As part of the next instalment in my new Expat Series on Guests’ Corner, I chatted to blogger, Katja of Places and notes travel blog.
Katja, Charlie and Lu (10 years) and Mila (six months), are a Slovenian-French-German family of four who love travelling. They document all their adventures on their exciting travel blog, Places and notes, which features stories from 60+ countries, as well as notes about road trips, backpacking, hiking, winter sports and so much more!
As a family, they love to hit the beach, hike, camp, ski and grab a tasty bite to eat. When they travel, they focus on avoiding animal- and theme-parks and try their best to travel responsibly and sustainably.
You can follow their blog for family travel inspiration, city guides, practical information and even tips on how to travel as a single mom!
1) Where are you originally from: That is, what is the country of your birth/home country?
Katja: I was born and raised in Slovenia, a tiny European country located between Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Austria.
2) What inspired or made you decide to move overseas to a different country and become an expat?
In my case, moving abroad was a spontaneous decision, based on a long-distance relationship I was in back then.
This relationship only lasted for a couple more years though – but I decided to stay in Germany after the break up.
3) How long did it take to settle into life and routine in your new country? (Please also name which country it is/was.)
It actually did not take too long to settle into my new life in Germany in terms of finding a suitable place to live, developing a daily routine and getting familiar with the new surroundings.
But it did take much longer to get the job I wanted, to find really good friends and to really integrate into society.
4) What was your most humbling or eye-opening experience about becoming an expat?
It must be missing the things I took for granted while I still lived back home. Suddenly everything looked much better back home and I realised life over there was actually pretty awesome.
Sometimes the good old saying that you don’t know what you have until is gone is just very true.
5) Worst experience or time as an expat in your new country? (If you are comfortable sharing.)
I was lucky enough not to have any really horrible experience – but there were a few rather unpleasant situations where I felt mistreated only due to the fact that I was not German. Especially in the beginning when I still could not speak the language so well.
6) Would you ever consider moving back to the country of your birth – and please tell us why yes or no?
I did not only consider doing so, I actually did it after almost eleven years abroad! It was a big wish of mine for the past few years – but I kept postponing it due to a rather specific family situation.
The main reason why I moved back was simply being too homesick; I have not only missed my friends and family – but also the landscapes, the weather and the food.
Also, we have a six-month-old baby girl and I want to raise her in this environment. I felt like I have had a great experience living in a foreign country that taught me so much – but a few weeks ago now, it was definitely time to close that chapter and start over.
7) Do you have any handy tips for expats who have just moved to a foreign country and are settling into life in a new land?
It is a big help to find other expats who have been living in the area for a while and who can guide you through the first weeks and make you feel less alone. There are lots of groups on social media where you can connect with people before you move.
Also, do not forget to bring a lot of patience and nerves for all the initial paperwork.
8) Do you ever regret leaving the country of your birth or do you feel it was the best move for your life/career?
I don´t regret it at all – but, at the same time, I cannot say it was the best move I made.
It has definitely taught me a lot about myself and about life in general – but maybe my life would have been easier right now if I took different decisions back then. In a way, I really grew up in all these years abroad.
9) If you could take one thing from the country of your birth – what would it be?
This is really a tough one but, if I had to choose, I would definitely go for family and friends.
10) Do you feel everyone, particularly travel bloggers, should live in a foreign country at least once in their lives and if so, when do you feel is the best time to do it?
I believe everyone should take the chance to experience expat life, if they have the opportunity to do so.
It teaches you a lot: you meet so many interesting people from all over the world; you start to appreciate things you always took for granted; and it’s the best way to not only immerse yourself in different cultures – but also to really get to know yourself.
Personally, I think the best time to do it is between finishing school and starting a family.
To read more about Katja and her family’s experiences and travels, you can visit their excellent blog or follow them on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.
Thank you very much, Katja, for appearing in this expat guest interview.
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