Hi, I'm Katherine.
I’m a serial expat of 15 years who became a repat in 2020.
I help expats decide whether to stay, move back home or move somewhere new.
LIVING
ABROAD
Why bad days abroad?
Many of us move abroad thinking that living in a foreign country would be more exciting than the life we already know. So it can come as a bad surprise when the bad days abroad start to outweigh the good days.
After 15 years of living abroad as a serial expat, I became a repat in 2020. It’s been a bumpy road so along the way I learned a few things about what it takes to adjust to life in a foreign country, typical mistakes expats make and how to recognize when it’s time to move on.
On Bad Days Abroad I share my honest truth about expat life and help you recognize when you should stay, move back home or move somewhere new.
– Katherine
need advice right now?
Feeling burned out?
Expat burnout is real. It's that constant feeling of being fed up with life abroad. Something has to change, so let's find out what it is that you need to feel good again.
SHOULD YOU MOVE?
If you're overthinking whether you should stay or go, I've got a number of solutions for you that can help you find clarity and peace of mind.
HAVING A HARD TIME?
If you're a newbie expat, you might not know which struggles are just par for the course. So here's a definitive list that goes deeper than the surface.
RECENT POSTS ON THE BLOG
STAY OR GO #6 – “No part of me was eager to start from scratch somewhere new” (American expat in Germany)
Reading Time: 9 minutes When a relationship breaks down while abroad, it’s easy to wonder whether you should stay or go. Nicole, a first-time American expat in Germany, chose to start a new life abroad alone. Read more about her thought-process and staying in touch with one’s inner voice.
STAY OR GO #5 – “I don’t know if I’ll always want to stay but for now the hardships are worth the rewards” (American expat in Italy)
Reading Time: 7 minutes Even when you feel like a foreigner and miss the familiarity of home, the rewards of living abroad can still trump the hardships. This is what Bella, a first-time American expat in Italy, has learned.
Stay or go? #4 – “Asking ‘should I stay or go?’ means that change is happening and no one but yourself can know the answer” (American expat in Morocco)
Reading Time: 9 minutes Expat life can be a recipe for identity crisis or profound self-growth. This is the path that Patti, an American expat, has been on since moving abroad in 2017. The experience has helped her realize that she is happy being away from the US.
learn to laugh at
your struggles abroad
On Bad Days Abroad I dig deep into the most common problems expats can face to different degrees while living abroad – language barriers, culture clashes, struggles with finding friends or knowing where home is. Sometimes all it takes to get back on your feet is to know that you’re not alone in what you’re experiencing. That’s what I’m here to do for you.
feel in control of THE
emotional ups and downs
of life abroad
There’s no way around it – living abroad is an emotional rollercoaster. But you can learn to be a great support system for yourself, especially when your friends and family can’t really relate to your struggles. Mood journaling is something that I swear by, and it only takes 2 minutes out of my day.
