Two Fat Expats

A catch up podcast for the New Year. Both Kirsty and Nikki’s youngest expat/repat children have now graduated from school and are on their way to university/gap year. We talk film, books and television. Kirsty: Disclaimer – Apple TV The Season – Helen Garner Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple TV Nikki: Zero Day – Netflix Paradise – Hulu Black Doves – Netflix The post Expat Kids on Tour first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

Kirsty and NIkki discuss how differently there lives may had been had they done what they’d originally planned. Kirsty’s favourites: Dinasaur: Hulu, SBS on Demand Fake: Paramount + Dark Waters: Amazon Prime Nikki: The Gentlemen: Netflix The Rest is Entertainment: Podcast The post What if we’d gone home after five years? first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

Starting a chat with someone new can be a little scarier when you’ve lost that expat hook. You know the chat – so how long have you lived here? Where are you from? Where did you live before you moved here? Nikki talks about her new intro chats as a repat and how she’s coping with conversations that seem to go nowhere. When were you your most confident as an.. Read More The post I’ve lost my hook first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

This week we discuss Expats the television series based in Hong Kong. The series is adapted from the novel The Expatriates written by Janice Y.K. Lee. Nikki is 6 months in with her repatriation and has a very honest chat about being friendless and miserable. Our favourite things: Tiny Beautiful Things American Fiction Past Lives Taylor Swift The Eras Tour One Day Expats The post Expats – The Series first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

What is a good salary in Doha? London? Jakarta? We’ve all seen the questions based on how much money you need to make to survive, today we have a new question. What’s been the biggest cost you didn’t foresee when you moved? What did you forget to factor in? We also talk about the grieving expat. Going through grief when no-one understands the enormity of your loss. How do we cope.. Read More The post How much money will I need? first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

The Trailing Spouse is dead – this week on the podcast we talk about why the “Accompanying Spouse” has arrived. I mean the Accompanying Spouse was always a better term wasn’t it? We all walk side by side don’t we? Sidenote – the term Trailing Spouse will no longer be used in the Two Fat Expats Facebook Group with Accompanying Spouse being the preferred term. We’re also talking Posh and.. Read More The post The Trailing Spouse is Dead first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

This week on the podcast we answer a question from the Fatterati’s “Should I go home?” We also discuss the complications of re-acquainting yourself with old friends after repatriation. Kirsty’s three favourite things: Exposed (podcast) Deadloch (television) Travis and Taylor and everything EVERYTHING about them Ange Postecoglou and The Tottenham Spurs Nikki’s three favourite things: Sex Education Season Four (television) The Newsreader Season Two (television) Wilderness (television) What are you.. Read More The post Should I go home? first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

This was Nikki’s very last podcast before she repatriated. The post When do you spill the beans that you’re moving? Long term postings or always on the move which one are you? first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

It’s been seven hours and sixteen years…yes I know the song doesn’t go like that but it fits with the intro. It’s been a long time since Kirsty and Nikki have hit the maternity ward so we asked the Fatterati what it was like to have a baby away from home. We also did an expat mental health check, Nikki is now down to her last week as an expat.. Read More The post Given birth away from home lately? Here’s how things have changed. Also, an expat mental health check. first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

What are some of the unique challenges long term expats face? Savings and superannuation, self care and medical issues? Heart breaking friend break ups? Property ownership and all the tax implications that come with it? We ran through a few. We shared food discoveries from the Fatterati, what can’t you now live without? Kirsty’s three things: The Fablemans, Chris Rock, Benjamin Law article on Survivor experience Nikki’s three things: The.. Read More The post Want to know the truth? Here’s some long term expat challenges you may not have thought about. Food discoveries from the Fatterati. first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

Also, the ageist expat are you a victim or a perpetrator? Kirsty’s three things: Shrinking, The Big Swing and while we’re on the subject….golf! Nikki’s favourite three things: White Collar, 1923, Robbie Williams live in Copenhagen And watch out Amsterdam we’re coming for you! The post I don’t like it here – what to do when you hate your location. first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

Welcome to our first live audience podcast recorded in Singapore – yes yes Kirsty was in Singapore in 2016 but it was a 4 kids, 20 suitcases and a beagle reading whereas this was the full package! The theme of the evening was friends. Kirsty asked Nikki will she have to change the way she recruits friends upon repatriation. What will be different? Nikki asked Kirsty How will you replenish.. Read More The post Doing it live in Singapore first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

Nikki is dealing with the realities of the impact her expat life has had on her family relationships and describes how it feels like a bit of a “kick in the guts”. We talk about Kirsty’s book and its premise. Ever been described as excess baggage? Get ready for the reply. Three favourite things Kirsty: Meet Cute The Good House Helen had her baby – The gorgeous Wengel (meaning the.. Read More

How will you settle? Expats traditionally have itchy feet so how do you settle when you’re heading home? How will you plan your expat year ahead? Or how will you divide up your time ahead? Now that expats are back travelling between countries what’s the most effective way to plan your year? Kirsty’s three favourite things: She said Steven Spielberg on Smartless  Have you ever taken your kids to a.. Read More

How will you cope with no-one giving a flying fig about your expat life when you’re home for the holidays or repatriating? Kirsty and Nikki discuss why expats are hurt by friends and family that appear disinterested in their expat lives. Is it time to accept that you’re really not that special?  How will you deal with newcomers writing you off when they hear that you’re leaving? And how will.. Read More

Will you be with family or without for the festive season? What do you do to make your holiday season special or is the holiday season non existant where you’re currently living? Instead of our usual three favourite things with podcasts, movies and television we discuss our three favourite holiday traditions. Nikki: Making or tracking down Christmas Crackers and Bon Bons Buying a christmas ornament from your expat location Christmas.. Read More

In our would you/could you we discuss what Covid restrictions look like in China right now. Would you/could you move there? We talk to the Chinese Fatterati about their lives and report back. Would you/could you make your house a home without your shipment? How? Kirsty’s Favourite Things: Colin from Accounts Shetland Magnetic Eyelashes Nikki’s Favourite Things: White Lotus Season 2 Wednesday Long Lazy Lunches watching your expat kids catch.. Read More

This week on the podcast we discuss travelling between countries with medications and how to navigate when you’ve been prescribed something in one country only to discover it’s banned in the country you’re moving to. Nikki has some big news which leads us to discuss expat redundancy. Nikki’s favourites The Rest is History (The World Cup series) The Inside Man (Netflix) Limitless (Disney +) Kirsty’s favourites The Staircase (Netflix) Pivot.. Read More

This week’s episode is all about the World Cup both in Qatar and South Africa. I’ve written a piece about living in Qatar and the recent press. Here’s a few of the links I talked about: David Beckham Peyton Manning World Cup Commercial Ghanin Al Muftah – the star of the opening ceremony. Michael Sheen – Welsh message Nikki’s three favourite things: Heartbreak High on Netflix The Handmaids Tale Season.. Read More