The Secret To Expat Happiness – Building Friendships Abroad
About this episode
Yolanda Reshemah discusses building authentic community and friendships as an expat.
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 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 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…
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