kirsty@shamozal.com -

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...

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 .

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...

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 Serie...

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 p...

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&...

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 Educ...

🎧 Nikki has repatriated and she’s yet to make a new friend BUT it’s not all bad because she’s living in paradise AND she’s discovered her new favourite drink (a gin mule). This week on the podcast we’re talking repatriation, the good, the bad and the ugly cry. Kirsty’s three favourite things: The Girlfriends (Podcast) What’s love got to do with it (film) Matidlas (Disney + Doco) And I know.. Read...

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 .

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 birt...

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 art...

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 .

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.....

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 (meani...

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 eve...

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....

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 o...

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 Wed...

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 Hi...

A quick chat about having the World Cup on your door step. Who has the longest work hours and is it just a part of Expat Life? Should you put up and shut up? What’s it like to work in Qatar during the World Cup? We answer your questions about our 200th episode: When and how did we meet? What was our favourite holiday as an expat? Where would we.. Read More The post Episode 200 is here first...

Nikki walks us through her covid on holidays experience. Would you/could you send packages to a transit hotel? What are the rules? Do all hotels let you do it or are some hotels going to charge you for the privilege? We discuss. Would you/could you set up a contract with your partner on how many times you’ll be heading to your home country (particularly if you’re both from different co...

In would you/could you this week we discuss expat insurance. What do you need? Are you paying too much? Or have you forgotten to pay at all? We also discuss recent activity in the Two Fat Expats Group. Anger management, political commentary and killing the spirit of expats one post at a time. It’s time for us to have a chat. 🙂 Our favourite things: Kirsty: The Split season 3,.. Read More Th...

What happens when expat love turns sour. Two stories of betrayal, young love and then twenty years on, how do you protect yourself from getting burnt? Why is an expat betrayal any different. We decide on the best medical face mask to fly with. Stop overs in a time of covid, if you can’t fly direct what do you do in transit and how does it affect your choice? We’ve.. Read More The post...

This week in would you/could you? Would you/Could you go out without a mask where you live? Would you/Could you call Lunar New Year Chinese New Year? Would you/Could you travel with just a ticket and a passport? We speak to Bridgee a Kiwi in Saudi. If you’re unaware of the situation in New Zealand and what it has been like for their expats and residents you NEED to listen.. Read More The pos...

We put a call out to the Fatterati and today we have an absolute gift for you. Sit back and enjoy some beautiful expat love stories. How did you meet? Where did it take you? Have you ever had a ten day first date? From a chance meeting on the dance floor in Guatemala, to running into someone while grabbing a coffee in rural china – in their own voices.. Read More The post Expat Love Stories...