Circling Home: Lessons From 15 Years Living Abroad With Terry Repak

Jul 30, 2024

Terry Repak, an adventurous mother who lived abroad for 15 years, shares her captivating journey through diverse cultures while raising a family. She discusses the emotional challenges of expatriate life in Africa during the AIDS epidemic, emphasizing the power of local connections. Terry recounts personal stories of loss, resilience, and the growth of her children as global citizens. Additionally, she explores the struggles of re-integrating into life in the U.S. and the importance of an experimental mindset when embracing significant life changes.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Lessons from Expat Life in Africa

02:16 • 20min

Reflections on Loss and Embracing New Opportunities

21:55 • 5min

Global Health and Personal Growth

26:27 • 18min

Navigating the Challenges of Cultural Re-Integration

44:12 • 5min

Returning Home: Navigating Life's Transitions

49:24 • 13min

Embracing the Experimental Mindset in Life Changes

01:02:50 • 3min

When Terry Repak and her husband moved to West Africa with two small children at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, she seized the opportunity to connect with people of other cultures and bear witness to the ravages of the disease.

Today, Terry shares what she learned from this experience and the countless ways that living abroad can be both rewarding and challenging, especially with the constant push-pull between the excitement of new experiences and the longing for home.

Terry is the author of Circling Home—What I Learned By Living Elsewhere, which chronicles the adventures and challenges of raising children to be global citizens and trying to find home in countries as diverse as the Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Switzerland. Her memoir spotlights the complexity, struggles, and profound lessons at the heart of the expat journey.

You’ll gain insights into navigating the potential risks of moving to another country, why forming deeper connections is key to a fulfilling experience abroad, and why it requires a different kind of openness and a willingness to question preconceptions and judgments.

How has forming deeper connections changed your travel experiences? I'd love to hear your insights, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Tune In To Learn:

Why they decided to bring their family to Africa despite the risks
How she was able to quickly integrate into society and have a feeling of home and safety
Her heartbreaking experience on the ground during the AIDS epidemic
Terry’s perspective on foreign aid for health issues
How living in an African country shaped her children’s worldview
The importance of resilience and openness to different cultures
Her experience returning home and how to continue making cultural connections
Considerations for anyone wanting to move abroad long-term
Her motivation for writing a memoir
And so much more

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