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/

Read my blog post about finding work-life balance in Europe here: https://kellyboylecoaching.com/why-i-wanted-to-be-laid-off/

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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