The Secret To Expat Happiness – Building Friendships Abroad

Yolanda Reshemah, host of The Places We Call Home Podcast, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about building authentic community when you move abroad. Yolanda's expat journey began at just 10 years old when she moved from the Caribbean to the UK, and she's since lived in France and the USA. She shares how each move shaped her identity — from discovering Parisian culture to navigating reverse culture shock — and why feeling at home starts with knowing yourself.

Carlie and Yolanda dig into why shared expat status isn't enough to build lasting friendships, and how Yolanda sought deeper connections through volunteering, classes at Berkeley, and being intentional about what she needs. They also swap stories about cultural quirks in the US, from California's yoga-outfit uniform to the phenomenon of "flaking," and discuss what it really means to thrive rather than just settle in a new country.

#ExpatLife #ExpatCommunity #MovingAbroad #LivingInUSA #BuildingCommunity

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00:00 Yolanda's Expat Journey

01:25 Caribbean to UK at 10

02:42 Finding Parisian Community

04:13 Reverse Culture Shock

04:41 Tourist to Local Mindset

05:43 How Early Moves Shape You

08:09 Lessons on Slowing Down

09:41 Starting Her Podcast

12:23 A Process for Belonging

13:47 What Feeds and Anchors You

18:39 Building Lasting Friendships

22:15 Beyond Expat Friend Groups

24:48 US Culture Quirks

29:32 Where Home Is Next

31:19 Find Yolanda Online

32:36 Final Thoughts

🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/international/podcast/the-secret-to-expat-happiness-building-friendships-abroad

📝 Show Notes

The Places We Call Home Podcast – https://theplaceswecallhome.com/

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