University. Like Sean and myself, Erwin and Tara are another married couple who were in the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity together. We definitely have that and a love for adventure in common. I think that I see an international double date in our future!

photo of Okinawa
I am really excited to share about their move abroad to Okinawa Prefecture, Japan for two main reasons:
  • They currently live there (all of my previous Expat Chats so far have been with people who moved abroad and have since moved back).
  • They have both contributed their perspectives – it’s a two in one!

Erwin works abroad as an aerospace structural engineer and Tara as a merchandise manager. As a couple, they also have some really unique hobbies and special interests ranging from scuba diving, dragon boat, hiking, taking cooking classes, traveling, trying new things, meeting new people, and eating their way across the globe.

photo of Tara and Erwin on Miyagi Island
Hi Tara and Erwin! Here they are on the beach on Miyagi Island
Yes, yes, yes to trying new things! Let’s dive in (see what I did there?!) to their adventures living abroad in Okinawa!
scuba diving at the Sunabe Seawall
Erwin and Tara Scuba Diving at the Sunabe Seawall

Original Home Location: New Bern, North Carolina, United States

New Home Location: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

About the Move to Okinawa, Japan

When did you make the move?
Erwin and Tara: We made the move to Okinawa at the beginning of 2019. Erwin arrived in January 2019 with our cat (Dexter) due to work requirements and Tara arrived in March 2019 in order to secure transportation for our two dogs (Peter Barker and Einstein).

Tell me about your experience moving your pets.
Erwin and Tara: Getting all the animals over to Japan was probably the most stressful part of the move because of the required rabies vaccines and 180 day quarantine period specific for Japan as well as securing transportation.

photo of a cat prepared for international travel
Dexter prepared for the flight!
photo of Erwin and Tara's pets
Dexter, Peter Barker, and Einstein in their new home.

Why did you decide to make the move? / What motivated you?
Erwin and Tara: We moved because Erwin had the opportunity for a promotion at work. This position was something that he had talked about for a while and was the type of engineering that he loved doing. During the summer of 2017, he was given the opportunity to do this exact job for 5 months (April – September) in Okinawa, Japan. During that rotation I was able to come out and stay with him for 3 months and we fell in love with the island, the Okinawa/Japanese culture, and the lifestyle associated with the job. When the opportunity to move out to Okinawa “permanently” (rules limit the amount of time Erwin can hold this position, maximum 5-7 years) presented itself, Erwin competed for it and was selected. We were very excited to return to Okinawa and all the opportunities it offers.

photo of Okinawa heart rock
The heart rock must have been a sign! Seriously, what’s not to love about this photo op?

How many times did you visit your new country and city prior to your move?
Erwin and Tara: We had visited Okinawa just once prior to moving here (April – September 2017 for Erwin, June – September 2017 for Tara) but since we had spent several months here during that trip, it allowed us plenty of time to get to know the island, its culture, and narrow down spots/areas where we would like to live.

How did you break the news to loved ones?
Erwin and Tara: Erwin found out he had gotten the job in July 2018 so we had several months to meet with friends and family prior to leaving. We spent most of that time with as many friends and family as we could and savored a lot of “American” things that we knew we would miss/wouldn’t be able to participate in while in Japan. Both our families were sad that we were moving so far away but were excited for us at the same time. The same with our friends, many of whom have planned trips to come visit us while we are here. We got to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families and friends and met up with some people we hadn’t seen in a while too prior to leaving so while difficult to say goodbye, we didn’t feel rushed doing so.

What was the hardest part of moving / what did you find frustrating during your move?
Erwin: Since my job is associated with the US Military, there was a set process for how to conduct the move; however, since we are civilians and not active duty service members, that process is a bit different so we had to figure out how to do it all. It was a lot of work identifying what paperwork needed to be processed, who needed to be contacted, when stuff needed to be submitted and tons of other things that you don’t even think about until you have to do them (Will my phone plan work overseas? Do I need new bank accounts? What do I need to do to get my pets there? Should I sell or store my American car? Etc.) Also since this was a brand new position that didn’t exist before, we had to be the trail blazers in figuring all of this information out.

MAG-36 Change of Command
MAG-36 Change of Command

Tara: The hardest part of the move for me was giving up my job and becoming unemployed with no job prospects lined up. I am a very career driven person so giving up everything I had worked for the last five years was extremely hard. Another hard part as with most people in our situation is missing my family and friends. We were fortunate enough to only live a few hours drive from both of our parents so not being able to see them over holidays and long weekends is tough. We also had to leave our very tight knit group of friends and not being there for their big life moments (buying homes, having children, etc) has been a challenging thing to go through.

Did you decide to ship your belongings or to store your belongings?
Erwin and Tara: Both, we shipped most of our belongings but since we know we will be returning to the States in a few years we did leave some things behind in storage (items we didn’t want to get damaged or wouldn’t really need over here). Also Japanese homes are much smaller than American ones so all of our stuff from our house in America would not have fit in the house we have now. We also sold and donated several things that we no longer needed before moving.

photo of shipping containers arriving
After months in transit, their household goods arrived!

About their Home in Okinawa, Japan

How did you find your current home?
Erwin and Tara: We found it through a Japanese rental agency in Okinawa after searching for countless hours on Facebook. When Erwin arrived in Okinawa, he stayed in temporary lodging for 2 months and worked with this rental agency to find the house (visited multiple homes and facetimed with Tara at ungodly hours). By the time Tara arrived, he had already moved into the house.

Describe your home – apartment, house, etc:
Erwin and Tara: It is a two story home in a town in Okinawa called Chatan. All the homes in Okinawa are solid concrete to help withstand typhoons and earthquakes. It is about 1300 square feet with three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, good storage space and a spacious backyard and carpark. In Japan they do not have central air so we have an air conditioning unit in every room. We also have three large dehumidifiers that we have to run year round. This house is “Americanized” to appeal to the many Americans who live in Okinawa due to the US military presence here so it is similar to what you would see in a typical American home as opposed to what you would find in a typical Japanese home (kitchen and bathrooms specifically, also much larger than a typical Japanese house). We selected this house because of its location, the backyard, and its size.

photo of Chatan house
Their home in Chatan

Did you buy or rent your current home?
Erwin and Tara: Rent

Lifestyle Abroad in Okinawa, Japan

Why did you choose your current country and specifically, your current city?
Erwin and Tara: Specifically for Erwin’s work, the job was located in Okinawa, Japan. We chose to live in the town of Chatan in Okinawa because it is close to places and restaurants that we frequent as well as essential services and is not a long commute from both our workplaces. It is a short ride to the seawall which is a popular and easy place to scuba dive. We also love Asia and what to learn more about its countries and cultures so when the chance to live in there in a place that is centrally located for travel, we were happy to go.

How long do you plan on living an expat lifestyle?
Erwin and Tara: Several years, Erwin’s job has a maximum limit of 5-7 years before we are required to return to the US.

What have you missed the most about the city that you used to live in?
Erwin and Tara: Our friends and Mexican food.

What was the most surprising thing to you?
Erwin: Since we had been here before for an extended period of time I kind of knew what to expect when we moved here. I guess the most surprising thing about Japan that I have found out so far is how much plastic they use. Everything comes in its own individual wrapper (chopsticks, toothpicks, individual pieces of food) so there is so much plastic trash. The Japanese are super clean so you never really see it in the streets as litter but it’s still a lot of plastic that is bad for the environment.

WOW. This video blew my mind. The Washington Post published a great, informative post about this topic.

Tara: The roads here. It was already a struggle to adjust to driving on the opposite side of the road but a lot of roads here are two way but only large enough for one car at a time. You have to decide who has to back up all the way to the end of the road and try again. I’m also surprised at how different our versions of knowing “a little” of the other language is. I have learned enough Japanese to get by and consider that as knowing “a little”. So basically when I speak I sound like a toddler who is just learning to speak.  When at stores or restaurants if you ask “Do you speak English?” they respond with “Only a little” but can hold an entire conversation fairly well.

What do you love about your current city?
Erwin: Is everything an acceptable answer? In terms of “city” I kind of feel like Okinawa itself is one “city”. Our town of Chatan is nice and has its own things (town mascot, mayor, community centers, etc.) but because Okinawa is so small the towns mostly seem to blend together. As a whole, I love the laid back Okinawa culture, the numerous delicious restaurants near our house, and the sunsets and ocean views.

photo of Chatan town mascot, Chitan
Erwin with the local mascot of the Chatan town, Chitan.

Tara: I love the people here. The entire attitude of Japan is trying to do what is best for everyone not just yourself. For this reason people are extremely friendly here and always willing to help you to the best of their ability which is often when you can’t read a majority of the signs, menus, labels on food in grocery stores, etc.

What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
Erwin: The language. Japanese is hard and while I have been pretty good a picking up languages, learning three alphabets and trying to figure out spoken Japanese has been very challenging. Since there are many Americans here, a lot of people in the area we live in speak English, but I feel like we miss a lot by not being able to read or speak Japanese well.

Tara: The language 100%. I was shocked when I learned that the only way to learn Kanji is just to memorize, and there are over 3000 commonly used characters! (Over 30,000 exist) Learning Hiragana & Katakana was fairly easy but with those two we are basically reading at a elementary school level so we still can’t read most things we encounter. Thank god for Google Translate!

kanji characters photo
Here is a great blog post that teaches you some Kanji characters to help you get around Japan.

What did you have to sacrifice to make living abroad come true?
Erwin: I don’t necessarily feel that it is a “sacrifice” but I am sad that we don’t get to participate in the big events of our good friends and family back in the states (births, weddings, even just dinners together). I certainly don’t have any regrets moving here.

Tara: My job but looking back I don’t regret it. I was working 50-60 hour weeks prior to moving and was missing out on a lot with family and friends. Coming out here has given me the opportunity to step back and see where my real priorities are in life.

Have you ever lived outside of your home country before?
Erwin: I have spent a few months outside the US before either visiting family in the Philippines or when I studied abroad for a summer in Europe, but this is the first time actually living overseas for me.

Tara: Only for a few weeks studying abroad in Europe.

What do you do for fun in your new location?
Erwin: I love to scuba dive, some of the best diving in the world I here in Okinawa. I also have taken up running was well as joining a dragon boat team. I also love trying new restaurants in the area and attending local festivals and other cultural events. During the summer months there is a different festival almost every weekend so there is always something new and exciting to do.

japanese food festival
Japanese Food Festival

Tara: Dragon Boat, Scuba Diving, culture classes, festivals. I want to make the most out of the time I have here because I know a lot of others are not fortunate enough to have this opportunity.

photo on a dragon boat
Erwin and Tara on a dragon boat
Dragon Boat races in Naha
This looks so fun! Dragon Boat races in Naha 

What do you like/dislike about your new location?
Erwin: Honestly, I like most things about Japan. The culture is not centered on the individual like many Western countries so the people are very family and community centered and you can see that in the festivals and everyday interactions with the local population. Okinawa is a beautiful island with a long and interesting history. It is also very conveniently located for travel through Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia. I guess the only real disadvantage is we have to fly everywhere so no road trips.

Tara: I love most things about living on this island. I am in a great location that makes traveling around Asia fairly cheap and simple. The food here is AMAZING. I already mentioned how great the locals are here.  There are always weird new snacks & candy to try. Arcades!

Things I don’t like: Typhoon season, Earthquakes, Humidity, Tiny Roads, Huntsman Spiders, Natto, Floor Toilets

Snapchat photo of a huntsman spider
Huntsman Spider
snapchat photo of a floor toilet
Floor Toilet

What are your favorite spots in the area?
Erwin: There is an area near us called the Sunabe Seawall. It is an excellent scuba diving location and also a great place for walks and runs. There are also several really good restaurants and cafes there and it is one of the best places on the island to catch one of Okinawa’s famous sunsets.

Okinawa sunset
The sunset at Sunabe Seawall

Tara: One of my favorite places to go is called Seaglass Beach. It was a glass dump many years ago making it now a hotspot for beautiful seaglass. It’s a great place to go alone or with my dogs for a few hours to get some sun or to swim around and I always come back with my pockets full of glass and a few other treasures.

seaglass beach seaglass
Some of Tara’s finds from Seaglass Beach

Do you have your own mode of transportation, a car, bike, etc in your new city?
Erwin and Tara: We both have cars, Okinawa is not like the rest of Japan and does not have a good subway or train system so the only real convenient way to get anywhere is to drive. The Japanese drive on the left side of road so it took us a while to get used to that. We also walk a lot more here because there are restaurants, convenience stores and other shops that are close to where we live and we often have to park at central location and walk to an area due to the limited availability of public parking in some areas.

a photo of a Japanese Toyota Funcargo
Erwin’s car, Nozomi the Toyota Funcargo
a photo of a Japanese Honda Fit
Tara’s car, Mochi the Honda Fit

Advice and Benefits of Living an Expat Lifestyle Abroad

Is there any advice or anything that you wished you would have known before your move that you would like to share with someone who may be considering an international move?
Erwin: Overall I felt we were pretty prepared for the move. We did our research, had visited the area before and heard from multiple sources before deciding to move to Japan. Each move is different so I would just encourage everyone to thoroughly research everything and fully understand what your company (if moving for a job) or situation (if moving on your own or through some other program) will provide for you before committing to leaving the US.

Tara: We were very fortunate to have people in similar situations that we could ask questions. There is also a very active Facebook page here for questions where we got a lot of our information. Reach out to as many people or resources as you can, you can never have too much information when it comes to moving internationally. The big thing for us was that we knew we probably wouldn’t have this opportunity in a few years after we started a family so if we wanted to experience it we knew we needed to take the leap.

Are there any items, apps, or tools that you have found to be helpful when navigating your new lifestyle and city?
Erwin and Tara: Google Translate has been a (sometimes hilarious) lifesaver when it comes to navigating Japanese stores and communicating with others who do not speak English. Facebook is a big resource here, a lot of businesses use Facebook Messenger or their Facebook pages to communicate with customers since there is a mix of foreign and Japanese phone numbers and different phone platforms (iPhones vs Android). Message Apps like Line, Whatsapp, and others are also big because of the phone situation as well. I also have an app called Japan Transit Planner for train schedules for when we travel to mainland Japan. Uber is not as popular in Asia but they have an app called Grab that is similar and allows you to find rides. We also use the Sky Scanner & Hopper website to find cheap flights.

google translate
A must have!

Any other recommendations or words of wisdom?
Erwin and Tara: Living overseas is not for everyone. You more than likely won’t be able to visit your friends and families as often as you do now, you won’t have all the items or services that you are used to and depending on where you go you might not be able to communicate as effectively with people as you do now. Really evaluate your goals and what matters to you before deciding to leave for an extended period of time or forever. If it is your cup of tea, and you do move to somewhere different, really try to embrace it. Learn about the culture and participate in it. Learn some of the language (even just basic phrases), the locals with appreciate it, (even if you are bad at it) it shows you are trying. Try things out of your comfort zone and go places you didn’t think you ever would. Eat the local cuisine and then learn the recipes so that you can make it even when you leave. Make memories through experiences and take home the photographs more than buying things. Make the most of it so when it comes time to leave you look back with no regrets.

Is there anything extra that you would like to add?
Erwin and Tara: Always choose the adventure; it also helps if you have an amazing partner to share in that adventure.

asian elephant in Chiang, Thailand
Erwin and Tara’s sense of adventure has led them to exploring many other cities in Japan and Thailand as well during their expat lifestyle. Here they are pictured with an Asian elephant at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

There you have it! Erwin’s job took the couple abroad and you can tell that they are really embracing the culture and loving it. I know that when writing this post, it was hard to not book a flight to Okinawa on the spot! I even managed to stumble upon this list of the 20 Top Things to Do In Okinawa. I hope to be able to visit someday.

However, making a move abroad to a country where they speak another language is challenging and is easily one of the biggest deterrents for someone deciding whether or not to make the move. It’s a good thing that Erwin and Tara were up for the challenge! Tara also expressed the initial difficulty in giving up her job in order to make the move. I know the feeling! But ultimately, the discomfort is worth experiencing another culture and chasing the adventure.

Thank you Erwin and Tara for both taking the time to share your story! You can follow along with Erwin on Instagram at @erwin.lewis and with Tara at @tara_lewis12. Sean and I hope to connect with them abroad once we are able to make our move!

Do you know a couple who is living as an expat abroad? Let me know so that I can feature their story in a future Expat Chat!

The Move Abroad to Solihull, UK featuring Gretta Nance

The Move Abroad to Solihull, UK featuring Gretta Nance

When I heard that Gretta Nance had previously lived abroad in Solihull, UK, I knew that she would be a great person to interview as she always gives honest, transparent feedback.

Gretta Nance is well known in the Raleigh area as the Brand Director for Amelia Aesthetics. Along with the @amelia.aesthetics Instagram account, she is very active on her own personal account, @grettanance. She always tells it as it is and is great at engaging with the community.

Gretta loves traveling (I have found that this is a common theme for people who have lived abroad!) and to this day, her family tries to take at least four trips a year.

So let’s jump right in and hear Gretta’s story about her move abroad to Solihull, UK!

current photo of Gretta Nance
Current photo of Gretta Nance by Pink Owl Photography

Original Home Location Before Living Abroad: Raleigh, NC, USA
Abroad Home Location: Solihull, UK
Current Home Location: Raleigh, NC, USA

About the Move to Solihull, UK

When did you make the move to Solihull, UK?
Gretta: January 2005 the offer was presented to us and by March of the same year we’d rented our house, gotten our Work Visas and were living in the UK!

Why did you decide to make the move? / What motivated you?
Gretta: We’d always known we would have to move around a little bit for our jobs to continue advancing in our careers. One night we started looking at locations that had offices we could actually apply for and found a job opening in the UK. We literally had to Google where that was and what the difference was between the UK, Great Britain, and England was! (still confused lol) 

We truly thought it would be similar to just moving to another East Coast city… I mean, they speak English, how different could it be!? We didn’t have children at the time and thought, let’s at least explore this opportunity.

diagram map of the United Kingdom, Great, Britain, and England
I found this diagram map from brilliantmaps.com to be really helpful in explaining the difference between the United Kingdom, Great, Britain, and England!

How many times did you visit your new country and city prior to your move?
Gretta: The hiring manager in England was also American and we all had some great conversations about the job and his move which made it seem more feasible. Almost immediately they’d booked us flights and accommodations for a 4-day trip. We were embarrassed to tell them we didn’t even has passports! We’d literally never been out of the country! I  remember what a cluster it was to look mature and professional for this interview while scrambling to get emergency passports sent to us in time to actually fly over there for the interview.

We managed to make the 10 hour flight and arrived in Birmingham England in mid-January. In hindsight, I can’t believe we agreed to move there after visiting England in January… what miserable weather! We basically stayed jet-lagged for entire 4 days but really enjoyed the hospitality of the expat couple who were interviewing us. 

Within 4 days we’d accepted the job and actually put an offer on a 2-bedroom ‘semi detached’ house in Solihull (about 20 minutes outside of Birmingham.)

In hindsight, this was an insane move. We had no idea about home ownership in another country or the cost of living! But I was just so excited to really live like a local.

How did you break the news to loved ones?
Gretta: I don’t remember this being incredibly tough. We had planned on being there less than 2 years and we didn’t have children yet. I think some of them were excited to come visit!

What was the hardest part of moving / what did you find frustrating during your move?
Gretta: Our company was very generous with helping with the move, which was amazing. Since they were paying, even though we were moving from a larger American home to a 900 sq ft flat, we (stupidly) moved everything. EVERYTHING. What was I thinking? I  even bought new furniture before we moved because I  knew it was cheaper in the US. They fill a shipping container and it takes 2-3 months to cross the ocean and go through customs before we would see it all again. So we had to pack for living out of a suitcase for a solid 3 months. Not easy.

It was in a great little village though, which was so cool to me. We had a pub, grocery store, Indian restaurant and even a hair salon within walking distance. I  do miss the village mentality England has.

Did you decide to ship your belongings or to store your belongings?
Gretta: We actually couldn’t move into our new home until 2 months after we’d arrived in the country. So the company put us up in a 1-bedroom efficiency in the city center where we lived out of our suitcases. In March. In England. I seriously think I lived the first 2 months in a fog of ‘what the hell have we done?’ Knowing our stuff would arrive eventually and we’d be able to move into our own home kept me going!

Did you have any pets? If so, did they make the move with you?
Gretta: We had 2 dogs. Lo and behold, the UK doesn’t have a rabies problem and wants to keep it that way. At the time they required all dogs coming in from the US to be quarantined for 3 months! This was a MASSIVE debacle and very stressful to get someone to keep them for us at home and go through the documentation process of multiple vaccinations for the chance the could be turned away at the airport or not let into the country. I had to fly back and get them and turn right back around and fly them back with me. I had read horror stories of animals dying in cargo on long flights (they were 14-lb rat terriers) and it was one of the most stressful and exhausting days of my life. All went well though and they adapted to UK living well.

gov.uk logo
The UK Government website has great step by step instructions for bringing your cats and dogs into the UK.

About her Home in Solihull, UK

How did you find your home when you lived abroad?
Gretta: I  so wish we’d just rented instead of purchased. I had NO idea of the town and where I’d actually WANT to live before pulling the trigger. I  think we maybe toured 3 homes in a single afternoon and I  just picked the best one. They were all so different than what I was used to! The cost of living was so high, even for something we thought was so expensive everything was soooo tiny! Tiny kitchens, postage stamp sized backyards and no closets were the norm. 

Describe the home – apartment, house, etc:
Gretta: We paid 250,000GBP at the time for our 900 sq ft townhouse. It had a ‘conservatory’ on the back, which is pretty common over there. I guess we could call it a sunroom. It had the tiniest backyard but with 2 little dogs, that was all we needed! It came without appliances (which apparently is common) so we immediately had to buy a fridge, washer dryer, tv, microwave, etc. Everything was so small! We quickly realized as well that it could only accommodate a combination washer dryer. LIKE TOGETHER. You put your clothes in, it washes them and then dries them – all in one machine. It was in the kitchen and so strange.

photo of a washer dryer
A washer dryer in the kitchen folks! Here is a list of the best washer dryers.

Lifestyle Abroad in Solihull, UK

Why did you choose the country and specifically, the city that you moved to?
Gretta: We knew absolutely nothing about the area so just took recommendations from the expat-couple we’d met. They helped us choose the ‘suburb’ of Birmingham called Solihull – which is where they lived.

How long did you live abroad?
Gretta: We ended up being there for just shy of 4 years!

What have you missed the most about living abroad?
Gretta: I  absolutely miss the ease and convenience of traveling so easily throughout Europe. We could snag a 45GBP flight to Rome or Paris or Spain and be there in an hour or 2. It’s necessary when you need sunshine!

photo of Gretta in Rome
When traveling to Rome is that easy, I’d be seizing every opoortunity to go too!

I do miss the ease of walking. Everything was so compact you could truly walk almost anywhere. I lost almost 15 lbs the first year just due to walking so much!

What was the most surprising thing to you when you moved there and then when you moved back?
Gretta: Everything felt so hard the first 6 months. Figuring out the currency. The train protocol. Buying a car. Driving was IMPOSSIBLE. Even understanding the language that I thought would be so similar. It drizzled everyday and never was sunny. I had a really tough time at first. I  had always had a fairly easy time meeting people and making new friends, but the language barrier and background differences often seemed to make it tough to find connection with others. I felt very isolated in the beginning until I really started working.

I also was surprised by how many other expats there were! I found an expat women’s group called NAC (North American Connection) and we had 75 of us in town! When I  needed to commiserate about the lack of Mexican groceries available to the lack of Thanksgiving and had a place to turn.

Moving BACK from England was an absolute breeze compared to moving there. Well, actually not exactly a breeze. Even though we’d only planned on living there for 2 years, it ended up being closer to 4 thanks to 2007 and the economy. The uncertainty and the feeling of being somewhat trapped with a newborn baby was stressful. When we finally sold our UK home for exactly what we owed (phew!) packed up our pups and now 1 yr old son I  couldn’t have been more excited to hit US soil again!

photo of Gretta and her son

What do you love about your current city?
Gretta: I absolutely LOVE Raleigh! I’m from the DC area and i’m so grateful for the more affordable cost of living, less traffic and close proximity to beaches and mountains – while still having access to amazing restaurants and culture.

What did you have to sacrifice to make living abroad come true?
Gretta: We definitely missed out on some important big family moments. And it was tough not having more support after our son was born in the UK. But I’d do it all in again in a heartbeat.

photo of Gretta and her son

Had you ever lived outside of your home country before?
Gretta: I had never.

What did you do for fun in your city abroad?
Gretta: I  feel like there was SO much to do! The ‘pub culture’ and beer gardens were so fun and different than what we were used to. There was always some sort of unique place to visit! We got into exploring castles – there were hundreds within just an hour or 2 drive. Or we could be in London in just 2 hours by train.

photo of Gretta enjoying the pub culture

What did you like/dislike about living abroad?
Gretta: The time difference actually made it surprisingly tough to easily and regularly talk with friends and family. When I  needed to chat – they were asleep or at work and vice versa.

Personally, the weather was tough on me too. I  didn’t realized how much I  craved the feeling of warm sunshine! The few days out of the year that would happen in the UK were few and far between.

What were your favorite spots in the area?
Gretta: Warwickshire Castle was a fave of mine. One of the most complete castles in all of England, it was only about 20 minutes from our house and I took everyone who came over to visit! I  easily went 15 times. Same with the Cotswolds. Wandering through villages who’s homes still had thatched roofs was amazing. 

photo of Gretta and her son in England

photo of Gretta and her son in England
photo of Gretta and a friend

Did you have your own mode of transportation, a car, bike, etc?
Gretta: You do so many things just because ‘well, that’s what I  did at home.’ So I bought a car. I  ended up selling it about 14 months later because I rarely used it. Driving was difficult and parking was crazy expensive. It was easier to use the train most of the time!

When you moved back, what do you feel like you gained from living abroad? / How did the experience enrich your life?
Gretta: I swore multiple times a day I would never take the conveniences of living in the US for granted EVER. AGAIN. I truly felt like I came back a different – a better – person. With more perspective. More grit.

Advice and Benefits of Living an Expat Lifestyle Abroad

Is there any advice or anything that you wished you would have known before your move that you would like to share with someone who may be considering an international move?
Gretta: I definitely wished we’d spent the first 6 months or so there just getting a feel for it. Not diving headlong into home and car ownership. I  spent quite a bit of time with other woman living the expat life and they had nothing but incredible stories to share about it. I’m so lucky I  had the opportunity so many will never have.

Are there any items, apps, or tools that you have found to be helpful when navigating your lifestyle and city abroad?
Gretta: Ha! This was 2005 baby. Apps weren’t a thing. I  remember using the website TripAdvisor A LOT when researching our trips abroad though. And we used VRBO to rent most of our European accommodations when we vacationed.

Any other recommendations or words of wisdom?
Gretta: I would talk everyone into diving into this adventure if they have the opportunity! It was one of the most challenging experiences of my life – yet hands down the most life-changing and memorable.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Gretta: The UK is an incredible base to hop to France, Italy, Spain – so much of Europe! We even took a 7 days trip to Egypt while we were there.

photo of Gretta at Port Olimpic
photo of Gretta on a camel

Put your hands together for Gretta! I want to thank Gretta so much for joining me and for sharing her story about her move abroad to the UK!

I love how Gretta went all in – bought a house, a car, moved all of her belongings, and her two dogs with her. Sean and I planned on quite the opposite – renting an apartment, not having car, storing all of our belongings, and not bringing our cats with us so this was a very interesting story and perspective.

On the other hand, Sean and I are planning on traveling to nearby places like Gretta did. I love how she got to see so much of Europe!

To keep up with Gretta Nance’s current travel adventures and Raleigh lifestyle, follow her on Instagram at @grettanance!

Want to read more? Visit Expat Chats to read all of my interviews with people who have chosen to live internationally and to lead an Expat lifestyle.

The Move Abroad to Sydney, Australia featuring Chana Lynn

The Move Abroad to Sydney, Australia featuring Chana Lynn

I am so excited to feature the blogger extraordinaire herself, Chana Lynn, and her story of her move abroad to Sydney, Australia!

Chana is a web designer who works independently as well as with a local media agency, Tabletop Media Group. She manages social media for multiple clients as well as her own blog, Raleigh What’s Up and Instagram, @raleighwhatsup. She loves traveling, taking photographs, live music concerts, and going to art museums – we definitely have all of those in common!

When my husband and I announced that we were moving abroad to Melbourne, Australia, Chana reached out to me and told me that she had previously lived in Sydney, Australia. Can you say Sydney What’s Up?!

I knew that I had to hear more about her experience moving and living abroad to somewhere so near and dear to where I will be. I am thrilled to share her story and experiences with you!

current photo of Chana Lynn
Current Photo of Chana Lynn by Sara Coffin Photography

Original Home Location Before Living Abroad: Tysons Corner, VA just outside of Washington, D.C.
Abroad Home Location: Sydney, Australia just across the Harbor Bridge on the North Shore in Mosman NSW
Current Home Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

About the Move to Sydney, Australia

When did you make the move to Sydney, Australia?
Chana: My husband and I moved to Sydney in October of 1997.

photo of Chana and her husband
Chana and her husband in 1998 in Adelaide

Why did you decide to make the move? / What motivated you?
Chana: We decided to move to Sydney because we had spent much of our life in Virginia growing up, going to college and then moving to Washington, D.C. for work. My boss of five years at Booz Allen & Hamilton was Australian and he had just moved back to Sydney where he was from. We had worked on many projects together while he was in the states and he reached out to me with the proposal to move to Sydney to work for his team there. He offered both my husband and I four year working visas so that both of us could work in Australia (sometimes spouses are not allowed to work). We were renting an apartment, leasing a car and to be honest, ready to leave the city for something different, exciting and new. It was the perfect time to make a change and this was a big one for us!

Australian Government logo
My husband and I are also getting four year working visas. Here is more information about the visas.

How many times did you visit your new country and city prior to your move?
Chana: It was the late 90s and we did not really think to travel to Australia prior to moving there. We literally looked up what we could on the internet (which wasn’t much at that time!) and packed two huge bags and went! We knew very little about Australia!

How did you break the news to loved ones?
Chana:
We talked to each of our families and although they were very surprised, they were also very excited for us. They were apprehensive about how far away it was but we reassured them we would be back and this would be a great opportunity for them to come visit. Most of our immediate family came to visit while we lived there and a few friends made it over as well.

What was the hardest part of moving / what did you find frustrating during your move?
Chana: Honestly, it wasn’t really hard once we made the decision. We loved talking about how we were going to move to Australia with our friends but when it was time to make the decision it was really hard and scary. Once we committed it was pretty easy because we had the work visas and we gave notice to our apartment and returned our car. We didn’t have kids or pets so it was pretty straightforward.

One surprise for us was literally when we were at the airport checking in to start our actual trip to Australia, they noticed my passport name didn’t exactly match my ticket. We had just gotten married two years prior and my passport didn’t match my new married name but we somehow got it approved at the last minute. This was 1997, prior to 9/11 and stricter travel rules so if there’s a lesson there, make sure when you get married to officially change your name on all your legal documents!

Did you decide to ship your belongings or to store your belongings?
Chana: When we decided to move to Australia we moved all our stuff into a storage unit. My parents kept a few things and we got rid of stuff as well. We had only been married for two years so we didn’t really have that much since we were in a small apartment already. We brought two huge duffel bags with us and that was it!

photo of Sydney
Sydney 2000

About her Home in Sydney, Australia

How did you find your home when you lived abroad?
Chana:
We checked with real estate offices for what was available to rent in our price range. It is incredibly expensive to buy in Sydney proper and we wanted the ability to be able to walk, ferry, train or bus to everything to fully experience the city lifestyle. My Australian boss took us out and showed us some good neighborhoods in the city to live based on our interests and that helped us a lot since he knew the city so well. We stayed with his family at their house for a couple weeks which was nice, allowing us time to find a place, start working and settle in and get acclimated.

Describe the home – apartment, house, etc:
Chana: We lived in two apartments during our time in Australia. The first was a really cool modern efficiency apartment that was super small but really well designed. Our bed came out of the wall in our living room space. It was tight but we were in such a great location with shops, restaurants and bars literally around the corner from us and one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches (Balmoral) just a few blocks away.

After about a year, we eventually moved to a bigger two bedroom apartment up the street with more space but still in a great location with three flights of stairs to climb multiple times a day! It was noisy with restaurants next door, but I loved the proximity to everything. We had a coffee shop steps away that we loved to hang out at a lot.

Lifestyle Abroad in Sydney, Australia

Why did you choose the country and specifically, the city that you moved to?
Chana:
I had a unique job opportunity to work in Sydney CBD (Central Business District) so we were able to relocate knowing at least one of us would have income as soon as we got there. We were also excited to explore a country we didn’t know much about. We had some good friends who helped us with the relocation and getting work so that made the choice easier as well. My husband enjoyed a couple months of exploring life in Sydney and set up job interviews and ultimately got a great job in Sydney’s CBD. He is still working for the same company here in the US today, 22 years later!

How long did you live abroad?
Chana:
We lived in Sydney for just over three years. We went to the 2000 Olympics and saw the most amazing fireworks display on the Sydney Harbor, one of the first places in the world to ring in NYE 1999/ 2000. Y2K was a huge event with our tech jobs as well when we lived there. We also witnessed some crazy weather with a record breaking hail storm that did major damage to the city in 1999.

What have you missed the most about living abroad?
Chana:
We absolutely loved living in Sydney. The city is modern and vibrant, the beaches are gorgeous and easy to access and there is a great quality of life in Australia. I miss getting out and exploring all the incredible places in and around Sydney. I miss being close to other countries we could visit easily like New Zealand, Fiji and China to name a few. I miss impromptu barbeques on the beach with friends. We made some really great Australian friends and we enjoyed spending time with them (which we still do to this day). I miss the new experiences of being in a different country, the cultural differences and seeing our own country from a different perspective, good and bad.

What was the most surprising thing to you when you moved there and then when you moved back?
Chana: We had our first child while living overseas! I never thought that was something we would have done but it turned out to be the most amazing experience! We had excellent healthcare in Sydney and our family traveled over to be with us when she was born. I am so thrilled that we have a forever connection with Sydney. Ultimately, it was having this new baby in our lives that we soon realized we needed the support and love of the rest of our family which was the main reason for coming back after three years. I have such fond memories of Australia and we have lifelong friendships there. We have been back to visit a couple times and I would love to go back for a much longer stay in the near future. It surprises me the strong connection I still feel with that country 20 years later. I cannot imagine my life without having made this huge leap of faith!

photo with her daughter
At Coogee Beach with her daughter, Julia, in 2000

What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
Chana: Not being able to walk everywhere to do almost everything we liked or needed to do.

What did you have to sacrifice to make living abroad come true?
Chana: We sacrificed time away from family and friends. When we made the decision to move abroad, we knew we were going half a world away and that this would be hard on both our families and for us as well. It was also hard to leave our friends and not know when we would be back.

We knew that when we decided to ultimately come back to the States we would have to make major decisions about where we would settle down, how we would afford a house and at least two cars since we probably wouldn’t be able to walk or commute practically everywhere like we did in Australia. We had a lot of financial concerns, especially since we also came back with a one-year old baby!

Had you ever lived outside of your home country before?
Chana: No, this was our first time living outside of the US.

What did you do for fun in your city abroad?
Chana:
We loved spending the weekends exploring the city and surrounding suburbs, going to the beach and taking road trips to the Hunter Valley wine country, and other nearby areas like the Blue Mountains. We spent a lot of time outdoors, much more than when we lived in Virginia.

family photo on Hunter Valley wine country
Hunter Valley wine country 2000

What did you like/dislike about living abroad?
Chana: At the time when we lived abroad, internet connections were not great and it was hard to keep in touch with family and friends. Video quality was bad and limited. The time difference was huge as well!

What were your favorite spots in the area?
Chana: We did as much traveling as we could over the three years of living in Australia. We traveled to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Alice Springs in the Outback, snorkled the Great Barrier Reef, hiked in Tasmania, visited Phillip Island to see the penguins arrive back to their nests, went to Melbourne and Brighton Beach to see the bathing boxes, traveled to Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland and more. We love the beaches around Sydney. My favorite beaches are Bondi and nearby Coogee and Tamarama beaches as well as Manly and quiet Shelly Beach. We loved visiting the Sydney Zoo with the amazing city views from the park.

photo of Uluru/Ayer's Rock
Uluru/Ayer’s Rock 1999
photo at Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach 2000

Did you have your own mode of transportation, a car, bike, etc?
Chana: We were lucky to be able to jump on a bus, train or ferry to get to work or to go out. We could walk to a lot of places as well. We bought an old car to use mostly for weekend excursions out of the city. Sydney has an amazing public transport system so it was great. My favorite that never got old was taking the ferry into the city for work and passing by the Harbor Bridge and Opera House.

photo of the Sydney Opera House
Opera House 2016

What do you love about your current city?
Chana: When we moved back from Australia we had options to move to the DC area or Raleigh. We are so happy we picked Raleigh to live and raise a family. We love being close to family and friends and it has become such an amazing city/place to live.

The Benefits of Living an Expat Lifestyle Abroad

When you moved back, what do you feel like you gained from living abroad? / How did the experience enrich your life?
Chana: I can honestly say, living abroad for three years was one of the best things we ever did. We did it at a good time in our lives when it was easier to take a risk like this and make a break from all that we knew. Living in another country for an extended amount of time allowed us to learn so much about another culture by being fully immersed. We learned a lot about the history of Australia, the people, and the country’s connections to England. We learned a lot more about geography and a new appreciation for the other side of the world! We loved being “the Americans” and being the unique ones that people wanted to hear more about us and our country. Being told how we talk funny and learning quickly that although we all spoke English, not all expressions translate the same! Australians we met seemed to really want to get to know us and understand more about our country versus what they read or saw on tv at the time (it was 1997-2000). The people we met were friendly and we gained lifetime friendships, went to their weddings, traveled together and watched them have children too. We have been able to meet up with these friends at different places in the world over the years, to reconnect and have made many more memories by going back to Australia with our two daughters and seeing it again through their eyes.  My life is definitely richer by having spent time away from the US. Our perspectives on politics, people, climate, etc. were broadened as well, by seeing things happening in the US from the other side of the world (I was in Australia visiting when the 2016 election happened). Australia taught us to live life to the fullest, invest in people, new experiences, new challenges, learn new skills (like driving on the other side of the road!) and most of all, not to be afraid of change.

photo with her Australian boss
2016 visit with my Australian boss in Sydney
photo with her Australian BFF
Australian BFF in Sydney 2016

I want to thank Chana so much for joining me and for sharing her story about her move abroad to Sydney! It is hard to believe that 2000 was 20 years ago! I found it really interesting that she was in Sydney during that time and that she had her first child while living abroad. She experienced a lot of firsts, new places, new friends, a new century, and lots of other interesting things in a short amount of time living in a foreign country!

I have visited Sydney myself and hope to visit again with my husband while we are living in Australia. It is a wonderful city and at one point, was actually a contender for our move as well.

For all things Raleigh and to keep up with Chana Lynn, follow her on Instagram at @raleighwhatsup and on her blog, Raleigh What’s Up.

Visit Expat Chats to read all of my interviews with people who have chosen to live internationally and to lead an Expat lifestyle.

The Move Abroad to Wellington, New Zealand featuring Michelle Clark

The Move Abroad to Wellington, New Zealand featuring Michelle Clark

I am so delighted for my very first Expat Chat to be with a dear friend of mine, Michelle Clark!

One of my first memories of Michelle was when she was dolling me up for a photoshoot (she is an incredible makeup artist!) and she told me that she had lived abroad in New Zealand. Michelle is a bundle of joy and she enjoys traveling, reading, playing with makeup, playing with puppies, eating french fries, and creating and organizing things.

When Sean and I first found out about the opportunity to move to Australia, we sat down with Michelle over coffee to discuss the ins and outs of living abroad to get an insider’s perspective. ⁠

Her story was too good to keep to ourselves so without further ado, here is my conversation with Michelle!

current photo of michelle clark
Current Photo of Michelle Clark by Lindsey Cash Photography

Original Home Location Before Living Abroad: Orlando, Florida, United States
Abroad Home Location: Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand 
Current Home Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

About the Move to Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

When did you make the move to Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand?
Michelle: October of 2009. I can’t believe that it’s been so long! 

Why did you decide to make the move? / What motivated you?
Michelle: I was super bored at my job and it was really hot in Florida so I wanted to experience something completely different. My best friend, Nicole and her husband, had been living in NZ for a couple years and she suggested I come over. At the time, if you were under the age of 26 you could get a working holiday visa for free. She works in film as a scenic and props painter and I had goals of working in film as well so I thought why not!?

photo of Michelle and Nicole
Pictured with Nicole at Red Rocks. Can you spy the seal?

How many times did you visit your new country and city prior to your move?
Michelle: Never. I really didn’t know what I was getting into! 

What was the hardest part of moving / What did you find frustrating during your move?
Michelle: I don’t think that I got frustrated about much of anything. Anxious? Yes, but not frustrated. I was lucky to have had Nicole through the process as she is very detailed and had already gone through it all herself. Since I was going for a Working Holiday Visa for young people, it was pretty easy overall. The hardest part was figuring out what to pack in two suitcases for a year!

Here is a great YouTube video about obtaining a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

How did you break the news to loved ones?
Michelle: Both of my parents are used to me doing random things but this was big news. I knew that I had to tell my mom that I was ‘thinking’ about it even though I had already made the decision to do it. My dad was more like…uhhh do what now? HA! Even though they were both on board, they thought that I was nuts. They would never do anything like that themselves, but they were cool with it.

Did you decide to ship your belongings or to store your belongings?
Michelle: I was 25 at the time and didn’t have a ton of belongings so I was able to get a storage room. Since it was in Florida and can get very hot, it was climate controlled. Everything was still in perfect condition when I came back. By storing my belongings, I realized how much I could live without!

photo about climate controlled storage
Here is a great blog post about The Benefits of Climate Controlled Storage

About her Home in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

How did you find your home when you lived abroad?
Michelle: For the first several months, I lived with Nicole and Manuel in their guest bedroom. Then, I had some other friends move over and they found a house so I was able to get a room in with them.

Describe the home – apartment, house, etc:
Michelle: Nicole’s house was on top of a ‘hill’ – it felt like an actual mountain when walking up it and NOT a hill. Her house overlooked Island Bay which was at the very bottom of the North Island and you could actually see across the water to the South Island on a really clear day and it was stunning! The house that I had with the others didn’t have a view but it was a much easier walk and was located right off of a bus route and closer to the city center.

the view from Nicole's deck
The view from Nicole’s deck, no zoom, on a perfect day. This was not a typical day!

Who were your roommates in your second home?
Michelle: Shawn and Jackie who were fellow Americans and a Kiwi girl as well.  Shawn and I went to high school together and he still lives in NZ. Jackie, who always made me laugh, lives in Virginia and we have a solid meme relationship.

What was renting property like in New Zealand?
Michelle: I didn’t deal with the organizing the rental as I was technically subletting. I just gave the roomies my money every week. Weekly rent was the standard over there at the time… might still be.

Did you have any pets? If so, did they make the move with you?
Michelle: I had no pets but there was a cat who visited our garden! 

Lifestyle Abroad in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

Why did you choose the country and specifically, the city that you moved to?
Michelle: I really wanted to work in film! Peter Jackson and Weta are there in Wellington and Nicole had already worked on some film projects so I knew that I had a little bit of an “in”. Granted, we were in different departments but still she had some contacts. Unfortunately, about a month before I left, it was announced that Peter Jackson was pushing back The Hobbit. As the film industry is known for being unpredictable, I knew that there was a chance that it may or may not happen but I still wanted to follow through with the move. I just started applying at different makeup counters in Wellington’s city center (downtown area) and hoped for the best!

How long did you live abroad?
Michelle: One year and three whole days. I was an illegal immigrant for those three days! I really wanted to stay but due to an earthquake, the only applicants that they were extending visas for were doctors, nurses, construction, electrical, and other essential personnel.

What have you missed the most about living abroad?
Michelle: Walking everywhere and having access to a great city transportation system. Plus, I loved the people, the country, and the accents are hot! It was such a fun atmosphere and I loved being there. I felt adopted by my friends and coworkers. Several of them even made sure that I had something to do on Thanksgiving as they knew that it was a big holiday for us in the United States even though it wasn’t a big holiday for them in New Zealand. Several friends invited me to their sausage sizzle to celebrate Christmas. You heard me… sausage sizzle! Since their Christmas is in the summertime, it is essentially a cookout. It was also the first time I’ve ever had a winter birthday in August!

photo of a sausage sizzle
Sausage Sizzles are Not Hot Dogs – @ford.momo / @gemmapen

What were the most surprising things to you when you moved there and then when you moved back?
Michelle: How cold Wellington was! I had lived in Florida for so many years that I think my blood had thinned. There were some cold winds. You don’t think about a “southerly wind” being cold until you realize that Antarctica is what’s south of you!

 How many coffee shops that there were – this was pre-coffee craze here and it just surprised me how much coffee these people drank! 

Revlon had a makeup counter, like a proper makeup counter in the pharmacies with testers, a gift with purchase, and everything! 

The fact that “Blanket Man” was allowed to be out and sun his biscuits in the downtown corner sidewalks and people blessed him with booze, energy drinks, snacks, and I’m pretty sure weed because he was always high.

photo of blanket man
Blanket Man has since passed but was somewhat of a local celebrity.

Even though the English language is what we all spoke, sometimes I got really confused because we have different words for things. I vividly remember a friend yelling across a busy street to remind me, “don’t forget your frogs for the sparkle”. After several confused “MY WHATs?!” yelled back to her, a nice man in a suit said “your togs for the spa pool” to which I also said ”…my what?” Several people snickered and just started calling out words to me and I was like “ooooh my bathing suit for the hot tub!!” to which people just rolled their eyes. I think about that to this day when I need a good laugh. 

Burger King is a big deal and McDonald’s is called Macca’s. 

The Salvation Army (or any charity shops) are called Sally’s and I love that.

They don’t mix peanut butter and chocolate – I once paid about $10 US for two Reese cup packages…best money I’ve ever spent. 

What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
Michelle: Moving there? Walking everywhere. Not that I minded the walking at all but you couldn’t just jump in your car and run to the store. It was so much more of an effort! Moving back? That I couldn’t walk anywhere. I moved in with my brother in Holly Springs when I got back and I was completely stuck there until I was able to get a car because there was nowhere to walk! Also no Target and trips just to buy whatever, because you had to actually carry it home! Rather than ketchup, they have tomato sauce. That took some time to get used to on your fries because it’s thinner and sweeter. Also, that the weta exists and one time there was one in my bed, with me in it! I nearly had to hold my own funeral.

photo of a weta
The giant weta is ugly, big, and heavy. Want to learn more about this native New Zealand insect? Check out this post.

What did you have to sacrifice to make living abroad come true?
Michelle: I cut out a lot of going out and spending money on activities. I would still go out with friends but definitely cut down on my spending while out in order to save money. I also stopped going to Target as much!

Had you ever lived outside of your home country before?
Michelle: I had not! I had only been to Bolivia with my church when I was younger. Going out of the country was exciting but also intimidating and brought on some anxiety. I still get anxious filling out customs forms!

What did you do for fun in your city abroad? / What were your favorite spots in the area?
Michelle: I worked in retail while I was there so I didn’t have a lot of time off. I loved that everything closed at like 6pm unless it was during holiday hours. I usually went out with friends after work in some way. I loved going to hang at Hotel Bristol with Shawn and Jackie plus new friends. We went dancing at Mighty Mighty, Boogie Wonderland (complete with the rainbow light up dance floor), The Big Kumara, and Alice – where all drinks were served in teapots and tea cups! Sadly, several of these places have since closed.  I loved the shops, cafes, and clubs on Cuba Street… even just people watching there was great. Exploring the city was so much fun too! Te Papa Museum is beautiful and the waterfront was great to just walk around. It wasn’t in the city, but several times we would put on some fancy fascinators, hop on a train, and bet on the horse races which always made for a fun day!

photo of cuba street
Cuba Street looks like a lot of fun, doesn’t it?

Did you have your own mode of transportation – a car, bike, etc?
Michelle: No, but I had built in legs and the bus! Sometimes I took a taxi but generally only if I was in a big rush or if it was super duper late.

What do you love about your current city – Raleigh, North Carolina?
Michelle: It’s home and where I grew up! I love my friends and my network of vendors here. Raleigh is also a beautiful city. We have great food, people, and a shimmer wall!

photo of Raleigh's shimmer wall
Raleigh’s Shimmer Wall

Advice and Benefits of Living an Expat Lifestyle Abroad

When you moved back, what do you feel like you gained from living abroad? / How did the experience enrich your life?
Michelle: It enriched my life in many ways and probably more that I don’t even realize. I gained some amazing friends and through social media, I’m still able to stay close with them. I learned about different cultures and showed them some of ours – totes taught my friends that red solo cups were real at parties and taught them how to play flip-cup. I also gained the desire to travel more and see other places!

Is there any advice or anything that you wished you would have known before your move that you would like to share with someone who may be considering an international move?
Michelle: If it’s something that you are considering, you should just do it! With technology the way it is, you’re able to communicate with friends and family and you will never regret an adventure. I went to the red carpet event of The Lovely Bones and saw AC/DC standing by the gates in the front row in the Wellington Phoenix arena. I learned that I like soccer/football. I stomped around Wellington in cowboy boots literally every day and people started to recognize me. I had a conversation with Jemaine Clement about the roller derby. I did so many cool things and created amazing memories that I never would have had the chance to do if I didn’t just go.

photos of Peter Jackson and Susan Sarandon
Lovely Bones premier with Peter Jackson and Susan Sarandon
photo at the front of the stage for the AC/DC concert
AC/DC concert at the front of the stage! 

Any other recommendations or words of wisdom?
Michelle: There will be hard days because it’s not magical and it’s still life but it is what you make it! I found people that became like family and I knew that I could count on them. I was never bored and we didn’t have anything other than a TV with a DVD player so it wasn’t like we were sitting around streaming things. I was just having fun and living life and it was awesome!

Is there anything extra that you would like to add?
Michelle: I wish that I had more photos but this was before everyone had an iPhone attached to them so I didn’t always have my camera on me. I had a blog while I was there so that I could update anyone who cared to read while I was there. Mostly it was my grandparents and my stepmom who read it! If you want to read something funny, you should check it out. Especially the post about when we went ‘tramping’. Plus, I carried my Edward Cullen action figure with me wherever I went. If you’re bored, it’s a funny read to see what all he did.

photo of Michelle and lambs
Baaaaaaa 👋 (Lamb speak for bye!)

That’s a wrap, folks!

To follow along with Michelle Clark and her makeup business, follow her on Instagram at @kmichelleclark and check out her website.

In addition to being a bomb makeup artist, Michelle and some of her friends have recently started up a Disney-themed enamel pin company, Chipadeedoodahs. You can also follow them on Instagram at @chipadeedoodahs and on Pinterest.

I want to say a huge, THANK YOU to Michelle for being my first guest and for answering ALL of my questions. It was really interesting to see how the difference in language and her experiences abroad contributed to her fond memories of her year in Wellington. New Zealand is definitely on our list of places to travel to while we live in Australia as it is close by. I know that we will definitely seek out some of the places that Michelle mentioned.

Let’s hear it for Michelle! 👏 Let me know if you have any feedback or if there are any places in Wellington, New Zealand that you recommend.

Expat Lifestyle Revealed in Expat Chats

Expat Lifestyle Revealed in Expat Chats
expat chat logo

⁠I can not wait for Sean and I to start our adventure living abroad in Melbourne, Australia. When we are living there, I am sure that I will have plenty of stories to tell from our perspective. Currently, we are awaiting our work visas and for Australia to open their borders back up – more details on my previous blog post, Raleigh to Melbourne.

In the meantime, I am excited to go ahead and start sharing stories of others and their experiences moving and living abroad in my series that I will be featuring on the blog, EXPAT CHATS!⁠

First, let me explain. What is an expat?

⁠Expat is short for Expatriate.

An expatriate is a person who lives outside their native country. In other words, they are citizens of one country who live in another country. This is what Sean and I will be while we are in Australia on a work visa.

photo of a map

Here is what you can expect to see on my Expat Chat posts:

  • Interviews with people who either currently live abroad or people who have previously lived abroad
  • Interviews with people who have businesses that provide services to expats
  • ⁠Honest portrayals from a variety of perspectives and locations
  • Concerns and fears, and hopes and dreams about moving to a new home AND a new country
  • What they learned and how their lives have been enriched from living abroad
  • Photos! Of course.

Everyone has an interesting story for how they ended up living in another country. If you are considering the pros and cons of living an expat lifestyle, these interviews will give you great insight and will be helpful in making your decision. Curious, but not wanting to live an Expat lifestyle yourself? These Expat Chats will also be entertaining and are sure to inspire travel or lifestyle adjustments even if living abroad is not your cup of tea.

I am doing a little happy dance as my first Expat Chats guest and post will be released tomorrow. ⁠You are going to LOVE my guest!

Know someone who should be featured? Have any questions that you would like for an expat or a professional who works with expats to answer? Let me know!