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Rakeen Akila was kidnapped and held for ransom in Afghanistan. Now he's a refugee in Italy. His story is one of amazing resilience and great heartbreak. Come to personally understand our world-wide refugees through one man's experience. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Why do foreign doctor's offices seem sketchy sometimes? Why are colors brighter when you travel? This has more to do with your brain than reality. Science writer Erik Vance (Book: Suggestible You) joins us to examine the science behind your brain and its perceptions. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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What do Italians think about Trump? Does the country that produced Mussolini and invented fascism fear or support the new US president? Tiffany's Italian boss at Where Rome magazine shares his concerns about the election of Donald Trump, as well as the Brexit vote.

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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We capture the raw reaction of Katy and Tiffany to the election of reality TV star/businessman Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, via voice memos sent across the ocean while it was happening in real time. Warning: There is some swearing in this episode. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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What if the values you were raised with are different that those of the foreign country you now live in? Should you maintain old cultural values in a new place? Tiffany and Katy discuss.

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Katy moved to Rome once. Does that mean she'd be brave enough to do it again? Are you brave enough to move to a brand new city? Katy and Tiffany use a listener email to kick off the show. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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The Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage route across Spain. Our guest Aarin Wright set off on the Camino with her father after finishing University. Was all the walking as rewarding as she hoped? 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Sunny Strong studied abroad in Florence in 1963, leaving her boyfriend Mike at home. Now, after 52 years of marriage, they recall how that time changed them. And we listen to reel-to-reel tapes and letters from that time to really capture Italy in 1963. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Host Tiffany Parks shares a big announcement. Also, Katy and Tiffany explore what it means to live in a temporary place that doesn't feel like home. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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We visit Gaborone, Botswana where expat Sara Sullivan moved after living in Pakistan. We talk about misperceptions of Africa, 'staying-in-touch' strategies, and the challenge of deciding where to live when your spouse has a job offer in one country and you have one in another. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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We use linguistics and speech pathology to think about learning languages with special guest Lisa Wilcox. Sound boring? Turns out- it is actually really funny. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Host Tiffany Parks in Rome reacts to the earthquakes that rocked Italy on August 24, 2016. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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If you cry unexpectedly while looking at art, or reading or watching TV, what do those tears mean? Do they indicated buried longings, fears, or loves? Katy and Tiffany discuss.

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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We delve into the archives to get you some free therapy. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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By listener request, we replay the very first episode of the show, which happened over 2 years ago. A perfect opportunity to introduce The Bittersweet Life to your friends. (Please do!) 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Nicole Hardy sailed the world on a 180 ft. square rigged tall ship. Her fantasy idea was rather horrific in reality. As a single woman who takes serious risks, what does it mean to plan a trip that is nothing like you expected? 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Our hosts say goodbye to their old lives as Tiffany moves out of her Trastevere apartment, and Katy's Seattle home is torn down. They explore life, loss, and the pain and annoyance of moving. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Reality TV director Scottie Madden's journey from man to woman took 50 years. She and her wife Marcy join Katy to talk about how their relationship has changed and grown and what it's like to film in wild places. 

• Scottie Madden's book Getting Back to Me: From Girl to Boy to Woman in Just Fifty Years

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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On July 4th (Independence Day in the USA), many immigrants get their citizenship. In their honor, we rebroadcast the day (host) Tiffany Parks finally became a citizen of Italy. (Other host) Katy Sewall was in Rome to record it, and meet Tiffany's new baby, Aurelio. 

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SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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Writing while traveling. Many of us do it. Professor Daniel Butterworth teaches us how to do it better. Show correction: Ghirlandaio painted the Santa Maria Novella frescoes Dan refers to, not Brunelleschi. 

NEVER HEARD THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1:OUTSET

SPONSOR: Reach thousands of expats and travelers all over the world by sponsoring The Bittersweet Life. Write the at bittersweetlife@mail.com to get the conversation going.

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