Packing Up & Peacing Out

Is it still called "going home" when you live abroad? Taylor and Lili unpack the complicated experience of returning to America after building lives overseas. With Taylor preparing for her imminent trip back to the States, we dive into both the practical logistics and the emotions of these visits—from the excitement of reunions to the unexpected grief of realizing how much has changed wh...

Is moving abroad safe? And is that question fueled by your parents watching too many Liam Neeson movies? In this episode, Taylor and Lili tackle the topic every expat has to navigate: personal safety in a foreign country. We break down the reality of safety concerns for women (and other groups) living overseas, comparing our experiences in Prague and London with our hometowns in the United States...

One of the biggest challenges of moving abroad isn't navigating visas or finances—it's combating the loneliness that comes with leaving your support system behind. This week, Taylor and Lili tackle the critical topic of finding and building community when you're thousands of miles from home. Join us as we welcome Vita Klimashevska, founder of Czech Expat Club, who has mastered the art...

Dreaming of moving abroad but not sure about how you'll pay the bills? In this episode Taylor and Lili pull back the curtain on one of the most practical aspects of move abroad and expat life: how to actually make money while living overseas. As two Americans who've built freelance careers that fund their lives in Prague and London, we share our journeys from traditional employment to loca...

Everyone has that one friend who studies abroad. And maybe even one who stayed and lives abroad. Maybe the next one can be you? Hunter Vaughan is the friend that moved abroad and he is sharing his journey from rural North Carolina to Prague for university (or college for American listeners) and a masters in London. In the episode we unpack:  The stark gender split of study abroad Why Prague is the...

Pop the champagne! 🥂 It's officially been ONE YEAR since Taylor and Lili packed their American lives into suitcases and moved to Prague and London. But did their dreams match the reality? We’re get brutally honest about their first year abroad - from the unexpected wins to the embarrassing fails and everything in between. If you're planning your own international move, consider this your...

That moment when you're curled up in the fetal position, burning with fever in a foreign country, and realize you can't just call mom for her magical chicken soup? Welcome to adulting abroad at its most brutal! This week, Taylor and Lili get raw about one of the most overlooked challenges of moving abroad: getting sick when you're thousands of miles from your support system and familia...

Ever planned on backpacking for a year and half way though you… hate it? Well, Jezelle has and she ended up in Australia because of it.  This week, Taylor and Lili chat with Jezelle (@lifeofjz_) who went from "I hate this backpack" to "I'm never leaving Australia!” When her Southeast Asian adventure came to an end, Jezelle made the spontaneous decision to fly to Brisbane instead...

Americans abroad get a lot of crap, but do we really deserve it? This week on Packing Up & Peacing Out, Lili and Taylor discuss the realities of being Americans abroad when everyone thinks we are too loud and or too ignorant. This topic can get interesting, especially given the news and realities happening in the US, and Taylor and Lili don’t hold back what they really think about it.  Also, D...

Ever wondered what happens when a British girl swaps rainy Manchester for sunny Australia? This week, we're exploring life in Oz as an Au Pair dealing with a breakup. Join Taylor and Lili as they welcome their special guest Emma from @EmmaNicoleTravels - from navigating the au pair life (spoiler: it's not always the dream job Instagram makes it look like) to experiencing the rollercoaster...

Not everyone is cut out for immigrant or expat life, and your personality might be the deciding factor between thriving abroad or… booking the next flight home? In this episode, Taylor and Lili tackle the question everyone's too afraid to ask: "Is my personality actually suited for living in another country?" Lili confesses to how she used to care WAY too much, while Taylor reveals h...

So you want to move abroad but haven't gone all the way... with a visa application yet? Don't worry, the first time is always a little awkward, but we're here to help you through it! Welcome to this week's episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out where Taylor and Lili are getting intimate with the topic everyone's curious about but afraid to ask: how to get that very first visa...

Ever scrolled past those Instagram posts of people working poolside in Bali and wondered if it's actually achievable? This week, we're pulling back the curtain on the digital nomad lifestyle with someone who's mastered it! Join Taylor and Lili as they interview Paige Copeland, founder of Becoming Solo and digital nomad extraordinaire. After hitting rock bottom, Paige completely transformed her lif...

Remember that first day of kindergarten when making friends was as simple as sharing a crayon? Fast forward to moving abroad as an adult, and suddenly you're back to square one… except this time, your mom isn't there to give you a reassuring hug before she leaves! In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out, Taylor and Lili tackle one of the biggest challenges of expat life: building m...

Ever dreamt of falling in love with a frenchie? Welp, what happens when the red wine and cigarettes of it all fades, and you need to do some french bureaucracy… tragique! This episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out with Lili and Taylor is our first ever guest episode and we’re so excited to be joined by Celina of @celinaacotedeparis. Celina’s story is a whirlwind that started with a stint in Pari...

"But how will you live there if you don't speak the language?!" Every expat or immigrant has heard this question… and in this episode, we're tackling it head-on! Join Lili and Taylor as they dive into the real struggles and surprising wins of navigating life in countries where English isn't the primary language. Lili reveals her humbling experience living in Spain despite yea...

"So you both have rich dads, right? That's how you paid for your lives abroad?" Well... not exactly. In this no-filter episode, Taylor and Lili pull back the curtain on the financial realities of moving overseas. We get into ALL the money questions you're too afraid to ask: The amount we each saved before making our first international moves The shocking truth about our monthly b...

"How could you move so far away from your family?!" If you've moved abroad, you've heard this question a million times. This week, we're answering it! Taylor and Lili unpack the emotional reality of being thousands of miles from the people who love you most. From dealing with homesickness during holidays to managing the guilt when you miss important events, we get REAL about the challenges of bein...

Visa? Check. Apartment? Check. But what about everything else that makes life worth living? In this episode, Taylor and Lili dive into the essential but often overlooked aspects of building a fulfilling expat life. Discover how to: Create a thriving social calendar from scratch in a new country Establish a support network that feels like family Transform a foreign apartment into a place that truly...

Have you ever wanted to Pack Up & Peace Out? Us too. Welcome to the first episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out! We're Taylor and Lili, two Americans who took the leap to live abroad, and we're here to help you decide if moving overseas is right for you. OR if you've already made the move, we're dishing all the tea about what it's REALLY like to build a life in another country. In this episo...