Your Bestie Abroad: Recent Episodes
Dieyun
Overwhelmed by the life abroad that you dreamed of? Feeling isolated in a foreign culture? Wondering what you did wrong that your expat life doesn't look like the ones on Insta? Well, I hear you, I was you, and I am you! I'm Dieyun, an 11-year expat from Beijing finishing her PhD in the U.S. Beyond credit score, visa, academics, and job search, living abroad is about the human experience of integrating a evolving identity, realigning values, and strengthening our alliance with self. This podcast is made for you, and my 17-year-old self, to HUMAN better and belong authentically across borders.
Hostels are a great way to save money and make awesome friends while traveling, it's also not for everybody. In this episode, I share
- the pros (1:39-4:38) and cons (4:39-6:45) of staying at hostels
- 6:46-12:01: how to find the right hostel and room for you
- 12:02-16:58: my top 5 tips of making the most of your hostel stays
Thank you so much for giving me a home between your ears. I strive to create contents that encourage you to practice courage and authenticity to belong truthfully wherever you are. If you enjoy this episode, I’d so appreciate it if you could leave me a five-star review and feedback. Take it to social media @yourbestieabroad on Instagram and Tiktok so I can thank you personally, and join my free Telegram community pinned on my Tiktok so we can support each other on our journey home. Remember border is only where our expansion begins and bonds never end. Celebrate yourself until we meet in the next one!
Have been eyeing a solo travel trip for a while but don't know where to start? Don't feel like "you know enough" to take the trip? Don't know what to do with yourself in a foreign country?
As a solo female traveler for more than 10 years, I hope sharing can help you feel less nervous and more confident about traveling with and by yourself. I broke it down into hard and personal criteria that I always consider when I plan for my trip. I always begin by thinking about the safety and budget (hard criteria,) then move on to comfort level and the purpose of the trip, such as languages, information accessibility, and transportation.
These would be my advice to my past self who's about to embark on her first solo trip, and I hope they offer some value and courage to your journey. Leave a feedback or drop a comment @yourbestieabroad on Tiktok and Instagram and let me know what you think. I hope you travel! <3
Olá de Lisboa!
In this episode, I share my 3 biggest takeaways from my 3-week trip through 7 cities and 4 countries in Europe this Fall so far that made my solo travel experience so so much pleasurable and enjoyable.
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Pack ULTRA light to avoid decision-making fatigue and logistical burden;
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Don't plan to pack your day to preserve energy to immerse in the experience and leave room for surprises; and
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Balance between splurging vs saving MONEY to treat yourself without breaking the bank.
What's your biggest questions about traveling abroad and solo traveling? Leave a comment and take it to social media @yourbestieabroad. I'd so love to hear from you and have a conversation. Remember border is only where expansion begins and bonds never end. Celebrate yourself until I see you in the next one!
What if today was your last day on earth?
Ask yourself again, what if TODAY was your last day on earth?
In this short and juicy episode, I reflect on this question that kept me struggling, in pain, and going during my recovery in September. The fear of being misunderstood, the need for someone else's validation, and the illusion of control are the topics that stem from my reflection. It shouldn't and doesn't take a fatal accident to realize the weight and lightness of life, and let's not make it another regret for spending our precious day and energy mourning someone else's flaws.
Wherever you are in life, I'm with you and I'm rooting for you! If you are still here, if you are still breathing, you are not done, not yet! <3
The quality and meaning of friendship has been the biggest question I’ve been reflecting upon during my recovery after my recent car accident. How do we hold different cultural expectations of friendship? How to foster meaningful friendships that are beyond words and surface-level celebrations but show up with actions and aligned love? What are some important markers we should be more mindful of to find and focus on true friendships?
I discussed these questions with my special guest Sydney R, a first-generation American from an immigrant household, where she experienced and navigated through delicate and different cultural experiences and values. We found four foundational markers of true friendships
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True friends normalize asking for help and don’t make you feel inadequate when you need support.
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True friends follow through with their words with actions.
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True friends help us process jealousy and support us through it instead of policing our emotions.
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True friends celebrate our wins and never see us as a threat.
What are your true friendship markers? Are you struggling with calling in more aligned friendships? I’d love to hear from you—DM or connect with me on Tiktok and Instagram @yourbestieabroad. If you enjoy this episode, I’d so appreciate it if you could leave me a five-star review and feedback. You can connect with Sydney @brujitasydnoire and @earth_is_ghetto_ podcast.
Dear listeners,
I know I've been gone for two weeks and have been quiet. Long story short, I was in a car accident and have been injured. I'm alive, I'm in one piece, and I'm recovering. I just wanted to record a quick message to let you know that I'm still doing this podcast and also to remind myself that there are more and bigger things in life other than pain. I hope you are staying safe and healthy wherever you are. I so look forward to talking to you soon!
Best,
Dieyun
"Can I trust what Chinese say about China?" "Is there freedom of speech in China?" "Is China as bad as what the media says?" Are these some of the questions in your head when you hear the word "China?" Do you want to know more about what China is like beyond the media coverage? Welcome to this episode with Vicky Zhou, one of my favorite creators on Tiktok and the author of Through Her Eyes: Exploring the World While Being Asian. As we both are Chinese woman living, studying, and working abroad, we shared our biggest challenges and joys about living abroad, as well as areas we hope our motherland can improve and the human experiences of growing up Chinese that we want the world to know. Follow Vicky @vicky_zzzzzzz on Tiktok and Instagram, and get a copy of her book Through Her Eyes: Exploring the World While Being Asian on Amazon.
I strive to create content that encourages you to practice courage and authenticity to belong truthfully wherever you are. If you enjoy this episode, I’d so appreciate it if you could leave me a five-star review and feedback. Take it to social media @yourbestieabroad on Instagram and Tiktok so I can thank you personally, and join my free Telegram community pinned on my Tiktok so we can support each other on our journey home. Remember border is only where our expansion begins and bond never ends. Celebrate yourself until we meet in the next one!
Do you ever feel a strong "NO" about certain things you want to do-- doing a dance in public, changing a career, dating online, living in a van? For me, my NO was Tiktok and sharing my poems with the internet. Overcoming the fear of being seen and turning my biggest "NOs" into aligned actions were my doors to call in the community I've always dreamed of. In this episode I talk about my three-week transformative trip in Bogotá, Colombia, as well as my love story with Colombia since 2016 both personally and as a historian in training who researches Colombia. I hope my story can inspire you to take your dreams more seriously and courageously. The greater the fear, the greater the desire, the greater the dream!
I strive to create contents that encourage you to practice courage and authenticity to belong truthfully wherever you are. If you enjoy this episode, I’d so appreciate it if you could leave me a five-star review and feedback. Take it to social media @yourbestieabroad on Instagram and Tiktok so I can thank you personally, and join my free Telegram community pinned on my Tiktok so we can support each other on our journey home. Remember border is only where our expansion begins and bond never ends. Celebrate yourself until we meet in the next one!
With more people working from home after Covid-19, in addition to inflation, the rising cost of living, and other social concerns, there is an influx of expats, digital nomads, and individuals who relocate internationally. This migration from developed to developing nations has intensified gentrifications in several popular destinations, such as Mexico City, Bali, Lisbon, Medellín, and Tulum. Luxury condos, higher cost of living based on U.S dollars, and replacing local infrastructures and norms with North American and Western European customs have made life more difficult for the locals.
In this episode, I have a special guest, Melissa, an American woman who's lived in Medellín, Colombia since 2019, to share her observations, experiences, and tips about how to be a more responsible and mindful expat to cherish the local community and contribute to the economy. We discuss choosing community over comfort, how to navigate the rental process in a foreign country, the balance between recognizing one's expat privilege and making a life abroad meaningful, as well as ways to immerse into the local community.
You can connect with Melissa @migrantmeli on Tiktok.
If you enjoy this episode, I’d so appreciate it if you could leave me a five-star review and feedback. Take it to social media @yourbestieabroad on Instagram and Tiktok so I can thank you personally, and join my free Telegram community pinned on my Tiktok so we can support each other on our journey home.
Why is a Mexican moving to the U.S. called an immigrant but a Canadian moving to Germany called an expat? Have you considered the undertones, prejudice, and assumptions of these terms? In this episode, I share my view of how aporophobia divides everyone who lives abroad into sub-groups by education, race, socioeconomic background, and country of origin, as well as how such biases condition the news and media coverage we consume daily.
Join my Telegram community for a safe space to discuss cultural differences, life abroad, and how we can practice authenticity and courage together. https://t.me/yourbestieabroad
If you enjoy this episode, please kindly leave me a 5-star review and share your feedback on future topics you wish to hear about. Take it to social media @yourbestieabroad on Tiktok and Instagram so I can give you a personal thank you!
My funny encounter at Colombian Customs at the Bogotá airport gave me my first minor viral moment on Tiktok, then it opened up dialogues about ignorance, the need for more cross-cultural communication and double standards society applies to developed vs developing countries, white vs people of color. I shared my eventful experiences and lots of learning in just five days of being in Bogotá. Join the ride and hear about what I've learned on this journey.
If you enjoyed this episode and my content, I'd be so grateful if you could leave me a five-star rating and feedback so it can reach more people who'd find it beneficial. Let's connect on Instagram and Tiktok @yourbestieabroad so I can thank you personally. Have a great week and I'll see you in the next one!
In the past 5 days I lost running, AC, a functioning fridge, wifi, and my health (all great now). These 120 intense hours took away things that I take for granted and thought were "normal" all too often and gave me a mandatory "time out." I've been feeling creatively blocked in terms of my dissertation writing and my entrepreneurial endeavors. Although this reset didn't point me to the answer but has led me to come to terms with the "mundane" between the extreme highs and lows. We put almost all focus and hope on the triumphs and setbacks, and deem everything in between as stagnation or "being stuck." My point isn't to persuade your worldview but to share how I make the most out of life when it feels discouraging. If you are in an episode of reset, I hope this episode lets you know that you are really not alone and that this reset is here to bring you renewal! <3
Let's connect on Instagram and Tiktok @yourbestieabroad. Let me know what kind of content you are interested in. I'd love to hear from you!
I still remember how overwhelmed and stressed I was when I was looking for my first adult apartment in a new city for my PhD. From finding creditable leads that fit my budget to finding a trustworthy realtor, it was a lot of work, especially when I wasn't in the U.S. physically. In this episode, I have a very special and my first guest who is also a friend Jenn @miamihomefinder and Jennifer Home Realty, who has been a realtor specializing in the South Florida residential and commercial markets for 24 years. She'll walk you through the rental and homeownership process in the U.S. We talked about the essential paperwork, alternatives if you don't have a Social Security Number and/or a credit score, security deposit, and the general housing market in Miami and the U.S. if you are torn between renting vs. buying.
If you find this episode helpful and enjoy the podcast, please so kindly rate it and leave me feedback. Find me on socials @yourbestieabroad so I can thank you in person. If you have any topics regarding living abroad, identity, cultural adjustment, and just the human experience of living abroad, please share them with me and I'd love to cover them in the future, maybe having you as a guest <3
Do you ever struggle with your name and identity abroad? Did you have to make a nickname or adopt a foreign name to make it "convenient" for others to call you? I felt embarrassed and anxious to say my name to a stranger for the longest time because I was afraid of being made fun of again or causing any inconvenience. I share how I came to terms with my identity, culture, and name while living in the U.S, and why I encourage every expat and international student to do so too.
Did you know most creditable PhD programs offer full funding AND health insurance? Did you know that most industries don't recognize PhD as professional expereince? Do you know what a realistic day look like for a PhD? Come on in my friends, in this episode I share the 5 ugly and most important truths I wish I could tell my past self before applying for a PhD. I just want to share my honest observations to help you make the best decision for you. I'll share why I love doing a PhD and the unique values it's offered me in future episodes.
If you enjoyed the episode, please be so kind and leave me a rating and comment so more people can find the show. I'd so love it if you could share it to your socials and tag me @yourbestieabroad so I can thank you personally!
I am your bestie abroad who empowers you to flourish beyond an F1 OR H1B and, instead, human better to belong authentically. I want to normalize the neglected isolation, transition, and identity evolution as a shared human experience so that the border is only where our expansion begins and bonds never end. Shoot me a message on social and I'd love to hear your story abroad!
College applications, job search, immigration---the logistics of living abroad are coachable and outsourceable. But NOT the human experience of belonging and finding a sense of home in a foreign country. As an 11-year expat and international scholar living in the U.S., I share in this 3-part series about the 6 most important steps I took to align my values, evolving identities, and services to build a home abroad. In this episode I discuss "Seeking the Self" and "Allowing Compassion for Imperfection" to build the foundation for a steady and sustainable social circle and meaningful life abroad.
If you enjoyed this episode, I'd so appreciate it if you could rate and share your feedback. Take it to social media and tag me @yourbestieabroad in your post and story so I can thank you personally.
I am your bestie abroad who empowers you to flourish beyond an F1 OR H1B and, instead, human better to belong authentically. I want to normalize the neglected isolation, transition, and identity evolution as a shared human experience so that the border is only where our expansion begins and bonds never end. Shoot me a message on social and I'd love to hear your story abroad!