Moving abroad and building a life in a new country can be exciting, but finding a real sense of belonging? That can be a whole different story. ❤️

In this episode of our Expat Experts series, Amanda and CJ sit down with Raehyun Kim, founder of Link n Learn in Frankfurt, to talk about building community, helping children grow in confidence, and creating a home away from home for international families.

Originally from South Korea, Raehyun moved to Germany almost 21 years ago. After becoming a mother, she began asking herself a question many parents can relate to: What is my purpose beyond being a mom?

That question, combined with her desire to create a welcoming space for her daughter and other international families, inspired her to build Link n Learn — a place where children can explore, learn and express themselves, while parents connect and build friendships of their own.

We talk about:

✨ Finding your our village abroad — Why community is so important for expat parents who don't have family nearby, and why building lasting connections can be harder when people are constantly moving away.

💛 Raising confident third-culture kids — How growing up between cultures can shape children's identities, and why having a space where they feel understood and included matters.

🎭 Helping shy children find their voice — How creative classes, performances and opportunities for self-expression can help children discover their confidence.

🤝 Making connections as an adult — How a community can help parents build friendships, even when striking up a conversation with another mum doesn't come naturally.

💃 The magic of dancing together — Why Raehyun believes dancing brings people closer, creates joy and helps build a stronger sense of togetherness.

🌱 Building a business with purpose — Raehyun shares the challenges of growing Link n Learn, the importance of staying connected to the families she serves, and why protecting her own happiness and boundaries is essential to keeping her passion alive.

Our biggest takeaways

• Community isn't just a nice extra when you're living abroad — it can be an essential part of feeling at home.
• Children thrive when they feel safe, welcomed and encouraged to express themselves.
• Finding your people can make navigating life between cultures feel a little less lonely.
• You don't have to be a confident extrovert to build meaningful friendships. Sometimes you just need a little help getting started.
• Community doesn't happen by accident. It's built, nurtured and held together by people who care.

And Raehyun's beautiful reminder to take with you: “It's not about where you live, but it's about who you're surrounded by. So, as long as you have your tribe of people around you, you can make anything your home.”

🔗 Link n Learn: https://linknlearn.de/

Raehyun is also part of JumaDolls, a dancing duo that celebrates fun, creativity and the joy of moving together.

💃 Find JumaDolls on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=JumaDolls

You can also search for JumaDolls on Instagram and TikTok.

What we've been listening to 🎧

As always, we're sharing a few podcast recommendations at the end of the episode!

• Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod — Raehyun's recommendation, inspired by her morning routine and The Miracle Morning.
• The Diary of a CEO — Another podcast Raehyun enjoys.
• Child – BBC Radio 4 — Amanda's recommendation, exploring childhood, development and the science and history of how we grow.
• 28ish Days Later – BBC Radio 4 — Amanda's other recommendation, a fascinating deep dive into the menstrual cycle.

Connect with Amanda & CJ 💕

Amanda Graybill – Mindful Mama Frankfurt

Explore Amanda's work and resources for mothers: https://www.mindfulmamafrankfurt.com/

CJ – Worlds Apart Counseling

For couples counselling with a focus on expat and international couples, visit: https://worldsapartcounseling.com/