Bianca From Romania: Gymnastics Opened the World to Me

In this episode, I sit down with Bianca, a former Romanian world champion gymnast, researcher, and expat living in Prague. We talk about her incredible journey—from growing up by the Black Sea in Romania to competing on the world stage, studying in Finland, coaching in France, and eventually creating a new home in the Czech Republic.

Bianca shares how gymnastics shaped her discipline and outlook on life, why Prague was only supposed to be a six-month stop, and how unexpected opportunities convinced her to stay. We also dive into cultural differences, learning Czech, balancing ambition with intuition, and the small moments that make a city truly feel like home.

Whether you're an expat, considering moving abroad, or simply curious about the stories behind people's journeys, this episode is full of thoughtful reflections on identity, resilience, and embracing life's unexpected paths.

✨ In this episode, we discuss:

Growing up in Romania and becoming a world champion gymnast
Living in Finland, France, and finally Prague
Finding community through sport
Cultural surprises in the Czech Republic
Building a career in academia after elite sports
The challenges of language learning and staying connected to family
Why "home" is sometimes a place you never planned to stay

🎙️ If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a rating—it really helps more people discover these inspiring expat stories.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(16)

From India: I Came to Prague for Christmas and Never Left

What makes someone leave India, study in Lithuania, and eventually build a life in Prague?In this episode of the Xuxu Podcast, I sit down with an expat who has lived in six countries, traveled to near...

31 Maj 27min

From Istanbul to Brno: This Is Your Sign to Quit Corporate Life

What happens when you leave Istanbul, start from scratch in Brno, build a career in IT… and then decide to buy a van and launch your own moving business?In this episode of Xuxu, I talk with the founde...

30 Apr 34min

S2: Episode 1 - Charlanne from USA

In this episode of Xuxu, I talk with Charlanne, an American expat who moved to Prague in 2013 and ended up building a whole new life in the Czech Republic. What started as a trip with her dad to Pragu...

1 Apr 33min

Episode 12: Closing season 1 with Xuxu

Welcome to the final episode of Season 1, an episode mostly about xuxu. But i needed a host - so I invited my friend Martin. The first ever Czech person I was in touch with. After a full season of int...

28 Feb 43min

Episode 11: Constantine from Greece

❄️ “Did I make the wrong decision?”Arriving in Prague at minus five degrees, straight from a sunny Greece, our guest’s very first thought was doubt. In this episode, we rewind to October 2018: the fir...

31 Jan 38min

Episode 10: Maria from Ukraine

What does it really take to rebuild your life in a new country—and even create a community from scratch?In this episode, Maria shares her journey of arriving in Prague alone, without ever having visit...

31 Dec 202531min

Episode 9: Robin from England

In this episode of Xuxu Podcast, we welcome Robin, who takes us through his unexpected journey from the UK to Prague — starting with a fully-funded interview trip for a PhD that changed everything.Rob...

30 Nov 202548min