Expat Dispatch

Our hosts Sergei and Jordan dig into what language actually does to you when you live somewhere foreign — how it creates belonging, marks your otherness, and forces a kind of presence that your native tongue never demands. Dispatch 002: Lost in Translation.

Dispatch 001. Welcome back! We are giving our podcast a fresh start: The first edition of the Expat Dispatch approaches the concepts of belonging and identity felt by many who arrive in a new land. For information, please visit our page: https://www.expat-dispatch.com

The first season of the Expat Dispatch Podcast has come to an end. In half a year we recorded 15 episodes, 13 of which were with fascinating guests from all over the world: 11 countries and 5 continents. A map of listeners is even more mindblowing: countless countries from all inhabitable continents. In the FINALE Tina, Sergei, and Dmitry share their personal and professional journeys throughout t...

In our 14th and final guest episode of the season, hosts Sergei and Dimitry talk to Adriana. Being born and raised in the US, she has a multicultural background with a Colombian father and an American mother. We explore her choice of the Netherlands over Italy and other Nordic European countries, emphasizing a preference for a more relaxed lifestyle and better opportunities. There is a decent amou...

In this thought-provoking episode, Sergei and Dmitry sit down with Jessica, a landscape architect from South Africa, to delve into her unique urban perspectives. We start by exploring the differences between Cape Town and Johannesburg, shedding light on how these cities influence their residents' social lives and lifestyles as Jessica offers valuable insights into their contrasting dynamics. Her e...

After some break, we’re coming back with the last few remaining episodes of this season! In our 12th episode for the first time, we talk to two guests at the same time. The reason is that Artemiy & Polina are married and have always been on their journey in the Netherlands together. Coming in 2021 to pursue a master’s at the same university but in different programs, they knew from the beginni...

In our 11th episode, we are finally talking to the first local! Even though Joeri was born and raised in the Netherlands, he has a cosmopolitan mindset and can relate to the expat community. Inspired by his Indonesian grandfather’s travels, Joeri has already spent some time living in South Africa, Indonesia, and Peru and he is not planning to stop, as he sees himself as a lifelong traveler. He hig...

In our 10th episode, Sergei and Dmitry talk to a special guest: Susanna, an Armenian who was born and grew up in Russia. She was learning languages from an early age and first moved to Italy. But after spending a year there, her perceptions of the country shifted greatly. She realized she didn’t want to live there, so she compiled a list of potential countries to move to, and the Netherlands toppe...

In this episode, Sergei, Tina and Dmitry welcome our university friend Kasia to listen to her post-graduation journey. She reflects on our university days, on combining thesis with the job search, her current job and short term plans for the future. Kasia shares her secrets of developing and maintaining her social web, teaches us basic Polish and shares her travel plans to Latin America.

In this episode, Sergei, Dmitry, and Tina talk to our Costarican friend Carlos. He shares his story of dropping everything behind in his home country, moving to the Netherlands to pursue a master’s, and changing career direction from engineering to logistics together with some of his main life perspectives. Staying for over half a year in a hostel before finding a proper apartment, sending over tw...

In our 7th episode, Sergei and Dmitry are talking with Sara, a Sudanian woman, who has lived for 7 years in Egypt, for 6 years in Saudi Arabia, and now for the second year defining her way in the Netherlands. Sara compares all the cultural differences she encountered after deciding to experience life outside of Sudan. Since she left the country, it has been separated in two at first and now is in...

In the 6th episode, Sergei, Dmitry, and Tina host a friend of ours: Rohit, an Indian who studied with us and lived for some time in the Netherlands after that but now is coming back to his home country. He talks about his background, the reasons behind pursuing a master’s degree in the Netherlands, housing struggles, and job application ups and downs, embellishing everything with his opinions and...

In the 5th episode, Sergei, Dmitry, and Tina host a special guest: Ana Maria, a Colombian expat living in the Netherlands. She walks us through her journey of pursuing a law degree in Singapore, transitioning into legal tech and innovation, struggles with staying in the country, and eventual relocation to Germany and the Netherlands. Ann Maria shares a lot of valuable tips and strategies for landi...

In the 4th episode Sergey, Tina and Dmitry talk to Laurie, an English who followed his passion to explore new things right after high school and ended up in Barcelona for five years where, apart from everything else, he worked in a hostel and offered complimentary bike city tours. After moving from Spain to the Netherlands four years ago, he transitioned from delivery service to tech sales and eve...

In our second guest episode, Sergei and Dmitriy are catching up with our friend Adrián. And he has some stories to tell! Originally from Mexico, Adrián packed his bags and headed to the Netherlands for a year and a half to pursue his Master’s. He's returned to Mexico to work as an urban planner and now came to Rotterdam for a visit. But Adrián's journey was about more than just studying. He shares...

In our first guest episode, we welcome Makensie, an American who did her Masters's at Erasmus University and now works as a consultant in Rotterdam. Makensie shares the unexpected quirks, endearing surprises, and daunting hurdles she's faced while carving a home amidst tulip fields, bland food, and bustling bike lanes. We'll also hear her captivating stories on a wide range of topics including edu...

Join hosts Sergei, Tina and Dmitry in the pilot episode of "Expat Dispatch” where we share personal experiences and insights about expat life in the Netherlands. From navigating the challenging job market to embracing Dutch culture, this podcast offers practical advice, insider tips, and engaging conversations. Throughout the episodes we invite fellow expats to share their own stories, creating a...