Canadians Away!

Kelsey Wilson allowed a stranger into her house in Sylvan Lake. That same stranger also got to drive her car. But it’s totally normal, because Kelsey is doing the same thing to this stranger, on the other side of the world. Kelsey’s on exchange in Old Bar. She talks to us about the challenges of driving a manual transmission car from the right side, how most people think she’s American at first, and how she actually finds surfing pretty exhausting.

Lauren Gillespie had a goal: visit 30 different countries before she turned 30 years old. She managed to achieve that goal thanks in part to living in Europe. But before Europe, she lived in Wellington, New Zealand, and even spent some time in Oman — hard time. Now, she’s enjoying teaching in Farnham, Surrey. The big question for her: will she come back to Canada or continue her travels? Find out in this fun conversation!

Carolyn Dickson always knew she’d live abroad one day. And after a trip to the UK with her husband in 2013, she knew she wanted to live in the UK. But it took her and her husband about 5 years to realize their plans. They managed to make the leap in 2018 when the stars aligned (that is, one of them had gainful employment there) and they moved to Newcastle in Northern UK. And though they love where they live, this is a tale of not-so-soft landings, and every Canadian’s greatest fear: being mistaken for an American. Check out HeyExplorer.com for some of the attractions that make Newcastle Upon Tyne famous.

Rihanna Flaherty got into travelling after university. Though her degree wasn’t something she used to travel. She actually fell in love twice. Once with the country of New Zealand itself—she eventually convinced a friend to move there with her where they became canoe guides on the Whanganui River on the North Island—and a second time with a man she met. She and her husband live in New Zealand now, along with their baby. And it’s looking like New Zealand is home for now. Hear about Rihanna’s NZ adventures. And check out these links to learn more about the history of the Whanganui River: New Zealand river granted same legal rights as human being—The Guardian.A Voice for Nature—National Geographic.Whanganui—NewZealand.com

The first time I spoke to Emily Mattinglsey was almost exactly four years ago (you can listen to our chat on Episode 26). She’d basically just arrived in Morocco looking for a little bit of life experience and a lot of surfing. Her experience was, to me, remarkable. But I’m certain it’s similar to the experiences of many other Canadians who’ve lived abroad for a spell, and then come back home. Home isn’t the same after that length of time. And it’s likely many of those returning Canadians experienced reverse culture shock. Find out more about Emily’s journey of self-discovery that ultimately brought her back where she started. Check out “Reverse culture shock: what, when, and how to cope,” which is referenced and quoted in the intro to this episode.

Cora Lea and her family had the opportunity to leave Canada just about four years ago. Their destination: Doha, Qatar. Cora Lea shares her point of view on the folks she’s met over the past four years, the other countries they’ve visited using Qatar as a homebase, and some of the things they miss about Canada. But they’re not looking to return anytime soon! Hope you enjoy the episode.

Robyn Larsen talks to host Adam Rozenhart about her experience living in Singapore, from how she gets around, to the differences from other cities and towns she’s lived in. This episode was recorded during the wintertime, so there’s also talk of something Robyn misses from Canada: the cold!

Matthew Rix wasn’t finding what he wanted out of his job in Canada. Fortunately, there were opportunities just south of the border. So he made his way to Denver, Colorado. Matthew talks to us about the subtle differences between Americans and Canadians, what it’s meant for Colorado to be the first state to legalize Cannabis, and some of the challenges of long-distance relationships when you’re separated by an international border.

Andrew Taylor lived on the Canadian prairies, at least for part of his life. But he was no stranger to travel. After he graduated from university he did his post-graduate studies in marine biology in Australia. His chosen career meant islands and coast called his name. So, after checking the place out with some friends, he settled in Bali. There, he operates a dive company called Blue Corner Dive. And according to Andrew, you’ll probably feel more safe spending time with him in the water than in a car.

Lauren Spicer and her husband are seasoned travellers. Nine years ago, they decided after teaching English for a year in South Korea that travelling the world for work, at least for a while, was the way to go. They made their way to Panama City. They had their first son there. But they weren’t content to stay still for very long. Now they live in Bali. But the pandemic struck, and they decided to move at least temporarily back to Toronto to be near family and a solid healthcare system. Thanks to Lauren for taking the time to chat with us and share her perspective and experiences.

Two years ago, this podcast took an indefinite hiatus. We’d done over 57 episodes where we learned about the lives of Canadians who lived abroad. The show ended, but we kept hearing from people who had stories to tell—about their lives in other countries, and what their experiences taught them about what it means to be Canadian. Those stories inspired us to relaunch the show. We have a new name but the same mandate as before. We’re kicking things off with a preview of what’s to come. And we’re also welcoming a new voice to the show who’ll be helping behind the scenes to bring you stories from Canadians living abroad. We’re glad to be back, and we can’t wait to connect with you! — Adam and Julie, the Canadians Away! team.

Cadence Konopaki fell in love with Ireland when she lived there back in 2000. Fifteen years later, it called her name again. In this final episode of the Expats, we talk about Cadence’s Ireland experience, and we also try to determine if Canadians are good ambassadors for Canada when they go out into the world. Thanks to everyone who’s listened over the last three years. Stay subscribed to the Expats feed to find out in a few months what I’ll be doing next! The Expats has been a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Before the Expats goes off the air, host Adam Rozenhart looks back at some of his favourite interview moments. Sure, it’s another one of those annoying clip shows, but when it’s clips about travelling, you know you’ll love it. Thanks to Jaimee Bell, Jane Morrison, Ana Alacantara, Stephanie Simonsen, and ALL the Expats we’ve interviewed over the last three years. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.  

Carl Conradi fell in love with Sada’a almost the moment he saw it. He knew after a brief stay in the Yemeni capital that he’s wind up staying longer. He recounts his experiences there, learning about the Arab Spring from the Yemeni people. Here’s some information on the war in Yemen: Backgrounder on what it’s all about from the BBC More Yemen coverage from the Atlantic The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. The Expats will conclude in April with a two-part series finale.

Melissa MacKay earned her law degree and got a job as a human rights lawyer. This provided her the opportunity to visit Africa, and spend time in a few different countries there — some for work, and some for vacation. This episode she shares her experiences there on food, the beautiful landscape and the welcoming people she met. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. The Expats will conclude in April with a two-part series finale.

Stephanie Rahbek Simonsen agreed to move to Denmark with her husband, thinking she’d have a few months to get used to the idea. Her husband found a job in Copenhagen inside of a month. Months later, Stephanie joined him. This episode, listen to a Canadian Expat in Copenhagen talk about how foreigners are regarded, Danish cuisine, and advice on whether or not shopping for clothes in Denmark is good for your body image. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. The Expats will conclude in April with a two-part series finale.

Emma originally moved to London for work. She started out at an HMV, when those existed. Then she got a job in publishing, met her husband, and they’ve firmly established themselves in the world city, living there with their two children. What does Emma miss about Canada? And how is she teaching kids about her home? Find out in our latest episode! The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Duleepa “Dups” Wijayawardhana was lured to Helsinki by a startup called Supermetrics. And while Helsinki’s climate might not be much different from Dups’ home of Edmonton, there are definitely certain things he’s needed to adjust to. Find out how that adjustment is going for Dups (and check out more on his blog). Our show sponsor, Edmonton Community Foundation is hosting a great event in Edmonton with Anita Sarkeesian. Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/epl-forward-thinking-speaker-series-the-real-world-of-online-harassment-presented-in-partnership-tickets-40907624807 And check out an interview with Anita Sarkeesian on the Well-Endowed Podcast: https://www.thewellendowedpodcast.com/episodes/episode-16-anita-sarkeesian/ The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

When the economy started to crater, Catherine and her husband, who had been living in Calgary, took it as a sign to try out an expat adventure. Their search for a new experience led them to Sur, Oman, where the couple currently resides with their instagrammable dog. Find out about life for these two Canadians on the coast of the Arabian sea in our last episode before we break for the Holidays. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

A French-Canadian women met her love on the internet, and wouldn’t allow an ocean to separate them. Now she’s in Lincoln, in the process of renewing her Visa, and living through the bureaucracy of Brexit, while she misses her beloved maple syrup, and, of course, her family. Listen in on the life of a French translator as she learns the ways of the English! The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Heather Morrow lost her job in oil & gas when Alberta’s economy tanked. But she didn’t take it lying down: she decided it was exactly what she needed to begin an expat adventure that’s taken her through China all the way to Santiago, Chile. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Jevon Larocque hadn’t intended to spend more than one year teaching in Japan. He’s now been there for over 14 years. Though he still considers Canada to be home, he knows that Osaka is where he’ll likely live the rest of his life. And in his own words, it’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

When a Montreal woman decided she wanted to feel what it was like to truly live as a foreigner, she heard London calling. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

I so enjoyed talking with one Canadian couple about the “gap” six months they took off with their two children, that I was eager to talk to Ted Buracas about the year he, his wife, and their daughter took off to crisscross the globe. It’s a charmed life they lead, and I wanted all the details. Teddy was fun to chat with, and shared a lot of insights and wisdom as well. Make sure you check out Teddy’s blog, and make sure you subscribe to his YouTube channel. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

In the last episode, Jocelyn and Mike talked about all the planning that went into the 6-month sojourn in Central and South America. This episode, we get into some of the nitty-gritty of their travels: where they stayed, what countries they visited, the people they met — and perhaps more importantly — what kind of wildlife they saw. The family is back in Canada now adjusting to their lives at home. But they (well, at least one of them) are already contemplating their next journey. If you enjoyed the episode, or even if you didn’t, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Welcome to a new season of the Expats! This is Part One of Two in my conversation with Canadians Mike and Jocelyn. At the start of 2017, they rented out their house, enrolled their two children in online school, and took off six months from their lives to explore Central and South America. While this isn’t exactly a “traditional” expat experience like the ones we’ve typically examined, it was still a story we really wanted to hear. This first episode takes us through all the things this Canadian family of four needed to do to get ready for their trip. What to do with their apiary? Who to leave their dog with? How to pack strategically? And exactly how much LEGO to bring? We discuss all of it! If you enjoyed the episode, or even if you didn’t, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Expats is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

You heard it here first: the Expats is taking the next few months off to enjoy the summer, and bank some more interviews. If you know any expats we should be speaking with, have them email [email protected] or send an email yourself. See you in September!

Berlin is one of the world’s great capitals, with a storied history — not all of it good. And it’s there that Canadian expat Andrea Babic is writing her own story: one of cross-continental love. She’s moved to Berlin to live with her partner, himself a German native. But, as Andrea reveals, it’s not always easy to pull up the stakes of your life for someone you love.

A few weeks ago, host Adam Rozenhart led a panel discussion about technology in podcasting. We were given the audio recording of that session, which also included Samantha Power and Lauren Albrecht. The panel talked about the podcast length, what makes a good podcast and also share some of the things they’re working on. We hope you enjoy!

Around 60 AD, the Romans built Bath in what is now the United Kingdom. Ancient Bath was a Roman spa. Now it’s a small town of about 80,000 living just west of London. It’s also the site of Solsbury Hill, a small flat hill that was once home to an Iron Age fort and a Peter Gabriel song. In fact, Bath is also home to Peter Gabriel! And a Canadian named Emma Hooper, who’s been there for 12 years since she moved to do her Masters. With no plans to leave Bath anytime soon, Emma talks about her fondness for the city and its residents. And she notes one particular breakfast item she misses that she can only get in Canada — and has said item shipped to her at great expense.

It took me a long time to go from the idea of this podcast to the first episode. I’m glad that when I finally did decide to pull the trigger on the Expats, I had a good friend (and fellow podcaster) living in a very interesting part of the world. I hope you enjoy this encore presentation of Expats Episode One. Iris Dias had the opportunity to leave Canada in 2013 to pursue her career in Dubai. It seems like something that would be very difficult to say no to. So Iris took the easy way out: she said yes to the United Arab Emirates. Find out about her experiences trying to become the Sultan of Swing in Dubai!

Jane Morrison’s seen many parts of the world. But in pursuit of her PhD, and partly because her partner was pursuing his education in Barcelona, Spain, she decided to do the same. Learn about her adventures so far, and some of the perhaps familiar challenges of living in a part of the world where cultural perseveration is paramount.

Arlo Matisz made a quick decision: he planned to live abroad. Not a week later, he was on a plane to South Korea. When he arrived, he made his way to the nearest bar, bought a round of drinks, and made friends with another friendly Canadian, a man named Michael Simning. That chance meeting has had a massive impact on Arlo, and that impact continues even following Michael’s passing after a long and brave fight with cancer. Find out more about Arlo’s life in South Korea from the Gwangju Blog. Learn more about Micheal Simning’s legacy and impact on South Korea here: “Michael Simning, Expat Icon in Gwangju, Loses Battle to Cancer“ The Mike Simning Ndwara Scholarship Fund The First Alleyway, one of the businesses Michael founded

Chris Mitchell is no stranger to the expat lifestyle. He’s an experienced traveler, and lately he’s hanging his hat in Istanbul, Turkey. In this episode, Chris shared his experiences around culture, food and the amazing travel opportunities within Turkey. Check out Chris’s travel blog TravelingMitch.com — after you’ve listened to this episode, of course. He recently launch a new podcast called Into Istanbul. You can check out the first episode on his website. You can also follow Chris on Twitter @travelingmitch.

Pierre and Deborah Boileau were bit by the travel bug early on. From casual adventure travel, to now living the expat life in Africa, they’ve seen and experienced quite a bit. And they’ve been able to have successful careers and raise a family in the process. Find out about their experiences living in both France and Kenya!

Owen Murray is a world-travelling photographer who’s spent a lot of his adult life travelling. We caught up with him in Luxor, Egypt and spoke to him about the value of travel, what it means to be Canadian, and that sometimes the Canadian impulse to say “Sorry” is a great entrée to conversations in foreign lands.

Sometimes, you’re messing around on the internet, and you start chatting with a random stranger. Before you know it, you’ve fallen in love. That’s more or less what happened to Jaimee Bell. And when the long distance was deflating her spirit and draining her bank account, she knew it was time to move to Antwerp to be with her beloved. You can find out more about Jaimee’s life abroad on her blog Travel Pray Love.

Ana Alcantara was my second ever guest, and she was very generous with her time, and the stories she shared about her life in Japan. I know there are quite a few new listeners out there, so this is a little throwback for the Christmas break — find out about Ana’s life in Japan and how her journey has allowed her to learn about herself, and to build a family of great friends in the Land of the Rising Sun. We’ll be back with brand new content on January 15th. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Image of the Hakone Shrine by Ana Alcantara.

Lisa Stadnyk-Webb left Canada as a trailing spouse, giving up a job she enjoyed to begin an expat adventure in France. It’s taken her to many interesting places — most recently The Congo. Find out about her experiences living abroad with two young kids. You can read about Lisa’s adventures on her blog CanadianExpatMom.com.

Ali Ahmad’s parents immigrated to Canada from Pakistan. He was born and raised in Canada, and after finishing his education at home, Ali’s now living the Expat life with his wife and their children in Doha, Qatar. Find out in this episode about the transition from Canada to Qatar, and learn about some of the things that Ali misses about Canada (spoiler: shoveling snow is not one of those things).

Maria Tran’s been living the Expat life for almost her whole career. As the principal at an international school in Beijing — which the former Edmontonian arrived at by way of New Brunswick, of all places — she sees a few different sides of life in the massive Chinese city. Find out about challenges with the internet, cab drivers, and what the life of a Canadian teacher is like in one of the biggest cities on Earth.

Kevin Bracken, the creator of What’s Different in Canada, knows quite a bit about the differences between the Great White North and the Home of the Brave. He’s been a passionate student of Canada, and as a young progressive coming of age in the era of George W Bush, he decided to make his home here. This episode, I speak with Kevin about the US election, and the appetite from some Americans to move to Canada if Donald Trump is elected President. We also talk about Kevin’s new book, which is currently available as a free download. Grab a copy from WhatsDifferentinCanada.com!

Imagine living on an island the foundations of which are millions of living and dead organisms. That’s a little hint of what it’s like to live in the Maldives. Learn about Lara Hill’s experiences on the atolls and getting stranded alone on New Years Day! For those looking for a similar experience, Lara recommends you look into applying for a UN experience through UNA-Canada’s IDDIP program: www.unac.org

They say to really know someone you should walk a mile in their shoes. But Scott Kosman says you should walk a kilometer in their Adidas. I mean, he doesn’t say that, but he should. Listen to this episode about Scott’s expat life in Erlangen, Germany, and you’ll start to understand what Adidas have anything to do with this. And we don’t even really talk about food! Thanks to Ambassador Humantorch for sharing his experiences! Image by Euro Slice on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons License.

Norway conjures romantic visions of winter, at least for me. Fjords, dramatic coastlines and winter. And a hearty people. All those things and more as we connect with Hahn Vincent, spending her summer back in Canada, off from school. Hahn shared her insights on Norwegian people, and as important if not more, Norwegian food. You’ll also learn a lot of Norwegian words, so bust out that Norwegian-English dictionary that’s been collecting dust on the shelf. Image by Jørn Eriksson. Used under Creative Commons License.

Until I met Emily Mattingsley, I never thought of Morocco as a surf destination. But that’s one of the things that lured this Canadian teacher to the North African Country. Emily tells me about her experiences in Morocco which includes warm people, unbelievable food, and even a little bit of street harassment. Please forgive some of the audio glitches this episode. We did our best to smooth them over. Thanks for listening!

Last week, citizens of the UK voted to get the eff out of the European Union. Many Canadians looked on with great interest and horror as the results poured in. Leah Trueblood was one of those Canadians. But rather than observe from afar, she was right in the thick of it. Having spent the last 6 years in the UK, Leah’s studies include political philosophy and the use of referenda. She had lots to share with us. We hope you enjoy the episode!

Ashley Tinker, an anglophone Montrealer, found love in Western Europe. But though she met her partner in Italy, the region of Provence would be where they settled down together. Find out about the differences between life in Paris, from our 19th episode, and life here in the French countryside. Also, you should check out Ashley’s blog, Curious Provence. Image by François Philipp. Used under creative commons licence.

Leah Cavanaugh’s academic pursuits took her to a place you’ve likely seen depicted and sometimes exaggerated on film and television. Home to warrior poets and engineering feats: Scotland. Leah’s studying at the University of Edinburgh. And though she’s very much enjoyed her time there, she’s one of the few expats I’ve spoken with who’s eager to come home.

Ben Wheelwright’s journey to the stage on Broadway moved in a path eastward, beyond the atlantic, and back to New York City. We spoke with Ben about his experiences as an expat Broadway actor. You can see Ben before in the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at the Barrymore Theatre. This episode of the Expats is brought to you by NationGear.ca. All the best apparel for Edmonton Oilers fans. Use promo code EXPAT10 to get 10% off your next purchase. And if you have five minutes, please take our audience survey as well. It’ll help us get more show sponsors, and make the show bigger and better!