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We’re doing a little series of “dos and don’ts” for the next few episodes. And we’re starting off with home assignments (aka: furlough, home leave, going back for a visit, etc.) Returning to your passport country holds wonderful opportunities to connect with family, friends, and our home culture. It also has a lot of stressful elements. On this episode, Alicia, Melissa, and Denise talk about going back on home assignment and they share a few do’s and don’ts based off personal experiences. So go ahead and make yourself some tea or coffee and get comfy. Get ready to take some notes so you’ll be prepared for your next trip back to your homeland. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

We’re usually quick to notice where we fall short and often forget to celebrate the progress. In this episode, we’ll be sharing stories about milestones we’ve reached in our own expat life—and we invite you to do the same! It’s a great habit to acknowledge and celebrate the progress we’ve made. And speaking of celebrating, we recently reached a milestone for our podcast that you all played a huge part in! Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

Conflict will arise from time to time in any friendship—even the best of them— and how we manage these inevitable disagreements with our friends can play a big part in the health of the relationship. In expat life, friendships are really important to invest in so we can find community with others who understand our life. During this tea time chat, Alicia, Denise, and Melissa discuss a recent conflict they had, how they worked through it, and how they learned more about one another in the process. Communication and empathy are important skills for resolving any level of conflict. We hope this episode will leave you feeling better equipped to work through conflict in friendships whenever it arises. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

You’ve already done the BIG-sell-all-your-things move. But now it’s time to move again—maybe it’s across town or across the country. You don’t have to sell all.the.things again, but you do have to get it all from Point A to Point B.  In this episode of "It’s Tea Time Somewhere," we’ll be sharing how many times we’ve each moved, stories from previous moving experiences, our typical process for packing/moving, and what we do first when we arrive at our new place.  We also made up a new word (if Gen Z can do it all the time, we can too). We think it will make a great addition to your vocabulary. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

This episode is all about vacations! We talk about our vacation rhythms (back when, you know, we could actually go somewhere…), how we make them happen, or why they don’t happen.  We also discuss the guilt that many cross-cultural workers feel about taking a vacation. Rest is so necessary, in any kind of work, and we want you to feel the freedom to go create beautiful memories with your family. So, pack everyone up in the car/bus/train/plane, grab your travel mug, put your earbuds in and get outta town, cause it’s tea time somewhere! Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

In this episode, we’re talking about “summer break” and whether or not we’re actually having a break from school. We discussed how the 2020-2021 school year went for each of our families, how the school year ended (or has it?) and what we’ve learned from the Lord about ourselves and about our children in this last year. We also chat about a new word that the youths are saying (well, it was new back when we recorded this episode) and we have a pop quiz about its meaning. Join us! Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

This is the Beauty Episode! In this episode we talked about the evolution of our style and beauty throughout the years; from all the way back in the awkward days when we first started trying to look pretty, till now. We discussed how to stay true to your style and "feel like you" when moving to a new country and how sweat drains our motivation to put on makeup. And since you asked (or even if you didn't), we put our Influencer hats on and wrapped it all up by sharing which products and beauty tips are working for us right now.   So, wash your face and plop up your hair because it's tea time somewhere!   Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

Today we’re chatting Rachel Pieh Jones (who has previously joined us here on the podcast). For those of you who don’t already know Rachel, she writes about life at the crossroads of faith and culture. Rachel just released her latest book, Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus. She shares stories that recount the personal encounters and growing friendships which gradually dismantled her unspoken fears and prejudices and deepened her respect for Islam. Along the way she also gains a far richer understanding of her own Christian faith. She divided her stories around the five pillars of Islam — creed, prayer, fasting, giving, and pilgrimage — and shows how her Muslim friends’ devotion to these pillars led her to rediscover ancient Christian practices her own religious tradition has lost or neglected. We hope this interview encourages you to extend a holy welcome to your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and to reach your hand across the chasm with empathy and respect toward fellow Image Bearers of God. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

Welcome to the Preggisode! But don't run away! This conversation is packed full of laughs that you'll enjoy even if pregnancy is far from your mind. In this episode we talked about allll the pregnancy things. We've had a lot of kids overseas, a combination of 10 pregnancies. So, there are many paths to walk down our memory lanes.   Being pregnant and having babies far away from our passport country can be an intimidating experience. There is also something really special about experiencing pregnancy and childbirth in a different culture. So grab your cup of tea (or coffee) and enjoy this chat. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

In this episode, we’re doing our first round of “ask us anything.” We had so many questions from listeners there was no way to answer all, but we do discuss our friendship, how to maintain long-distance friendships and family relationships, meeting neighbors with limited language, and embarrassing moments (well, we only had time to share ONE moment this time because Melissa’s story took us by surprise). We also give some rapid-fire answers to questions about books, pets, and what goodies we shove in our suitcases. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

At long last, Alicia is back! She's recovered from her whirlwind trip back to Indonesia, and her return inspired today's episode about moving overseas for the first time. In this episode, we discussed how we prepared when we first moved overseas, how we handled (and still handle) those wretched goodbyes, and what helped us when we landed in a new culture.   This discussion will hopefully be a practical help to all the newbies out there who are preparing for the big move, but also an encouragement to the long-timers. There are ways we can be welcoming and helpful to people landing overseas for the first time, and that kindness can make all the difference in the world.   Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

Where are all our housekeeping fans? {crickets, crickets}   Okay, so house cleaning and home management might not top our list of fun pastimes, but they are a necessary part of this overseas life. Whether you keep a sparkling clean house, or you fall into the “God bless this mess” camp, this episode is for you. Our friend, Sharon, joined us to talk all about our home management personalities, household help, and fun tips for keeping up with the demands of life in a busy home.  And what house management discussion wouldn't be complete without talking about finger crinkles and floor drains? Take a break from those dishes. Put your ear buds in and your feet up, ‘cause it’s tea time somewhere!  Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Sharon Connect with Alicia 

When you moved overseas did you have a plan for how long you would stay? Did you imagine you'd be there for a long time, or are you considering staying longer than you originally planned? In this episode we had a conversation with Kim, our friend in Ukraine, about living overseas for the long haul. We talked about our initial plans when we moved overseas, persevering through times of doubt and hardship, and what we do, proactively, to remain and thrive in our life overseas.  Whether you plan to stay overseas for 2 years or 20 years, we hope this episode will be a blessing to you, and also a practical help. You are not alone! So grab your tea and your earbuds and let your heart be encouraged in this episode of "It's Tea Time Somewhere." Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Kim Connect with Alicia 

Our discussion this week is all about TCK friendships. This topic can be a tough one, but it's oh so important for the health and happiness of our kiddos in their life overseas. In this episode we break down the discussion into the Early Years, the Middle Years (aka "The Hay Day of School Age Kids"), and then on into the Tween and Teen Years. We talk about things we have done to help our kids develop friendships, our successes and failures, how our perspectives have shifted over the years, and what it looks like to be proactive in creating opportunities for our kids to find friendship. We don't claim to be experts on this topic, but we hope you come away with an encouraged heart, and more than anything, we hope you see that you are not alone. If your mama heart is struggling as you navigate friendships alongside your TCK's, know that you are definitely not the only one. So, grab a cuppa and settle in for some encouragement, because it's tea time somewhere!  Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

We're chatting about new beginnings (NOT new goals). As expats, we don’t have to wait for a new year to roll around to experience new beginnings. Whether it’s a new location, new language, new schooling choice, or new housing situation every time you return to your passport country — it can bring a roller coaster of feelings. We'll be chatting about our most recent ‘new beginnings’, what we learned through it, and the unexpected blessings each experience brought us. Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

The Taking Route Community is growing and we are so happy to see more and more women from around the world connecting and encouraging each other as we all learn to thrive right where we are planted. With that growth comes the need to reevaluate what brings life as we juggle connection online and feeding our multitudes of children. So.Many.Children. Doing this podcast is a lot of fun, and brings life, but arranging interviews with differing time zones and sketchy internet is a little less fun. In the hopes of 2021 being the year of less stress, we have decided to change the podcast format to less interviews and more tea time conversations. Each episode we’ll pick a topic and dissect it, share our perspectives and what we’ve learned through our experiences as expats. We really value different voices so we aren’t doing away with interviews altogether, but the meat of the podcast will be just the three of us: Denise, Melissa, and Alicia.  In this episode we reintroduce ourselves for the benefit of any new listeners and share more about what you can expect in the episodes to come. We’re excited about this new format and hope you enjoy!    Check out our show notes for links to all the things we talked about in this episode. _______ There are so many ways to get involved in our community. Join us on Instagram.  Interact with other expats on our private Facebook group.  Search for expat articles on our blog. Get monthly curated resources monthly via our newsletter. Connect with Denise Connect with Melissa  Connect with Alicia 

For our last episode of Taking Route Podcast, we’re doing something a little different — a Christmas Special, if you will. This episode is only about ten minutes — but it’s packed full of Christmas goodness. First, we’ll read an expat-friendly rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Then, Melissa will perform a new song she wrote (it’s record label good, no exaggeration).  We love you guys and we’re so thankful each and every one of you are a part of the Taking Route Community.We pray you feel God’s nearness this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Immanuel — God with us. Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a goodnight. Taking Route on Instagram. Join our private group on Facebook. (Be sure to answer the questions so we can let you in!):  Join our monthly newsletter. Connect with Denise. Connect with Alicia. Connect with Melissa.  We also have show notes to find links to things we talked about during this episode (including Melissa's anthem, Yogurt, by Ylvis). Light reading for your pleasure. Don't forget to check out the website (www.TakingRoute.net) for 100's of relevant expat articles. HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS Subscribe | Just do it! Leave a review | When you leave a five-star review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes.  Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love! 

The final stop in our series, “This Global Pandemic,” is in South Korea to visit Oklahoma native, Kara. She, her husband, and their four kids stayed put in South Korea this year, even though they had long-awaited travel plans to go to the States (it’s been four years since their last visit!) In this episode, Kara shares what a pandemic looks like in a culture that is very communal and how South Korea is the place to be stuck if you have to be stuck anywhere while a virus spreads around the globe. She talks about some of the humorous moments of 2020, as well as how she gave herself permission to grieve the things that are hard about expat life. Connect with us:Instagram   or  Facebook Private Group Join us on our website with articles written by expats for expats: www.takingroute.net Connect with our guest, Melissa Connect with Alicia Connect with Denise Connect with our Melissa

We’re coming up on that time of year: the time of turkey, traditions, and gathering around the table with the ones we love. It’s almost Thanksgiving! Will there be green bean casserole and sweet potatoes on your table? Can you even get turkey wherever you are in the world? In this episode, Denise, Alicia, and Melissa talk about all things Thanksgiving. They compare their childhood memories of Thanksgiving with their current expat reality, share what they are most thankful for in this moment, and play a fun ice breaker game that you can use around your table. So, grab a cup of tea and settle in, because it’s tea time somewhere!  Taking Route on Instagram. Join our private group on Facebook. (Be sure to answer the questions so we can let you in!):  Join our monthly newsletter. Connect with Denise. Connect with Alicia. Connect with Melissa.  We also have show notes to find links to things we talked about during this episode (including Melissa's anthem, Yogurt, by Ylvis). Light reading for your pleasure. Don't forget to check out the website (www.TakingRoute.net) for 100's of relevant expat articles. HELP THE TAKING ROUTE PODCAST REACH MORE EXPATS Subscribe | Just do it! Leave a review | When you leave a five-star review, it helps other expats find us when they’re seeking out podcasts on iTunes.  Share with a friend | We hope to see the Taking Route podcast grow and grow and grow, but we rely on expats like you to spread the word. We appreciate when you share our episodes—whether that’s via Facebook, email, Twitter or Instagram. Thank you for the love! 

Next in our 3rd installment of our “This Global Pandemic” series we are travel to São Paulo, Brazil to visit Tennessee native, Melissa (@melissastormer). Melissa along with her husband and three kids are determined to thrive and not just survive this pandemic. Melissa tells how they’ve maintained their well-being, learned to prioritize and let some things go to the wayside, and have made sure to have regular tea times as a family for heart checks. She shares about how she’s been able to go deeper in relationships and ultimately, how she’s learned to not only extend grace to others, but to herself as well.  Connect with us:Instagram   or  Facebook Private Group Join us on our website with articles written by expats for expats: www.takingroute.net Connect with our guest, Melissa Connect with Alicia Connect with Denise Connect with our Melissa