In this episode of the GTFO Pod, hosts Tara Calihman and Caroline Donahue discuss with filmmaker and photographer Andrew Putschoegl his unique journey from Los Angeles to Berlin. Andrew shares his early passion for filmmaking, his transition into editing, and the significant changes the pandemic brought to his career.

The conversation delves into the inspiration behind his photography project 'Together Apart', the benefits and challenges of relocating to Berlin, and his new creative pursuits. Andrew also shares insights on his language learning experience and the process of adapting to life in Germany as an American.

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Meet our Guest: Andrew Putschoegl

Andrew wants to live in a world where someone else writes his bio.

Episode Takeaways

• Embrace Change: Andrew's move to Berlin highlights the importance of adapting to new environments and opportunities.

• Creative Resilience: The pandemic shifted Andrew's focus from film production to editing, showcasing the need for flexibility in creative careers.

• Connection Through Art: Andrew's "Together Apart" project demonstrates how art can bridge gaps and foster community during challenging times.

• Cultural Exploration: Living in Berlin has opened new creative avenues for Andrew, emphasizing the value of cultural diversity in artistic expression.

Chapters

0:30 Early Filmmaking Journey
01:52 Transition to Berlin
06:32 Photography Projects During COVID
08:04 Building a Creative Community in Berlin
16:16 Language and Citizenship Challenges
30:17 Career Impact and Future Plans

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In this episode of the GTFO Pod, we, Tara and Caroline, discuss the differences between European holidays and American vacations. After we took some time off ourselves, we share about each of our recent holiday experiences and the ease of booking frequent getaways in Europe.

We explore the importance placed on taking holidays for those in Europe, contrasting this approach with the high-pressure, work-focused culture in the U.S. Our discussion covers everything from taking city breaks and extended holidays in places like Leipzig, Malta and Majorca, to the joys of sun trips in winter for the Irish. The episode provides insights into how these cultural differences impact the overall quality of life.

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Episode Takeaways

• Travel within Europe is more budget-friendly than North Americans realize

• Taking holiday time is much more protected in Europe than in the US and UK

• Europeans expect to take multiple holidays per year, even just within their own country

• Jobs with paid leave provide much more time off from the point of hire in Europe: you don’t need to work at a company several years to get to several weeks’ paid leave per year

• People are required to take their leave in Europe, and rarely fear any repercussions for going away

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Holiday Background
00:16 European Holidays vs. American Vacations
01:17 City Breaks and Extended Holidays
07:39 Cost-Effective Travel Tips
09:33 Cultural Differences in Taking Time Off
17:29 Traditional German Holidays
19:35 Cycling Misadventures in Denmark
20:38 Relaxing in Majorca
21:17 Typical Irish Holidays
22:00 Winter Sun Escapes
24:09 Exploring Malta
27:05 European Train Travel: Pros and Cons
33:27 The Baltic Sea Holiday
34:18 The Pressure of American Holidays
35:39 Encouragement for Restful Holidays
38:06 Conclusion and Invitation for Discussion

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In this episode of GTFO Pod, hosts Caroline and Tara welcome special guest Laura Howe. Laura shares her extraordinary journey of leaving America and living abroad because of corporate relocation. Beginning with her move to Switzerland, initiated by a LinkedIn recruiter, Laura details the cultural and emotional challenges she faced while navigating a high-paying corporate job, transitioning from Switzerland to Tokyo, and eventually returning to Switzerland.

Laura provides an insightful look at the unique challenges of expatriate life, especially when managing personal upheavals, such as a separation. She discusses the emotional impact of moving abroad despite corporate support and delves into the differences in work cultures between Switzerland and Japan. Laura concludes by reflecting on her life post-corporate job, learning new languages, and building a support network. This episode provides a comprehensive look at the multifaceted experience of corporate life abroad.

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Meet our Guest: Laura Howe

Laura is the founder of Dispatched Divorcée, a global community to help women build, define, and thrive in their lives after divorce by providing the resources she wished she had when she went through it. She is fiercely motivated to make sure that no woman feels as lonely and lost as she did.

You can subscribe to The Diary of a Dispatched Divorcée, a newsletter about the people you meet while experiencing the world and building a business outside the US. Laura is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and can be found on Instagram at @cheekylamiki.

Episode Takeaways

• Laura moved to Switzerland during a separation, which added complexity.

• Cultural workplace dynamics differed hugely between Switzerland and Japan.

• A lack of personal support when moving abroad takes a huge toll.

• Corporate relocation provides logistical support but won’t address emotional challenges.

• In Japan, Laura found a supportive community that helped her navigate cultural differences.

• Returning to Switzerland presented new challenges, including adapting to a changing corporate environment.

• Laura's journey emphasizes the need for personal growth and community abroad.

Chapters

00:24 Meeting Laura: From Online Friends to Real Life
01:33 Laura's Journey to Switzerland
06:14 Adjusting to Life in Switzerland
11:28 Transition to Tokyo
12:52 Life as an Expat in Tokyo
16:39 Drinking Culture in Japan
18:05 Navigating Social Norms and Work Culture
19:37 Experiencing Cultural Differences
20:32 Integration and Personal Connections
21:28 Challenges of Being a Foreigner
23:39 Returning to Switzerland
24:46 Adjusting Back and Career Reflections
25:58 Finding Community and Personal Growth
27:37 Corporate Life and Moving Forward

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In this episode of GTFO pod, hosts Caroline Donahue and Tara Calliman discuss the complexities and challenges of living as immigrants in Germany and Ireland. Having lived abroad for over five years, they reflect on cultural shifts, political changes, and their experiences with the local political systems. They delve into topics such as voting rights, the rise of nationalist sentiments, and the impact of climate crises and immigration policies. The duo also shares their personal journeys of adapting to new cultural norms and becoming involved in their local communities. Despite acknowledging their imperfect understanding, they emphasize the importance of staying informed and engaged in political discourse, even in a foreign country.

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Episode Takeaways

• Both hosts reflect on their experiences living abroad for over five years.

• Navigating cultural shifts can be challenging for long-term residents.

• Political engagement is complicated for residents without citizenship.

• Germany allows permanent residents to vote in local elections, unlike the US.

• Community engagement is crucial for immigrants to invest in their new home.

• Acceptance of local customs can lead to a more fulfilling life abroad.

• Conversations with locals can bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding.

• The hosts share the importance of being politically aware as immigrants.

• They acknowledge the complexities of discussing political issues in their adopted countries.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Check-In
00:09 Living Abroad: Initial Experiences and Challenges
01:42 Voting Rights and Political Engagement
04:38 Recent Elections and Political Climate
10:29 Nationalism and Immigration Issues
21:33 Adapting to a New Culture
23:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode, Tara and Caroline welcome Genevieve Polk, who shares her experience moving to Portugal from the U.S. They discuss the allure of Portugal, the D7 visa process, cultural comparisons with Spain, and the challenges of language and community integration. Genevieve offers insights into finding work, building a new life, and the importance of embracing the local culture and language.

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Meet our Guest: Genevieve Polk

Genevieve Polk is an avid traveler and communications expert living in Lisbon, Portugal. When not enjoying the plethora of delicious wines and pasteis de nata on offer, she is building her confidence coaching business (launching this Spring)!

Terrifying but true: Genevieve and Caroline first met in kindergarten, and have known each other over 40 years 😱. We knew she was the guest to call about Portugal, given her experience living in Spain before calling Portugal home.

Episode Takeaways

• Portugal is increasingly popular among those looking to move abroad.

• The D7 visa offers a pathway to residency in Portugal.

• Exploring Lisbon can help gauge if it's the right fit.

• Language learning is crucial for integration.

• Community and friendships take time to build in a new country.

• The D7 visa requires a signed lease before application.

• Cultural differences between Spain and Portugal are significant.

• Portugal is far more open to outsiders moving there than Spain is.

• Finding work can be challenging, but is possible with the right skills.

• Being invited into someone's home is a significant cultural gesture.

Chapters

01:28The Decision to Move to Portugal
06:07Exploring Portugal: A Recon Mission
10:45Understanding the D7 Visa Process
17:08Navigating Work Opportunities in Portugal
21:25Launching a New Venture: Confidence Coaching
21:50Exploring Language and Culture in Spain and Portugal
27:04Navigating Language Barriers and Cultural Differences
33:01Understanding the Immigration Landscape: Spain vs. Portugal
37:41Building Connections: The Challenge of Making Friends Abroad

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In this episode of GTFO Pod, Caroline Donahue and Tara Calihman explore the complexities of life abroad, discussing the differences between the terms ‘expat’ and ‘immigrant’, the challenges of cultural assimilation, and the implications of recent real estate taxation in Spain.

They also delve into the new UK visa requirements and the ongoing changes in citizenship policies, emphasizing the importance of understanding these dynamics for anyone considering relocation.

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Episode Takeaways

• The term 'expat' carries different connotations than 'immigrant'.

• Cultural assimilation is crucial for a fulfilling expat experience.

• Language barriers can be a significant challenge when relocating.

• Real estate taxation policies can impact foreign buyers significantly.

• Understanding visa requirements is essential for travel and relocation.

• Citizenship processes can change with political climates.

• Investing in local culture enhances the expat experience.

• Temporary living arrangements may affect your level of investment in a new country.

• Navigating bureaucracy is a common hurdle for expats.

• It's important to stay informed about immigration policies in your chosen country.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Expat Life
01:50The Expat vs. Immigrant Debate
09:19Cultural Assimilation and Language Challenges
10:43Real Estate and Taxation in Spain
15:48New Visa Requirements for the UK
22:21Political Climate and Its Impact on Relocation

Links

• The Hard Reality American Expats Quickly Learn

• Spain to slap 100% tax on foreign home-buyers in blow to British expat hopefuls

• UK Government Update about the new UK entry visa requirements, starting January 2025

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In this episode, Tara and Caroline engage in a rich conversation with Ginette Law about her experiences moving to France. They explore the motivations behind relocating for love, the complexities of navigating work visas, and the challenges of integrating into French culture. Ginette shares her insights on the bureaucratic hurdles, the importance of community, and the cultural nuances of living in Angers, France. The discussion highlights the significance of having clear expectations and understanding the realities of life abroad.

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Meet our Guest: Ginette Law

Ginette Law is a Canadian who lives in France.

Fun fact: Caroline has known Ginette for years via online writing communities, but we haven’t YET met in person. Once, we each ended up at Charles de Gaule for flights at the same time in the same Terminal, and hoped to say hello at last, but that airport is so massive it would have required a bus ride between our gates. Foiled again.

Hopefully, there will be a real meeting in 2025.

Episode Takeaways

• Moving abroad often involves long-term planning and commitment.

• Language proficiency can ease the immigration process.

• Cultural differences can impact community integration.

• Understanding local bureaucracy is crucial for expats.

• Expectations should be managed to avoid disappointment.

• Food plays a central role in French social life.

• Community building can take time, especially in smaller cities.

• Choosing a location involves considering personal values and lifestyle.

• The pace of life in France is generally slower than in North America.

• Having a clear idea of what you want from the experience is essential.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Moving Abroad
02:38 Love and Relocation: Moving to France for Love
05:25 Navigating Work and Visa Challenges in France
08:07 Understanding French Bureaucracy and Paperwork
10:58 Civics Lessons: Integrating into French Society
13:26 Choosing the Right Location in France
16:13 Building Community and Making Connections Abroad
20:11 Navigating Social Dynamics Post-COVID and Post-Lockdown
24:59 Cultural Adjustments in Smaller Cities
28:38 Long-Term Settling and New Beginnings
32:32 Understanding French Cultural Nuances

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In this episode, Caroline and Tara reconnect after four years of living abroad, sharing their personal milestones and experiences of integrating into their new cultures. Tara discusses her journey to Irish citizenship, including obtaining her passport and driver's license, while Caroline shares her challenges in Germany, including navigating language barriers and the complexities of residency. They reflect on the evolution of their podcast, the importance of community, and the unique opportunities available to artists in their respective countries. The conversation emphasizes the significance of building a life abroad and the ongoing exploration of identity and belonging.

What we discussed

00:00 Reconnecting After Four Years Abroad
06:05 Caroline's Experience in Germany
12:00 Cultural Integration and Language Challenges
18:12 Reviving the Podcast: New Directions
24:28 Building Community and Identity Abroad

New episodes coming twice monthly on Mondays!

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Have questions about life in another country? Topics you’d love to see us cover? Share your wishes for the show in the comments.

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GTFO Pod Returns

In 2018, and I started a podcast about our decisions to move abroad. She landed in Ireland over a year before I settled in Berlin. Even at this point, when we were each still green as hell in the process of living as immigrants abroad, people wanted to know how we’d done it.

We created this show as an FAQ we could give them, making life easier for everyone.

And then, a pandemic hit. As the world hunkered down, moving down the street felt impossible, let alone going to another country, so we pushed pause on the show.

The world has changed

In the past few years, much has changed. We’ve learned more, and COVID has released enough of its grip on the world that moving no longer feels impossible. And world events have brought people back to this same question:

Would I be happier in another country?

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People from the US have been crawling into my inbox at a much higher rate since the recent US election results. People are horrified and, much as I was in 2016, cannot fathom living under that government again, especially with the preview of coming attractions we’ve seen so far.

However, I want to chime in with many other excellent writers living in a different country than the one they were born in, and begin this reboot of the show with a word of caution:

Living abroad does NOT fix everything

One of my very favorite SNL skits of all time, and one I recommend constantly, features Adam Sandler as a scrappy tour company owner. He leads 10-day vacations in Italy for people from around the world, “but mostly Long Island and Jersey.”

His biggest piece of advice about vacations stands even more strongly for living abroad:

“If you’re sad where you are and then you get on a plane to Italy, the you in Italy will be the same sad you from before, just in a new place. Does that make sense?”

Many people dream, as I did, of living abroad, but it’s really important to have self awareness about how a big move like this can affect you. The election in 2016 was a factor in our decision to move to Germany, but it was far from the only thing that caused us to leave the US.

Part of the reason I love this sketch is its uncanny and accurate referencing of psychological concepts. Moving abroad will not change your baseline mood or fundamental aspects of your makeup as a human. It might distract you from them for the first year, but they will always come back.

Would I move again?

Absolutely. Moving to Berlin was 100% the right decision for my husband and me. We have now been together longer in Germany that we were in the US, and at least once a week we confess to each other how happy we are that we made this choice.

Do I still struggle with the same mental health concerns I did before? Yes. Have some of them proven to be far less activated because of societal differences in Berlin? Also, an emphatic yes.

By asking you to pause and reflect before making a drastic choice, I’m simply encouraging you to be sure why you’re moving, so you can make a more informed decision.

I got lucky. Much of my stress was based on living in a city without adequate public transit with a much higher cost of living than I could manage in a job that suited me. Your story might be different.

In order to respect how unique people are, and how different every city and town and country around the world is, we’ll be approaching our return to the show in a spirit of exploration.

Ask good questions

We want you to feel empowered to assess the possibility of moving with questions that serve you available. As creatives who found support and resources they badly needed in a new country, you may come to a different result.

I hope that by listening to this show, you will feel clearer about what you need and more empowered to seek it.

To wrap up this initial post, here are a few things moving abroad can and can’t do for you:

What living in Berlin CAN do for you:

• Help you overcome a fear of filling out forms

• Encourage you to use cash

• Give you access to a decent transit system where there’s no need for a car

• Take you through dozens of Christmas markets come December

• Remove sunlight from about November through late March

• Apply sunlight intensely from May through September

• Give you a change to speak German, but only if you fight for it

What living in Berlin CAN’T do for you

• Make the German language a snap to learn

• Give you a guide on how to sort your recycling

• Give you a sense of meaning and direction in life instantly

• Deliver a package to you without something going wrong

• Let you bag your groceries slowly without other people’s piling up behind

• Allow you to float along without having to learn new rules

• Protect you from scary world events

All kidding aside, at this point I’m no longer a newbie here. I can go to the doctor, the veterinarian, a dinner party, and yell at utility companies on the phone all in German. We are currently pursuing German citizenship, now that they allow dual.

It has not always been easy, but it has been worth it, because the issues I’ve confronted here have felt more manageable with the social structure we have.

In the coming episodes and conversations, Tara and I hope to inform those who are curious so that you can make the best choice for you.

Thanks for being here. If you have questions or topics you’d like us to cover, please share them in the comments below.

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Today we're tackling a tricky topic- transportation!

Both Tara and Caroline went car free for their moves to Europe, so listen to learn how we get around, and how relying on public transport has worked out.

In addition, we discuss a list of questions you'll want to consider about transportation when evaluating potential new countries and cities to live in.

At last- we return with a back to school episode!

What better theme for this time of year than learning to make new friends? Moving to a new country often means uprooting your social life, so this time on GTFO, Caroline and Tara share the challenges and successes they have had making friends abroad in their new home.

Bonus: this is the first episode recorded live and in person, with just one microphone. And two turn tables.

This is a question we've received numerous times so... here are our thoughts on health care, health insurance, and staying healthy while living in a different country. Every country is different, and we expect this will be a topic we'll return to in the future.

Thanks for your questions and thanks for listening!

We're back with an episode about the topic people have been asking about: MONEY.

While we are not accountants or experts in finance, we are each able to share tips and strategies we have learned about dealing with your money as an expat.

Learn about banking, hidden rules, and other things we've often learned the hard way living abroad and having accounts both at home and in our new countries. Happy listening!

In addition to sharing what we've learned about moving abroad, each month we'll be talking to people who've also made the leap and are able to share experiences from their moves. This will allow you to hear about countries other than Ireland and Germany, or to hear from people who've moved to our countries from different home countries.

For this first episode, we begin with Tara's parents, who moved her and their family to Saudi Arabia when she was a child. Tara was truly able to say "I learned it from you" to her parents when she decided to move abroad to Ireland. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Get inside the experience of really moving 6,000 miles away from home as Caroline wraps up her final details, gets rid of last items and prepares herself (and her husband and cats) to GTFO for real.

The biggest objection, by far, that Tara and Caroline have both heard about when discussing their big moves is "I could never get rid of all my stuff!"

To be clear, both did major downsizing in order to move abroad. However, let this episode assuage your fears about dealing with your stuff in order to start off on your big adventure away from home.

Next hot topic for anyone hopeful to get out?

Finding a job in your adopted home. Learn once again from Tara and Caroline about how they approached their job hunts as they were getting the feck out. You'll want to take notes on this one.

It can be really scary to uproot your life and move to an entirely new place, so learn how to find a home in your new city and country. Tara and Caroline had different approaches but are both now happily housed in Dublin and Berlin. Happy listening and planning!

Hear about the questions you'll get asked after moving, what your family is really worried about and strategies to make the most of your visit.

We travel back in time to this past summer, before Caroline moved to Berlin and begin the conversations between her and Tara about how to get through the process of paring down all the things and moving Caroline, her husband, and their pets abroad.

Tara's expertise from her own move to Dublin is essential to navigate this process.