kirsty@shamozal.com -

This week we discuss Austria’s decision to make covid vaccinations compulsory. Who’s next? Can you keep your job while being a vacine hesitant expat? We also take a look at a new app designed to assist families to connect. It’s kind of like Tinder for families, would you do it? Will this narrow our expat world or expand it? Our three favourite things. Kirsty is in love with the story.. Read More T...

This week we discuss the pros and cons of returning to your “home” country for the festive season. We’re also talking Christmas markets in Europe – will they happen this year? Nikki’s trying to not get her hopes up after last year’s heartbreak of watching the markets in Hamburg appear one day only to be dismantled and taken away the next. Nikki wants to know if...

How much sh*t do you ship? And what effect is it having on the planet? In the week of COP 26 we look at shipping containers and personal belongings and how we can be better at moving our things from home to home. How does a third culture kid react to a fellow TCK telling them that they’re not really from where they say they are because they’ve “never lived.. Read More The post Sh...

This week we talk about the things you didn’t know you needed until you got there. Nikki is all over her new phone cover for her bike (something she didn’t need in the US). What have you needed in one country that became irrevelant in another? A portrait of Ghaddafi to show your allegiance? Winterized tyres in the Middle East? What has been your hardest goodbye and why? We talk.. Read...

This week we talk about the best vaccination for international travel. What’s the most widely accepted? And will there be restrictions on where you can go and what you can do depending on your vaccine? We also talk about getting the cold shoulder when you arrive. Are you going to be welcome when you return home? Are you better off staying away until travel is a little more accepted? Here&#82...

Business Travel. Are you ready for it? Are you busting to do it or are you a little bit wary? Personal travel is different (there’s a lot more margaritas) and you get to choose the destination and the activities – but business travel may have you heading towards a red zone, stuffy conference rooms and having to knock back that first offer of a hand shake. We also talk about.. Read More The p...

If you had a chance to have a job in your home country (that you could do from anywhere) or a job locally, what would you choose? What makes more sense? Keeping one leg in the employment market at “home” or getting overseas experience? Does it affect how you settle into your new location? Nikki wants to know how  you follow local media in a new country? Particularly if the.. Read More The pos...

Nikki gives us an insight into life in Denmark without covid restrictions. Spoiler alert…there was a buffet table! We discuss what airlines are doing to keep customers “on board” . Nikki mentioned this article https://thepointsguy.com/guide/airline-elite-status-coronavirus/ Do you re-invent yourself with every expat move? Can you do it both professionally and personally? Or is re...

Kirsty has lost her tree, what was once a flourishing jungle appears to now be a burnt stump. Nikki on the other hand is trying to work out where the top of the tree begins. Who do you call when something significant happens? Kirsty wanted to know what Nikki wouldn’t be leaving Hamburg without which took the conversation to Libya, Canada, Jakarta, South Africa, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Kirsty...

With Europe and the US opening up, but Australia shutting down who are the expats who will make it home for Christmas? Also we talk International Schooling, when do you decide where your children will finish their schooling? How soon is too soon? Kirsty’s three favourite things: Australian Story – A Balancing Act Catch of the decade Feel Good Nikki’s favourite things Snowpiercer...

How do you keep your medical records up to date when you travel? Have you registered your Covid vaccine in your home country. Nikki’s decluttering, Kirsty’s rowing on her brand new water rower. Nikki is reading – The Mindful Way Through Depression – Freeing yourself from Chronic unhappiness. She’s also dowloaded “Insight Timer” a meditation app. Favourite...

Kirsty opened a can of worms in the Two Fat Expats Facebook group with a question (that with hindsight) was always going to be problematic. “How do we make International Schools more accountable?” So how do we? We discuss in today’s episode what makes a great school. Is accrediation important? How do you measure the success of a school and what types of International schools are...

Our anonymous question this week is all about staying together when you’re physically miles apart. How do you turn those “admin” phone calls into conversations that will brighten your day rather than leave you feeling flat and discombobulated. Our anonymous Fatterati member feels like her phone calls with her partner have become more like reporting in. We call in the experts and...

Season Seven. Episode two. We’ve received our second anonymous question and it’s another cracker. A member of our Fatterati feels her partner may be having an affair. What would you do? And once you decide what to do what’s the best way to do it? If it were time to separate how do you extricate yourself? We discuss how to take those initial steps if you think your marriage/partnership is.. R...

In the words of Vanilla Ice “Hey Fatteratti, if you gotta problem yo we’ll solve it”. We kick off with our first anonymous question and bring in the expat experts. Dr Sean Truman from The Truman Group answers all of our mental health issues in regards to expat life. We walk through the fat expats questions. When your children receive the feedback that their accent isn’t rea...

Here’s the best of 2020 from the Fatterati. January Kirsty – Years and Years Nikki – Fleabag Season Two February Kirsty – Australian Survivor All Stars Nikki – Little Women March Kirsty – Stateless Nikki – Catch and Kill April Kirsty – Unorthodox Rabbit Hole (Podcast) Nikki – Fortunately with Fi and Jane After Life Season 2 (Netflix) May Kirsty...

Welcome back Fatterati! This week’s four fat questions Do you think your kids would be different had they not grown up as Cross Culture Kids? How? How do you go about college/university applications for your expat teen? What are your three favourite Christmas movies? You can love a city but can it ever love you back? If a city could love you as much as you loved a city, which.. Read More The post...

Covid strikes in Adelaide (we recorded the day before lockdown hit) and Hamburg has had 3000 new cases in the last week but never fear we’re still here to talk all things expat. Our Four Fat questions: What gets you excited about a new move? What’s your clean out strategy before a move? Are you the mandarin or the garlic? It all makes sense when you listen, I promise! But.. Read More The pos...

We kick off with an update from Susan and Eva who are in China. They fill us in on the current Corona situation and what their life in China looks like right now. We’re also introducing the Fat Four Expats Questions. Each week Nikki and I have four fat questions to ask each other: What’s your expat superpower? Would you ever go on a cruise? Or as Nikki likes to.. Read More The post The...

This is our first ever podcast recorded together and it should possibly come with an apology. We had a great chat, and it’s possible there was a bit of rambling BECAUSE WE WERE TOGETHER! In this episode we cover owning a house in your home country. Transitioning your children from expat to repat without you. Kirsty’s daughter Lizzie gave us a piece of gold on what moving is all about.....

It’s a BRAND new season and we’re baaaaaackkkkk! Kirsty is looking for 5 new friends for Christmas, after being in Doha for 9 years, she is definitely a ‘stayer’ and a long termer but still in need of new ways to make friends. We break down all the different ways she might be able to do that and asked the Facebook group about the strangest place they’ve ever met a.. R...

It’s still Season 3 and it’s already Episode 8 of Two Fat Expats. The 2016 US election results continue to be discussed in households around the world and expats are no different. This week we look at the election results through the eyes of a Muslim family in the US, a Muslim American in the Middle East and a American family also living in the Middle East. Thank you so much to Nivin,....

Hello hello hello! We’re back! In this episode we’re joined by the fabulous Nikki Moffitt, an Aussie who has just made the move from the US to Hamburg. This is Nikki’s fourth move in 14 years. Is it any easier the fourth time around? Have a listen and a giggle while we discuss. In this episode we’ll also discuss our favourite podcasts, movies and books as well as launching...

Hello and welcome to another episode of Two Fat Expats where we believe you should live a fat expat life, live it to the max and make the most out of every moment. This week we’re talking to two amazing expats who are doing extraordinary things in their expat life. Dr Erik left his medical practice in Beverly Hills working with famous actors and actresses to start a new life overseas... Read...

Hello and welcome to another episode of Two Fat Expats where we believe you should live your expat life to the max, live it large and live it fat. This week we’re talking about the glamorous life of an expat, or lack there of. Many people looking from the outside in would think all expats live a glamorous lifestyle of brunching and jet setting off to exotic locations. While there.. Read More...