It's Tea Time Somewhere

For our last episode of Taking Route Podcast, we’re doing something a little different — a Christmas Special, if you will. This episode is only about ten minutes — but it’s packed full of Christmas goodness. First, we’ll read an expat-friendly rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Then, Melissa will perform a new song she wrote (it’s record label good, no exaggeration). 

We love you guys and we’re so thankful each and every one of you are a part of the Taking Route Community.We pray you feel God’s nearness this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Immanuel — God with us. Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a goodnight.

The final stop in our series, “This Global Pandemic,” is in South Korea to visit Oklahoma native, Kara. She, her husband, and their four kids stayed put in South Korea this year, even though they had long-awaited travel plans to go to the States (it’s been four years since their last visit!) In this episode, Kara shares what a pandemic looks like in a culture that is very communal and how South Korea is the place to be stuck if you have to be stuck anywhere while a virus spreads around the globe. She talks about some of the humorous moments of 2020, as well as how she gave herself permission to grieve the things that are hard about expat life.

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Next in our 3rd installment of our “This Global Pandemic” series we are travel to São Paulo, Brazil to visit Tennessee native, Melissa (@melissastormer). Melissa along with her husband and three kids are determined to thrive and not just survive this pandemic. Melissa tells how they’ve maintained their well-being, learned to prioritize and let some things go to the wayside, and have made sure to have regular tea times as a family for heart checks. She shares about how she’s been able to go deeper in relationships and ultimately, how she’s learned to not only extend grace to others, but to herself as well. 

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One of the hardest parts about expat life is being so far away when tragedy strikes your home country. You want to hug your loved ones, process things out loud with your closest friends, and be near the ones you hold closest to your heart. In today’s episode, we talk with Tamika about what it’s been like to be a Black American woman, married to an Austrian, and living far away from the States as racial tension builds during a global pandemic. 

Tamika shares what it’s been like to emotionally process events from afar, and how she and her children have become the go-to American source for their local friends and peers to ask questions about the current events in the U.S. We also discuss the delicate balance of talking with our TCKs about the hard things so they won’t be naive to what is happening in the world — and most importantly, in their own home country.

In closing, Tamika shares a word of encouragement to expat women of color and gives beautiful words of wisdom to white expats on how to be a safe place for your friends of color who are processing troubling events from far away. “If you’re in a situation where you see any kind of injustice,” Tamika adds, “regardless of who you are, you can step in front of it. Put yourself out there so they know they’re seen and that they matter.”

We also have show notes.

Light reading for your pleasure.

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As the Covid 19 pandemic spread to each of our corners of the world earlier this year, many of us had to consider access to medical care (or lack of it) as we made decisions about staying or evacuating. When Rachel and her husband found out they were pregnant with their fourth child right as lockdowns began, they had to make the hard choice to leave their home in India and evacuate to America. In this episode, Rachel recounts her experience of leaving on short notice, while sick and pregnant, with three young children. She shares how she and her family have dealt with unmet expectations and loss upon their return to their passport country, and how their experience with cross-culture transitions has equipped them to be an encouragement and support to others in this challenging season.

We also have show notes.

Light reading for your pleasure.

Connect with us:

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Join us on our website with articles written by expats for expats:

Connect with Alicia

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QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

“Everything began to change that first week of March. We found out we were pregnant, we started hearing all this information on lockdown and mask wearing, and the seriousness of it was escalating.”

“We had about 12-18 hours to pack up our house, pack up our things, get everything arranged, and leave.”

“It felt like it had already been a journey by the time we even got to the gate.”

“As you can imagine, having three young children who are starving and tired and had just been through a lot of travel, it was crazy. “

“All of these expectations that my children had for coming back to the U.S. were stripped away from them. They couldn’t see family like they thought they would be able to, and all of these places that they looked forward to coming back to were not available.”

“A lot of our homeschooling looked the same, and because of that I felt like it was just a comfort zone for them that gave them freedom to open up to us.”

“Leaving our home in India was probably one of the hardest decisions my husband and I have ever had to make.”

“One of the things I’ve had that’s been a challenge and I’ve had to grow and learn about in this season is how to give myself grace and how to allow myself to receive help when I’ve needed it.”

“I can trust that whatever happens, we’ll be taken care of.”

“How can we help each other in this time; how can we unite in this time to really support each other?”

“Something I’ve continued to remind myself of in this season is that I’m not the only one going through this.”

“Because of our life of transition, we can then come alongside those who aren’t as used to so much transition and just be a support for them, be a source of encouragement.”

“I think an accurate way to describe much of what many people are going through is loss.”

“So walking through that loss, one, is recognizing that it’s not just something I have to get through but it’s actually ok to mourn it.”

“Our plans were taken away but we weren’t given new plans as a replacement.”

“This time has allowed me to see the need for educating myself on others’ perspectives.”

“I do not understand everyone’s circumstances and I have to learn to stretch myself to be able to love others well.”

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!
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Wherever you currently find yourself in the world, it’s no secret that all our lives have been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Our circumstances and situations might be different, but in an effort to create some solidarity between us we are starting a new mini-series titled “This Global Pandemic.”  Each episode will have an interview with a new expat woman who will share her perspective on what life in the time of a global pandemic has been like for her. 

In today’s episode you’ll hear from Kim, who lives in Ukraine with her husband and their six kids. They also have guardianship of three men with special needs and they work to deinstitutionalize people with disabilities. Kim shares with us what is was like for her family to unexpectedly welcome several new people into their home to quarantine with them, help a family get their adopted son to America in the middle of the pandemic, and what the Lord has been teaching her about releasing her love of control. Grab your favorite beverage and a comfy seat and prepare to be blessed by Kim’s story.

We also have show notes at www.takingroute.net/podcast

Light reading for your pleasure.

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QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

What was your initial reaction to the news of COVID-19?

Did you stay in your host country or evacuate back to your home country? If you stayed, tell us a little about how your host country has responded to the crisis. If you evacuated, tell us what that experience was like.

What does a pandemic looks in Ukraine?

What was a moment you realized COVID-19 was serious? 

Have there been times when you broke down (maybe with tears, maybe in frustration)? What caused that to happen? How did you move forward?

What has community looked like for you while sheltering in place?

With an already full house, what has it been like adding two extra people?

What are your kids’ thoughts about the coronavirus? How have you talked about this with them and how have they responded?

While staying home, what are some of your favorite activities? Have you started doing something you didn’t normally do prior to the global pandemic?

What are some plans/trips/celebrations you had that have changed or been cancelled? How have you worked through that loss?

What are some of the worries/concerns you have?

What are you listening to these days?

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!
_________
Need a way to organize all your language learning notes? Check out our very first product "One Word at a Time: Language Learning Notebook."

Here at Taking Route, we desire to make you feel like you are welcomed and belong in this expat community. We want you to be able to see your story and your expat experience reflected in this space. However, we know we can do so much better at having more perspectives and voices in order to more accurately represent expat life.

In this episode, we are speaking specifically about the work of racial reconciliation. In this conversation, we discuss what we’ve been learning, what racial reconciliation looks like while living abroad, and how we’re teaching our children about race and racism. We can’t “out-write” our experience, so to speak, but it’s our hope and prayer that Taking Route will see growth in the area of better representation as we look inwardly and examine where we can do better and how we can do better. This conversation was important for us to have on the podcast so the Taking Route community can hear where we’re at on this journey and hold us accountable. Thank you for the grace you’ve extended to us thus far. We are confident the Lord — who gathers people from every race, tribe, and tongue to His throne — will continue to lead and make a way for this to be a community that represents a truer picture of His Kingdom here on earth.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

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QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

What’s your week been like through all of this?

How do I show up if I live in a very monochromatic culture?

What are some things you are hearing and learning?

How are we talking to our families and our kids about this?

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!
_________
Need a way to organize all your language learning notes? Check out our very first product "One Word at a Time: Language Learning Notebook."

During this pandemic, we expats have fallen into one of two categories: those who stayed and those who left. Expats who made the decision to evacuate their host country have undoubtedly faced some very unique challenges in leaving and finding a new normal in their passport country. In this episode Denise interviews Alicia about her family’s decision to leave Indonesia and evacuate to the States, how they came to that decision, and the lessons she’s learning through it. Alicia’s story will help those who stayed abroad to better understand the realities of our friends who left, and will encourage fellow evacuees that you’re not alone in the ups and downs of repatriating during a pandemic.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

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QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

What was coronavirus like in your area?

What were your initial thoughts about the virus when it began to be on a global scale?

When you and your husband made these decisions about social distancing and going back to the United States, were you on the same page? How did you process that?

What was your reasoning behind thinking your family needed to leave?

What were the challenges in leaving?

What was the travel like?

How has it been now that you’ve made the trip back?

How has it been emotionally and spiritually for you through all this?

If you could encourage an expat who evacuated, what would you encourage her with?

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!
_________
Need a way to organize all your language learning notes? Check out our very first product "One Word at a Time: Language Learning Notebook."

Jenilee Goodwin opens up with us about the stressful intense time in her life that included a tough medical diagnosis, family issues, cancer and the quick death of her mother-in-law, putting her girls in boarding school for the first time-- all of that on top of regular expat stresses, expectations, and responsibilities. These combined circumstances led to a very intense time in her life. In this episode of Taking Route Podcast, Jenilee shares tools and lessons she and her family learned persevering through these difficult times. She shares some truths about communication, sleep, and giving yourself and your loved space and compassion. Grab your cup of coffee and enjoy our chat with Jenilee!

Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear about an exciting new podcast series that will be coming soon!

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Connect with Jenilee: Website | Instagram

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QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

How is it with three teenage girls?

Explain about your last few years and what has made it so intense?

How have you come to the decision to stay work through those things on the field?

What does good communication look like for you and (your husband)?

Are there any special resources you have used to get you through these difficult times (with the Enneagram)?

What does staying healthy spiritually look like for you when going through an intense time?

As your are sliding down the bellcurve of intensity if getting over the challenges, what has helped you get over that time?

What were some of things to move forward through from sadness?

How did your family come to the decision of boarding school?

Can you share about the writing and “Behind the Prayer Card?”

What would you say to the expat woman who may be going through the most intense time of their life?

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!

____________

Need a way to organize all your language learning notes? Check out our very first product One Word at a Time: Language Learning  Notebook.

Do you need to keep up with your Netflix shows while living abroad? Try Express VPN to allow you to view all American channels you are subscribed to.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram or Facebook Private Group.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Should I stay or should I go? This is a question that most of us have had to wrestle with recently as country borders closed and flights were grounded. In this episode, Denise and Melissa talk about staying in their host countries during this pandemic, how they made the decision, and how they are coping with their choice. From schooling changes for the kids to cancelled trips and loss of control, this conversation deals with the very real fears, challenges, and blessings of choosing to stay abroad during this pandemic. 

Questions discussed during this episode:

What’s it like where you are during this pandemic?

Why are you still in your host country?

How are you making it work being at home 24/7?

Are your kids missing school?

What’s something that the Lord is teaching you in all this?

Come connect with our community on Instagram.  Also, find Denise and Melissa there, too.

Please check out our show notes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  If you would like to connect deeper with our community on Facebook check out our private group Taking Route Together. Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

A lot can change in ten years, especially when you throw being an expat in the mix. From reflections on moving abroad for the first time to a hilarious quiz on today’s lingo, Denise, Melissa, and Alicia explore a decade’s worth of fun and wisdom in this episode. Join them for a discussion about how their surroundings, families, and hearts have changed through their prospective journeys. Grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and listen in because when these three get together, you will want to be a part of the conversation! After all, it's tea time somewhere.

Come connect with our community on Instagram.  Also, find Denise, Alicia, and Melissa there, too.

Please check out our show notes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

Married or single, it’s likely you have struggled at some point with finding joy and purpose in the tasks expected of you in your life abroad. In Tawnie’s experience of becoming a “trailing spouse”-the spouse who isn’t working full-time- those expectations can be challenging and isolating. In this episode, she shares vulnerably about leaving her career in the states behind, and her journey to find her own passion and purpose while living overseas. Tawnie reminds us that finding outlets outside of ministry and work that align with our talents and passions can help prevent burnout and lead to a more fulfilling life.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Connect with Denise

Connect with Alicia

Connect with Melissa

Connect with Tawnie: Website | Instagram

QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

How would you explain a “trailing spouse?”

"When you moved to Vienna, your career stopped. Was that because you weren’t allowed to find another job or it just didn’t work out?

Were you told that you would be expected to put your time into the school where your husband worked, or was it an expectation once you got there?

Did you find yourself in a place where you needed to create balance between what you were asked to do and what you wanted to do?

When did things start turning around where you found your footing?  

What’s your vocational background?

Did you feel pressure of expectations from people around you that it was selfish to do things for yourself, or did you feel freedom to just be who you are?

How do you handle the things that you don’t necessarily enjoy but need to be done anyway?

How would you encourage women who are in the same place you have been?

What’s a God-moment you’ve had since you’ve moved overseas?

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!

____________

Need a way to organize all your language learning notes? Check out our very first product One Word at a Time: Language Learning  Notebook.

Do you need to keep up with your Netflix shows while living abroad? Try Express VPN to allow you to view all American channels you are subscribed to.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram or Facebook Private Group.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Some of you might think this episode is not for you. “I’m not a creative person,” you might be saying to yourself. On the contrary, my friend. As Lauren reminds us in this episode, “there are so many ways you can be creative without owning paintbrushes.” In this episode, we talk with Lauren Hooper (podcast host of How She Creates) about how to make time for creativity while you’re living abroad. The world and all of its richness is at our fingertips and Lauren encourages us to experience something new and turn it into art. Every day is brand new. Carpe diem!

Connect with Alicia

Connect with Melissa

Connect with Lauren: Podcast | Blog | Instagram | Retreat

QUESTIONS ASKED THIS EPISODE:

How did you end up overseas?

Can you tell us a little more about the business you started overseas?

Have you always being a creative soul?

What were some of the challenges to wanting to create more?

What were some steps you took to help you start creating?

Have you found that creating and being an artist has connected you to the outside culture?

Tell us more about your linking your passion for art and your passion for social endeavors into one. How have your experiences overseas has led you down this path?

What are some tips you can give us on how to view our expat experience

HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS

Subscribe | To subscribe on iOS, go to our iTunes page and subscribe to the Taking Route Podcast. 

Leave a review | When you leave a five-star iTunes review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes. Need directions? Just check out the “Reviews” highlight on our Instagram account.

Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love!

____________

Do you need to keep up with your Netflix shows while living abroad? Try Express VPN to allow you to view all American channels you are subscribed to.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram or Facebook Private Group.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

When we first move overseas, we don’t often think about the long-term implications. It’s hard to wrap our minds around what nearly 20 years of life abroad will look like, or if we’ll even make it to that point. Quite honestly, not many people do stay for that long. Rachel Pieh Jones, the author of the book Stronger Than Death, speaks honestly within this episode about the unexpected grief and loneliness she has felt while staying overseas for the long-haul. She also shares about the things her family has done well over the last 17 years, the benefits of staying long-term, and why we need to start being more honest about the joys and the hardships of life abroad.

Connect with Denise

Connect with Alicia

Connect with Rachel: Blog | Books | Newsletter | Instagram

Do you need to keep up with your Netflix shows while living abroad? Try Express VPN to allow you to view all American channels you are subscribed to.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram or Facebook Private Group.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Questions discussed during this episode:

What has it been like raising your kids in Africa and now sending them back to the States? What have been the challenges and joys in that?

Looking back, is there anything you did really well or wish you would have done to help prepare for this time when they’re being launched to extended family and friends?

Was there any awkwardness with the relationships of extended family members or do you feel like your kids fit right in and it was a smooth transition?

Do you feel like this stage in life is something that’s talked about enough in the expat community or something that’s not addressed?

What are some of the amazing things you’ve seen because you’ve been overseas for 17 years?

Have there ever been any close calls where you’ve thought, “maybe we should go home.” If so, how did you decide to stay?

Share with us the story behind your new book and what it’s about.

If you could encourage an expat woman right now, what would you say to her to help her fight the good fight one more day?

On the difficult days of expat life, we might be guilty of daydreaming about "going home." But then, we snap ourselves out of it and declare, "what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!" We pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and march forward, determined to stay the course and not let anything threaten to send us packing. Over time, pride takes over and suddenly we think "going home" is equal to "quitting." But what if it's EXACTLY what the Lord is calling us to do? What if going home is the next RIGHT step to take? Join us as we chat with returning guest, Lauren Pinkston, on the topic of going "home."

Connect with Lauren | and her fair-trade business: Wearthy | and her new job

Connect with the Taking Route Community on Instagram or Facebook. Check out more relevant expat articles on Taking Route Blog.

Connect with Denise

Connect with Alicia

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Questions discussed during this episode:

When you moved overseas, did you think it was going to be forever?

When you started thinking about coming back to your passport country, walk me through what that looked like. Was it just because your 5-year contract was coming to an end?

What were the confirmations to move back?

How did you work through the bitterness and resentment and get to a place where you were ok going back to the U.S.?

Did you have any fears about how you would be viewed once you got back to the United States?

How did you finish well? What were some of the things you did before you got on that plane that has allowed you to live in more freedom being back in North America?

Now that you’re on the other side, what was it like landing and still having the hardships you carried with you from Southeast Asia?

Now that you’ve been through the whole process, how has it been confirmed that this was the right thing for your family?

What’s on the horizon for you?

It's that time of year again: school uniforms are being purchased, homeschool rooms are being organized, and kids are holding signs and cheesing for mom to mark the first day of school. In this tea-time episode, we're discussing the experiences we've had in our host countries with local school and homeschooling, along with some things we've learned. We also talk about what kind of students we were growing up, how you better not miss too many days of public school in the States "OR ELSE," and how one PTA president let power get to her head.

Come connect with our community on Instagram.  Also, find Denise, Alicia, and Melissa there, too.

Please check out our show notes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

We’re so excited to be recording this episode of Taking Route Podcast, mainly because it’s been SO LONG since we’ve released a new one. Thanks to all the transition in each of our expat lives, finding the perfect time to record a podcast was simply not going to happen. One could even say we didn’t set realistic expectations – hey, what a great segue into today’s topic! For this segment of “It’s Tea Time Somewhere”, we’re talking “All About Expectations.” Life overseas brings a whole load of expectations – what we put on ourselves, what others put on us, unspoken expectations, and spoken expectations. How do you deal with it all without going crazy? That’s what we’re going to chat about. (We’re also talking about Honda. If you’re listening to Honda, we’ll send you an invoice for the ad space we gave you.)

Come connect with our community on Instagram.  Also, find Denise, Alicia, and Melissa there, too.

Please check out our show notes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us.

On today’s podcast, we have a guest who might be familiar to many: Ruth Van Reken, author of Letters Never Sent, and Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds.Growing up overseas before there was a concrete explanation of Third Culture Kids, Ruth had to navigate through the emotions, gifts, and baggage of a cross-cultural lifestyle on her own. Now she does her best to raise awareness of these joys and struggles so that families can be well equipped for these experiences. Listen as she shares her life story and answers some questions suggested by listeners about the tools and methods she has learned to help develop the capacity of these TCKS to be a positive influence on the world.

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Connect with Ruth on her website or  Facebook. Find her books on Amazon.  

Connect with the Taking Route Community on Instagram or Facebook. Check out more relevant expat articles on Taking Route Blog.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

We also have show notes!  Light reading for your pleasure.

Time for a new segment of “It’s Tea Time Somewhere.” This is when our podcast team chats all about a particular topic of interest and this episode is all about expat friendships. We discuss how you can’t be too picky and how being that way can actually cause you to miss out on some amazing friendships. We chat about handling disagreements and what to do when you have to regularly interact with someone who isn’t the easiest to love. Are expat friendships worth all of the work? Do expat friendships hinder your ability to acclimate to the host culture? Did Alicia, Melissa, and Denise even like each other when they first met? You’ll have to go download the episode and find out what we have to say about all of this.

Come connect with our community on Instagram.  Also, find Denise, Alicia, and Melissa there, too.

Please check out our show notes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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How do you balance cross-cultural living, motherhood, the responsibilities of being a pastors wife, and still find the time to write books? To many of us that may seem like an overwhelming amount of pressure and expectations, and today’s guest, Gloria Furman agrees that sometimes it does feel a little out of control. How are you supposed to plan when you get thrown curveballs like your little ones getting batteries stuck in their ears? Gloria shares the honest struggles and tips on how to prayerfully keep from overcommitting.

Connect with Gloria on her website or  Instagram. Find her books on Amazon.  

Connect with the Taking Route Community on Instagram or Facebook. Check out more relevant expat articles on Taking Route Blog.

Questions Denise asked Gloria:

You have all these people who have different cultures that might have different expectations – how do you balance those expectations on you and your family and Redeemer Church, just in your small church family?

I know that you have written several books about being a mother and about the gospel, and I know you are doing other things too, so how do you pick, or what is the process that you go through of picking what to get involved with and what to put your time into?

So when you have these 99 different things coming your way, what is your litmus test for deciding whether it is a yes or a no? Is it something that you and your husband have discussed? You said you have learned a lot by trial and error, but now, 10 years in, do you know?

Is [going on sabbatical] something that you normally do? Is that a discipline that you have in your life?

Do you think that sabbatical, maybe not for months on end, will become a discipline for you guys moving forward?

So what are some practical things that you do to reset your family and yourself on what matters when you have speaking engagements and people to love and kids that have batteries in their ears?

So on top of that going on, how do you reset and focus on what is important?

What would you say to someone who is struggling with getting started, as the demands seem so great and they do not know where the start line is? How would you encourage them?

 I have a request – could you share a story from your book?

Finish this sentence: When traveling internationally, you will not be found without this item:

___________

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our show notes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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As a mother of three small children living overseas, the last thing you need is more on your plate. In the midst of transitioning between continents, Ashley McCartney received more complications than just lost baggage and a tight schedule – she received a brain tumor diagnosis. However, our God does not say he gives help if suffering comes; he says when suffering comes. In today’s podcast, Ashley shares the story of her ongoing illness and her family’s eventual transition back overseas, along with how God has sustained her in the midst of suffering -- showing her(and us)how an undeniably bad thing can still be used for His glory.

Connect with Ashley on Instagram.

Connect with the Taking Route Community on Instagram or Facebook. Check out more relevant expat articles on Taking Route Blog.

Questions we asked Ashley:

Learning the culture of your host country is just as important as learning the language. Without ever intending it, we can cause hurt feelings to abound when our culture collides with another — especially when we try to project our social rules into the relationship. This is why we’re so thankful Sarah Lanier took the time to write about these differences in her book, "Foreign to Familiar." In this episode we talk with her about hot climate and cold climate cultures and how knowing the difference between the two can completely change how you approach friendships in your host country.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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In this final episode of the season, our podcast team gathers together once more to discuss a relatable topic of overseas life. This time, it’s all about transition. Denise, Melissa, and Alicia each take a moment to share about how they’ve navigated through and coped with the transitions that have come their way this past year. Some of the change was excepted and some of it came as a shock. Regardless of how it comes about, we’re all aware change is a regular part of the expat life that we have to work through. You know how the saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade-flavored LaCroix and decide whether or not you like it.” Maybe that’s not quite how the saying goes but Denise, Melissa and Alicia do take a moment to discuss our opinions of this popular beverage.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Emily Thomas (Mom Struggling Well Podcast) admits that expat life was not the exciting adventure of her dreams.  Maybe it was the lack of a good shower, the morning roosters, the firework plant next to your apartment or maybe, it was the fact that she was right in the middle of her journey through infertility. It can be excruciating enough dealing with the disappointment of not being pregnant month after month, but when you sprinkle in life abroad, life can be overwhelming.  Emily shares about what she learned through her time difficult years overseas. She candidly talks about how it affected her marriage, her attitude and her interactions with nationals.  She also encourages us on how to bless our expat sisters who are struggling with infertility.  

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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There are very few careers on this earth where we group individuals by their marital status. However, when it comes to team dynamics and cultural expectations overseas, it happens a lot.  Oftentimes, we gravitate towards being best friends with people who share the same marital status as us, but that doesn't have to be the case. In this episode we talk with happily-single Amy Young.  She shares about her experiences of living in community during her 20 years of life in China. We discuss the good and the hard of building a community which intertwines families and singles, and how sometimes you just have to invite yourself and ask to be included. Amy eloquently describes how families need singles and singles need families.  When expats work hard to open our doors and our lives to each other, community is built and beauty is found.  Also, find out how her life was like an episode of Friends.You know how much we love referencing Friends...

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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Stress, transition and unrealistic expectations of a culture can all be triggers for eating disorders and negative body issues.  All three of these things are prevalent in life abroad.  Elizabeth Trotter, Editor of A Life Overseas, shares candidly about her personal story of battling an eating disorder and how she has seen victory in this area of her life. Elizabeth shares how to speak positively about our bodies in front our children and how to protect them from unwanted touching and attention. She points out common signs of someone struggling with an eating disorder and gives us practical advice for speaking truth over ourselves and seeing ourselves as a beautiful creation of God.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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Exhaustion. Burnout. Fatigue. Somehow we don’t see it coming but we know when we’re there. That moment when we’ve come to the end of our rope, when we’ve given and poured out all that we have, all while forgetting to take care of ourselves in the process. In this interview with Danielle Wheeler, founder and creator of Velvet Ashes, we talk about being proactive to find sustainment in our lives (and not waiting until we’ve depleted ourselves before doing so!) Danielle isn’t only passionate in speaking about women finding sustainment — she puts her words into action by creating a yearly online retreat geared to meet women anywhere in the world. Listen to this episode to find out more about this year’s retreat (and how much we have in common with air plants).

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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“You think your life is one thing and then you get blindsided by the reality that it’s actually something else, something you were totally unprepared for,” Julie Martinez recounts about her final weeks in Chile. Five days after Julie delivered her second child, she found out devastating news concerning actions done by her husband. The next thing she new, she and her family were on a plane headed back to the States in a cloud of shame and embarrassment. Just when she thought the worst was behind her, more betrayal and hurt entered her life. During our chat with Julie, we talk about the toxicity of shame, the need for intentional people to reach out to those hurting, and the importance of being obedient in the small, seemingly insignifcant things. Julie knows what brokenness is, but she also knows what it is to be healed.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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Depending on where you live in the world, the topic of skin color might come up daily. Maybe your skin tone is noticeably different than everyone else around you and this physical feature is brought to your attention (as if you weren’t already aware of it). It then becomes the topic of discussion for the next 5 minutes. It’s a type of discussion our friend Sharon Rivers is all too familiar with and she’s become quite well-versed in it by now. As a mother of 5 children (3 biological and 2 adopted), her colorful family gets extra glances and comments directed their way, no matter where they are in the world. During our interview with Sharon, she beautifully articulates how race is both nothing and everything for their family.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Expat Community on Instagram @takingrouteblog or Facebook.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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One of the more intimidating things about living cross-culturally is when you decide to start inviting people into your home. Our minds tend to go into overthinking mode with all sorts of questions: “What if they don’t feel comfortable? What if they don’t like the food I prepare for them? Is this halal? Do I need to make room to sit on the floor or in chairs?” Fortunately, Julie, the writer behind The Serviette, puts our minds to ease about the topic of hosting others in our home. She opens up about her own experiences—as well as insecurities—when it comes to being a hospitable expat and helps us to remember that it’s really about making more room in your heart, schedule, and lives for those around you. It has much less to do with the space available in your home or whether you can prepare the best meal. 

Be sure to stick around after the interview to hear more cross-cultural experiences and tips from expats from the Taking Route Community.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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Christmas is upon us and Denise, Alicia and Melissa are talking ALL about it.  They take the discussion way back to their childhood years and discuss the traditions they grew to love.  Those traditions turned into expectations (which sometimes led to disappointments) they put on the holiday season as an adult.  They discuss their first Christmases overseas as well as what they have come to love about celebrating the holidays overseas.  And what holiday special wouldn't be complete without discussing traditions around the world that involve pickles, roller skates and a murdering grandmother? So grab a cup of tea, relax and enjoy another episode of "It's Tea Time Somewhere."

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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For 13 years, Phillippa and her husband and their 2 kids lived in a remote village in the Philippines. When it became obvious that their time there was coming to a close, Philippa found herself dreaming of a life in the West drinking coffee while her kids went to a beautiful public school. Then they received an email asking them to consider a new village with a NEW language and a NEW culture (which also requires a helicopter ride in and out). Philippa knew in her heart her family would be moving there. In this episode, she shares how starting over can be challenging, especially when juggling language learning, family commitments, and homeschool.  But she’s also finding these challenges to be a beautiful, life-changing experience.

Stick around for "Favorite Things" segment where we discuss Denise and Melissa's favorite books, shows, Pandora Stations and boots.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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Living Abroad can challenge any marriage.  When married cross-culturally those challenges quadruple.  Michelle Acker Perez candidly shares about life overseas and experiences of be Guatemala and the joy and difficulties of cross-cultural marriage.  We covered a wide range of topics with Michelle including navigating uncomfortable situations within each others home cultures, sorting out family dynamics, and dealing with the tension between her and her husband around opportunities brought on by privilege.   Michelle shares eye-opening experiences dealing with immigration around the world as a couple with two different passports.  Sure, there are challenges to cross-cultural marriage, but Michelle is convinced with hard-work, communication, grace and understanding that marriage of two cultures can work beautifully.  

Stick around for "Favorite Things" segment where we discuss keeping in touch with family.  Also, Denise and Alicia get a little loopy.  You don't want to miss that.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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It's always good to have a plan. That's the responsible thing to do, after all. Unfortunately, there's never any guarantee things will go according to plan -- and this is when our flexibility as expats is tested.  Allie Riddle, a third generation expat, shares her experience from her family's sudden evacuation from her home in South Sudan when the war was just too close.  Allie left behind her home and her dream job as a nurse in a mission hospital.  Allie shares the emotional and spiritual transformation that happened when she didn't hold on to plans too tight.  

Stick around at the end of the show to here for the "Favorite Things" segment where we discuss favorite fall hacks.  

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

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It’s time for another segment of “It’s Tea Time Somewhere!” This time we’re talking home assignments. What does our preparation look like? How bad is the jet lag? (Spoiler alert: real bad.) What does life look like when we’re finally back to our home country? These are just a few of the things Denise, Alicia, and Melissa chat about in regards to heading “home.” So go ahead and make yourself some tea or coffee and get comfy. You won’t want to miss us talk about all that has happened to us while under the influence of jet lag. 

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode and for resources for your home assignment at www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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The longer you live overseas, the harder it is to answer the question, "which country do you like best?" While culture shock usually brings all the things you don't love about a country to the surface, longevity ends up showing you things about the culture you wish you could take with you everywhere you go. We covered a wide-range of topics with Elizabeth including making friends, having a bicycle as your main transportation, and giving birth abroad. What do they all have in common? Trade-offs. We think you'll walk away after listening to this interview with a new enthusiasm to embrace your host country with open arms. Sure, there are things we might just have let go of... but there are also new things we can pick up along the way.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Sometimes we don't think we "have the time" to embark on anything new. No time for exercise, no time for writing, no time to start a new hobby (or pick an old one back up). The idea seems dreamy but you're convinced your schedule is simply too packed to add anything else. Sara Beth certainly thought this same thing when considering whether or not she should join her husband in training for a triathlon. She had plenty of good reasons not to: homeschooling five kids, bouncing back and forth between city life and mountain life, the dangerous levels of pollution that tend to happen in China, the fact that she didn't have an athletic bone in her body. Sara Beth was convinced there was no time to start anything new, until she looked at her schedule and realized she could be making better use of the time. Not only has this new adventure (in her case, training for a triathlon) helped her overall well-being as an expat living in Western China, it's changed her whole family for the better too. 

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Isn’t it funny how sometimes we struggle with going the extra few steps to meet our neighbor, even though we’ve already taken thousands of steps to move overseas in the first place? We’ve already sold all our possessions, moved away from all that’s familiar, and immersed ourselves into a new culture and language. So what makes taking some of those extra steps to reach out to the people around us so difficult? Jana shares her personal experience with this struggle and how she has found ways to push herself, even it means awkwardly offering a loaf of banana bread to get the conversation going. 

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Any high schooler would choose boarding school over homeschooling, right?  Not necessarily.  Robin Talley discusses how as a family they talked through educational choices and how they decided to homeschool through high school, even though they live in a remote area without traditional American opportunities.  Robin talks to us about overcoming doubt during hard times, being creative to fulfill the social needs of her teens and how to smoothly transition from making decisions FOR your children to making decisions WITH your children.  This episode is packed full of wisdom from a TCK parent even if your kids are just toddlers and homeschool isn't even on your radar.

Please check out our shownotes for all the resources listed in this episode including links to "Our Favorite Things" www.takingroute.net/podcast.

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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What do you do when fear seems like it's paralyzing you? What if the life overseas you envisioned seems to be unraveling? Ruth Ripken touches on these questions as she opens up about sickness and loss in her own life while living abroad. She reminds us that moving forward doesn't have to be a lot of steps all at once. Sometimes it simply means taking one obedient step at a time.  

Please check out our shownotes for resources on grief, loss and dealing with death from afar.  www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Introducing our new episode series: "It's Tea Time Somewhere!" Every several episodes, we'll take a break from interviewing guests and the podcast team will get together to chat about different topics. This week it's all about LANGUAGE. The thought of that either made you fist pump the air with excitement or made your eye twitch a little. Denise, Alicia and Melissa share about the beginnings of their language journeys.  They also share tips for our Instagram Community and chat a little about advance language learning and breaking past plateaus.  No matter what your feelings are towards learning a new language or where you are in that language learning journey, we hope you'll find this episode to be helpful. 

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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A lot of people thought Dacia wouldn't last in Uganda. Pretty clothes and heels filled her closet in Texas before she decided to sell everything, buy her first pair of flat shoes, and move abroad. She was the only overseas worker with a local boss and she knew if they were going to make this work, she was going to have to submit to the culture a little more than most people do. Dacia is a radiant example of someone who went all in, even when rejection was abundant, in order to show her love for the people.

This episode's "Favorite Things" topic is from around the web.  We share about one of our favorite websites for overseas women, Velvet Ashes.

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Lisa’s greatest adventure — parenting — combined with unique cultural experiences, has led to some of her most exciting discoveries about herself. When she and her husband, along with their infant son had the opportunity to move abroad, a lot changed. But the fresh start (plus adding a new family member) brought the opportunity to figure out what mattered most to them. Whether it’s picking and choosing parenting styles from two different cultures or choosing a new line of work while living abroad, Lisa has learned to find the balance between the foreign and familiar. 

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Muslim women have always been a close part of Marilyn's life. Growing up as a TCK, they were like her aunts and second moms. As she became older, Muslim women became some of her closest friends. Differences in religions can certainly complicate things sometimes -- maybe even challenge our own faith -- but when a foundation of respect is built, cross-cultural friendship can prove to be just as deeply rooted as friendships we have within our own culture.

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Colette and her husband, Max, have a marriage that is admired by the young students they spend time with in their city. "I want a marriage just like yours," the students constantly exclaim. But Colette assures the students (and us) that their marriage does not come without a lot of hard work, commitment, and sometimes having the same conversation over and over and... well, you get the point. Their secret? Transparency!

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

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Join us as we chat with Lauren Pinkston about adoption, moving between different countries (4 to be exact), and doing the things we said would never, EVER do. You'll also hear a little bit about the fair trade business started and how she handles herself when invited to "ELITE" events with local friends. You won't want to miss that story.

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a REVIEW!! It helps others like you find us. 

Welcome to the NEW podcast from Taking Route. We’re not going to lie, starting a podcast in a country known for frequent power outages (and having poor internet connection) definitely complicates things. Nevertheless, we are determined to bring you quality conversations from expat women around the globe. We have SO many topics to cover and we can’t wait to bring you into the conversation. To start things off, Denise and Alicia chat in this “trailer” episode about what you can expect from this podcast and how there’s never a moment in life when a quote from Friends is not applicable.

For full show notes go to www.takingroute.net/podcast

Like what you heard? Go to www.takingroute.net for more expat conversations and resources.  Don't forget to join our Instagram community @takingrouteblog.

Please don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review on iTunes!!