expatpodcast

Do you feel the need to cull your belongings, either because you’re planning a big move, moving to a smaller space, or just feel you have too much stuff?

Downsizing is something that all would-be expats will eventually face—as well as anyone who yearns for a less cluttered and simpler life—so when we received a voice memo from long-time listener Mike on this very topic, we had a lot to say about it.

This week we discuss why it can be so freeing to get rid of unnecessary belongings, as well as why it can be so hard, especially when sentiment is involved. Example: how do you get rid of a trophy that you worked so hard to win?

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Is writing one of the things that you are hoping to do more of in the new year? Are you a writer who feels blocked? Or, regardless of your preferred creative medium, do you feel like you're in a bit of a rut?

If any of these is the case for you, listen to this week's mini-episode. Katy shares some of the exercises that she uses in her own writing group, from writing prompts to writing sprints, flash fiction to flash poetry. You'll be surprised how good a ten-minute timer is at releasing your creativity and silencing your inner critic. That and a community of friendly, like-minded writers can help you on your writing journey, or simply your artistic journey, whatever it may be. 

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Autumn isn't everyone's favorite season... but it should be. 

For no other reason than because we're in the middle of the best season of the year, today we put aside the "serious" topics to play a little game. This or That, autumn edition. Play along with us and hear us at our most unscripted and spontaneous, a state we usually reserve for bonus episodes.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

If the current political situation in America or Britain or wherever you happen to live is not your cup of tea, you can always move abroad (easier said than done, of course)!

On this mini-episode, Tiffany lays out the "best" and "worst" (according to several studies and surveys) countries and cities to live in as an expat, as well as the Italian cities with the highest quality of life (if you insist on moving to low-rated Italy). She also shares a list of countries that offer resident visas for remote workers. If you've always dreamed of living abroad, now's your chance!

Find links to these studies below (in order that they are mentioned on this episode):

William Russell "World Expat Index 2022"

Internations "Best an Worst Places for Expats 2022"

Business Insider "Best Cities to Live and Work in Right Now"

Sole24Ore "Most Livable Cities in Italy 2021"

ExpatVagabond "21 Countries with Digital Nomad Visa (for Remote Workers)"

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

How much does it cost to live in Mexico? Are expats ruining Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido? Solo traveling expat and entrepreneur, Vangile Makwakwa, reports back from her digital nomad home base on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. She breaks down the cost of living in Mexico (for expats and locals) and how it compares to the cost of living in her home country of South Africa.

 

Vangile also shares how she budgets her money as a digital nomad, what the quality of life is like for expats in Oaxaca, and why there’s growing tension between foreigners and locals.

 

Are you or a loved one thinking of traveling or moving to Mexico soon? This episode is a MUST-LISTEN!

 

Episode 177 Special Offers: 

• Apply for Kristin’s Ready to Relocate program
• Open an account with Crypto.com 💳 (Affiliate Link)
• Order your copy of Digital Nomads for Dummies
• Subscribe to Kristin's weekly travel newsletter

 

EPISODE 177 TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Why Vangile moved from South Africa to Sri Lanka to Mexico.
• Cost of living in Oaxaca, Mexico: Rent, amenities, wifi, food, yoga, and more.
• The difference in lifestyle between Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido on the coast.
• Inside the culture and international community in Oaxaca.
• How development and tourism is creating tension between locals and foreigners.
• Cost of living in Mexico vs. South Africa.
• Meeting new people after moving to a new city or country.
• How Vangile budgets her money for business and personal expenses.

 

QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

• Why did you move to Mexico as an expat?
• What is daily life like in Oaxaca, Mexico?
• What is the cost of living in Oaxaca and Puerto, Escondido, Mexico?
• Is Mexico or South Africa cheaper to live in?
• Is it fair for expat destinations to have local prices and foreigner prices?
• Is there animosity between locals and expats in Mexico?
• How fast is the WiFi in Mexico?
• And more!

 

Related Podcasts:

• How to Be a Digital Nomad with Mikkel Thorup
• Is It Possible To Fully Integrate With a Foreign Culture?
• Living in Spain as an Expat or Digital Nomad With Chase Warrington, Host of the About Abroad Podcast
• Costa Rica Cost of Living for Foreigners and Expats
• Paying US Taxes as an Expat Abroad – What You Need To Know
• How To Live Like a Local Anywhere in the World With Brent and Michael Are Going Places

 

Related Videos:

• Watch Kristin’s Most Recent Live Stream Q&A
• My Favorite Places in the World video ❤️🌍

 

Recommended Resources for Digital Nomads:

• Audio Recording Software: Audacity
• Insurance: SafetyWing

 

Mexican Cities Mentioned:

• Huatulco
• Mexico City
• Oaxaca Centro
• Puerto Escondido

 

Connect with Vangile:

• Visit her website
• Listen to The Money Magic Podcast
• Listen to The Property Magicians Podcast
• Subscribe to her YouTube channel
• Follow her on Instagram
• Connect with her on LinkedIn

 

Connect with Kristin: 

• Follow on Instagram
• Subscribe to Traveling with Kristin on YouTube 
• Subscribe to Digital Nomad TV on YouTube
• Join the Badass Digital Nomads Facebook Group

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Support the Badass Digital Nomads Podcast:

• Buy Kristin a Coffee
• Become a Patron
• Leave a 5-Star Review
• Buy Official Merch 
• www.badassdigitalnomads.com

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A special thank you to Kristin's patrons!

Become a Patron for $5/month at Patreon.com/travelingwithkristin

Podcast descriptions may contain affiliate links of products and services we use and recommend at no additional cost to you.

On Monday we talked about Italian espresso, and what an integral part of Italian culture it is.

In the same vein, Katy describes the unique coffee shop culture of Seattle in the 1990s—a far cry from the sterile, uniform, laptop-laden Starbucks of today.

In their heyday, Seattle's iconic coffee shops were gritty, smoky, filled with grunge music (often live), and the place where Katy spend many long nights with friends during her teen years. On this mini-episode, she takes you there.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.  

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

This week, Tiffany and Aurelio brave the distance learning trenches! What's it like for a six-year-old who has only just started school to attend class via Zoom? How does distance learning in Italy (aka DAD) differ from its American counterpart?

But most importantly, what is a testuggine, and why does Aurelio love them so much? We answer these questions on this week's mini-episode.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

-------------------------------------

ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

You've taken your Italian lessons, you've memorized your vocabulary, you've practiced all your most useful phrases. Then you get to Italy...and it all flies out the window.

It's a common problem that many language-learners face. But how to get around it? Why can speaking to an Italian in Italy be so much harder than speaking in a classroom setting?

Today we are joined by someone who can help with that. Gloria Spagnoli is an Italian teacher who takes a different approach. She has come to understand that language learning is not just about having the vocabulary and grammar. All of that is vital of course, but so is having the right mind set. So often, hesitation, negative self talk, and fear of looking ridiculous can sabotage our language efforts.

Gloria offers practical steps to get beyond these hindrances and make use of our true abilities—which might be stronger than we think! We also talk about the innate Italian traits that can sometimes make it intimidating to dive into a conversation, and how to turn them to your advantage.

Find out more about Gloria and her lessons and culture consulting services on her website, Speakita.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Wander into one of Rome's hundreds of churches, and you might just find yourself face to face with an artistic masterpiece that, in any other city, would be the main attraction of the city's biggest museum—and would come with a hefty price tag and probably lots of crowds. But in Rome, these works are all around you—if you know where to look.

On this mini-episode, Tiffany shares with you some of the most spectacular frescoes and oil painting hidden away in Rome's churches. And the best part? They are all absolutely free.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

When the sons of a centuries-old noble Roman family and the American widow of their father, the prince, can't decide who gets to live in the family's priceless villa, a forced auction ensues!

Princess Rita, a glamorous American, has been living in her late husband, Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi's historic family home, Villa Aurora, since they wed over a decade ago. It was the American princess who insisted that the villa, and its priceless art collection, should not be left to languish unseen, but should be restored and made available to the public on a very part time basis.

According to Prince Nicolò's will, although the villa will pass to his sons, his widow has the right to live there for the rest of her life. But the sons don't agree, and now the family feud has led to a forced auction. The only catch is that the starting price is nearly half a billion dollars (perhaps because of the original Caravaggio mural in one of the rooms, not to mention the fact that the villa is located on Via Veneto with its own grounds!).

Tiffany has visited Villa Aurora, and Katy used to go to church with Princess Rita (although she had no idea then who she was!). This week we talk about that magnificent place, our opinion on who has the right to it, the and our speculations on what everyday life would be life living in a veritable museum—with a Caravaggio painting over your head at any time day or night. 

Hear Tiffany's description of Villa Aurora just after visiting on Bittersweet Moment #30: Villa Aurora.

On Episode 218: Postcards, Katy describes seeing Princess Rita shortly after the death of her husband, although at the time of taping, she had no idea who she was.

Find out how the auction went here.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

When you decide to hop a plane to LA and recreate your favorite childhood film with your sisters, you contact the writers and directors and ask if they'd like to meet up. At least, if you're Katy, that's what you do.

As a follow-up to Episode 411: A Sisterly Quest to Midnight Madness, Katy and her sisters sit down with David Wechter and Michael Nankin, the writing/directing team behind the cult classic, Midnight Madness (1980). They are also joined by a surprise guest—a member of the cast.

Katy and her sisters get the rare opportunity to share with the creators just how much their movie has meant to them all these years, leading to a discussion about work origin stories and how what you put into the world can affect people decades later.

Be sure to listen to Monday's full episode before you hear this one.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Seven years ago, Katy and her sisters—who each live in different states—started gathering once a year for “Sisterfest.” But this year they are doing something different.

When they were little girls growing up outside Seattle, they watched a little-known 1980 movie called Midnight Madness. It became a kind of cult classic in their house, and everything about it somehow took on a special meaning. On this Sisterfest, Katy, Dana, and Sara trace all the film’s stops around Los Angeles, complete with custom t-shirts and even a chat with the writers and directors.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

We get lots of mail from our loyal listeners and we love reading it! You guys always have the best questions and the most insightful commentary on our episodes. We often get inspired to make entire episodes based on a listener email.

On this mini-episode, Katy dives into the mail bag to read some of the most interesting notes we've had in the past month or two. If you have a question, comment, or thought, please share it with us. We love hearing from you!

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

After the disaster of the last two years, Katy and Tiffany are a bit reluctant to make New Year's Resolutions this year. After all, what will the year be like? If 2021 taught us anything, it's that we can't presume to think we know when (or if) the pandemic will end.

Nevertheless, they can't help making just one or two (maximum three!) little tiny ones, just for the sake of tradition. Hear what they are on this episode.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

After hearing from Katy's own lips before and after her experience going scuba diving in the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean in winter, listen to Tiffany's own deep-sea adventure in Sumatra, when she accidentally came face to face with a terrifying sea creature.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

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WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

New Year—new experiences! At least that's the idea. That's the way we used to do it pre-pandemic anyway. On this first episode of 2022, Katy digs back into her vast personal audio archive to relive what it was like to fulfill a rather adventurous New Year's Resolution several years back.

Hear her as she prepares to go scuba diving in the frigid winter waters of the Pacific Ocean to get her diving certificate (the outside temperature was a biting 32F that day)!

Then, hear her trembling reaction once she got out of the freezing waters, and hear her on a call to her slightly concerned parents. Then go with her as she attempts another dive the next day. Most importantly, find out if Katy manage to do it, or if she gave up. (These are the kind of memories you can capture only if your record yourself on a regular basis like your faithful host!)

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

About a month ago, in Bittersweet Moment No. 129, you learned about the 24-hour Radio Race, a competition that challenges radio artists to create a 4-minute story based on an assigned theme—in just 24 hours. Katy teamed up with reporter Casey Martin and created a story they titled "The Thirty Year Secret." They share this magical story with you today.

This is the story they created based on the theme "Won't you be my neighbor?"

Find Casey Martin here.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Instead of looking back on the entire year of 2021 (because that might not be too fun), today we look back on the year through the books we read. Find out which we loved best, which surprised us, and which were not as good as we had hoped.

PS Listen to this mini-episode to hear what Aurelio read this year.

Katy's Books
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

The Lover by Marguerite Duras

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

Stoner by John Williams

Tiffany's Books

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor

D: A Tale of Two Worlds by Michel Faber

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Do you read to your kids? Tiffany an Aurelio read together every night (and sometimes, when the book is especially good, at every meal). Tiffany and Aurelio gather up all the books they read together in 2021, and sit under the Christmas tree to talk about which Aurelio liked best (and why), which he like the least, and which ones perhaps should have waited until he was a bit older.

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ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started.

BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more.

TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue.

SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps.

WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured!

NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET

BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon.

TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!