Packing Up & Peacing Out

She moved from Connecticut to the Czech Republic at 18… because of one NPR segment. No, seriously. That one moment completely changed Liza Jean’s life—and now she’s helped dozens of other Americans move to Europe for university too. Liza is a 25-year-old American living in Brussels who did both her undergraduate and graduate degrees abroad. Now, she’s turned that experience into a career, helping...

What’s the difference between expat friendships and local friendships—and why does it feel so much harder to build a real social circle when living abroad? After watching a video comparing American and British friendship styles, we dive into a topic every expat struggles with: making meaningful connections in a new country . We’re unpacking: How to make local friends vs expat friends while living...

Celebrating your birthday is always a mix of emotions—but celebrating a birthday while living abroad ? That’s a whole different experience. Whether it’s your first birthday away from home or you’ve been living overseas for years, birthdays can bring up everything from excitement and independence to homesickness, loneliness, and reflection . In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out , we’re g...

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal caught our attention: “ Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers. ” So… what’s going on? In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out , we talk about why more Americans are seriously considering moving abroad —and why the traditional American Dream may not feel so attainable anymore. From rising costs of living to burnout culture, many people...

Think moving abroad will solve all your problems? Many expats discover that mental health challenges don’t disappear when you move abroad — and sometimes living abroad can make anxiety, loneliness, or depression even more intense. In this episode, we’re talking about mental health for expats and people who move abroad with Jamie Martindale, a licensed counselor based in Prague who works closely wi...

When you tell people you've moved abroad, the assumptions start flying. "You must be rich." "Are you running away from something?" "So you just didn't like America?" This week, we're breaking down the most common assumptions people make about expats and immigrants—and sharing whether we think they're true, false, or somewhere in between. As two America...

Want to save thousands to fund your move abroad? Or work in a stunning US National Park while figuring out your next adventure? Seasonal work might be the answer you're looking for. In this episode, we chat with Jaxton Bloemhard, who spent last summer working in Glacier National Park in Montana and has used seasonal jobs to fund his travels all over the world. We cover everything from how to f...

You move abroad and think things will be a certain way. But, guess what? A lot isn’t as it seems! So in this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out we are digging into the things that have surprised us. ALSO Lili shares some big news about her life in London. And Taylor shares some career growing pains she is having.  YOUR DREAM LIFE ABROAD by PUPO: the Facebook Group for the PUPOers! It will be...

We are so excited to announce YOUR DREAM LIFE ABROAD by PUPO: the Facebook Group for the PUPOers! It will be a space to meet other people living in your city, ask questions about moving abroad, share your opinions on the week’s topic, and have a direct line to Lili and Taylor. Join the group here:   https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr⁠   Have you spent hours a day doomscro...

Grabbing a pint after work with colleagues seems normal, right? Until it's 2am and you've said things that will haunt your Monday morning meeting. In this episode, Taylor and Lili dive into the surprising differences in drinking culture across Europe and the US. From London's legendary pub culture to Spain's relaxed relationship with sangria and Prague's beer-obsessed bars, they explore how moving...

So you moved to Europe and all the sudden you have to take off your shoes in the house and fit all of your condiments in a fridge the size of a backpack? Welcome to our lives!  Sometimes moving abroad is really just moving house. Your house will just be a lot more different than before! Taylor and Lili cover all the major differences (some you expect, others you don’t) and discuss their gripes wit...

Given all the sh*t going down in the USA right now, we figured no better time to talk about the itching feeling a lot of Americans are feeling right now. Should you leave? Now obviously we support you leaving the USA- but what happens if everyone does? And how do you even go about it? ALSO will you just feel guilty? All things we discuss in this episode.  Love the show? Please leave us a review on...

Some Move Abroad HOT TAKES. If you’ve moved abroad, you probably have some of these. Maybe you think men don’t move abroad. Or that moving to England doesn’t count. Well, Lili and Taylor sure have some! In this episode we catch up on our holiday breaks as a lot has happened since we last recorded. Taylor had her first Christmas with her British boyfriend. Lili’s British boyfriend met her family. A...

What a light topic to cover… just body image and body standards. No, we definitely don’t have a lot of learned issues about this!! JKJK after all we are just two white American girls who grew up during the rise of social media. So basically we (like you we assume) are scr*wed and thats ok! So this episode is all about unpacking those body images and standards in the context of moving abroad. Cause...

 2026 is here, and this episode is all about setting goals and dreams for the year ahead! It's easy to forget about goal-setting after you've accomplished a big dream like moving abroad, but creating intentions for the new year is a must to keep growing in your expat journey. Whether you goal is to finally move abroad this year, or if you already have and its to find a new apartment or try...

Have you found yourself in a… long distance relationship? Oh no! Just kidding that's amazing, but you may have some things to learn to help the relationship. Or have you ever wondered how tf people can do it? In this episode of PUPO you’ll hear from the experts themselves on why it happens, how to do it, and finally closing the distance gap. Elaine and Abe of Love is in the Air podcast joined...

Taylor moved with her boyfriend, Lili moved solo… so which is best?? Which is easier? Which have you done? This week on Packing Up & Peacing Out we chat about the ins and outs of moving single or as a couple: the pros, cons, things that come up, and how you should do it! Things we cover: building a social life, navigating logistics, dealing with loneliness, and what to consider before you book...

Gone are the days of working for one company for your whole career, and this is especially true for those of us that move abroad. Right now, both Taylor and Lili are going through some growing pains in their career. But luckily, Colleen and Kristine of Embrace the Squiggle podcast are here to help! In this slightly different episode than usual, we get the chance to discuss our career with these tw...

Picture this: every weekend a new European city! A big trip every other month! That’s what your life abroad is gonna look like… right? We hate to break it to you, but probably not! And thats OK! Don’t get us wrong, we travel a lot more than most Americans, but our travel routines have changed since we moved abroad. And this episode is all about how traveling can change when you finally make the le...

One of the biggest ways your life changes when you move abroad starts at your lips… and not its not French kissing. It’s food!   This episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out, Taylor and Lili discuss their favorite subject, food! We cover European vs American food, stigmas about American food, if European food cures all, and how kitchens change (get worse) when you leave America.  Follow the pod on...

Do you try to go home for every major holiday? Or are you more of a enjoy the place you live person?  There is no right answer! And in this episode, given the impending holiday season, Taylor and Lili discuss all things holidays when you live abroad. They both have kinda different perspectives, so this one will have a little something for everyone! We discuss how to get out of going home, celebrat...

Do you vote in your home country from your home abroad?  In today's episode, we discuss how we stay politically engaged with your home country while living abroad. As we recorded on U.S. election day, we shared our personal experiences and practical advice on voting and staying engaged with politics from thousands of miles away. We dig into: The surprising statistics about Americans eligible t...

You watched Notting Hill, dreamed of your own Colin Firth moment, and somehow manifested an actual British boyfriend? In your dreams or in reality- either way this episode is for you! Lili and Taylor dive into the reality of dating British men as American women. From cultural misunderstandings to navigating different communication styles, they share their unfiltered experiences of transatlantic ro...

You’ve got meds, doctors appointments, surgeries, the list goes on! How could you possibly fit moving abroad in there? Well this episode is gonna prove you wrong.  Caleigh is the founder and CEO of Fight2Breathe who has been living with cystic fibrosis since birth. Having undergone two double lung transplants and countless surgeries and traumas, she has spent a large part of her life advocating fo...

The biggest headache of moving abroad sometimes is just… moving! The actual reality of finding an apartment or home and moving in can be A LOT and EVEN MORE when its in a new country and/or language. Lili + Taylor have both moved into apartments in their respective countries and have plenty of tips and stories to tell. So if you are about to move abroad and are scared to flat hunt, or if you’ve do...