In this expat conversation, I sat down with Yara Gamal, a life coach who moved from Egypt to the Netherlands with her husband and baby. We talked about what it's really like to start over in a new country—navigating loneliness, career changes, and the everyday cultural challenges that no one tells you about.
Yara shared her powerful journey of identity, self-discovery, and redefining what “home” means. From civil engineering to coaching, from Egypt's chaos to Amsterdam’s calm, her story is raw, honest, and deeply relatable for anyone considering, living, or wanting to know more about what life is like for an expat.
You can find Yara at: https://yaragamal.com/
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How To Be An Expat is a podcast that explores how to live expat life to the fullest, hosted by Expat Coach Kelly Boyle. Each episode is a conversation with other expats around topics of expat life, from culture shocks and learning a new language, to working and making friends. Listen as we share our stories and experiences, and learn how to be an expat.
You can also find us at: https://kellyboylecoaching.com
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Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Guest Introduction
02:59 – Expectations vs. Reality of Moving Abroad
05:16 – Struggles of the First Year
08:00 – Adapting to European Work Culture
10:37 – Changing Careers & Finding Purpose
17:06 – Discovering Coaching as a Career
21:22 – Would Yara be a Coach if She Stayed in Egypt?
22:26 – Redefining the Concept of "Home"
26:07 – Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
30:01 – Challenges of Daily Life Abroad
34:44 – Making Friends and Finding Community
38:05 – Embracing the Expat Journey
40:05 – Identity Shifts & Cultural Influences
44:49 – Accepting Direct Communication Styles
45:31 – Advice for Future Expats
47:44 – Loneliness as an Opportunity for Growth
49:03 – Closing Thoughts
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