Transplants - Conversations With Women Thriving Abroad

When Olga Kudrick took a 36-hour bus from Lithuania to London, she was just a young woman looking for new opportunities and hoping to support her family. Sleeping on the floor, nearly becoming homeless, and being harassed were definitely not on her bingo card — but little by little, after overcoming a series of obstacles, she began building a new life. Olga met her husband, they had their daughter, bought a house, and everything finally felt settled… until another big move happened, and the whole family relocated to Jersey City in the United States.In this episode, we talk about her life in Lithuania, the struggles of her early years in London, why the move to the U.S. was such a difficult decision for her, and how she has been dealing with her evolving identity as a mother. You’ll see that sometimes we don’t have everything figured out — and that’s perfectly fine, as long as we allow ourselves to keep trying.Connect with OlgaCheck her podcast - The Messy Mom ChroniclesOlga's Instagram (@the_messy_mom_chronicles)__________________________________________Why the name “Transplants”?I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another._______________________________________Connect with Transplants:Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.podSubstack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchiFollow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants

From a 21-year-old English teacher in rural Japan to 15 years on a Thai island and now a future in Valencia, Kaila Krayewski has been chasing belonging across continents. Being originally from Canada, Kaila's first experience abroad was in Japan - moved by the belief that Canada was not the right place for her and inspired by her parents, she thought that living in Japan to teach English would be a great idea.And although her experience was not the greatest, that gave her the opportunity to visit Thailand, where she fell in love with Koh Phangan, a tropical island. And then, after backpacking in South East Asia and meeting her husband, they moved to that magical island for good. Kaila created different businesses, she had her son and built a whole life in that tropical paradise... until, she felt literally trapped. In this episode, we talk about some highlights of her story: her move and adventures, relationship struggles, dealing with lost of both her parents while living abroad and the reasons why she finally decided to leave Thailand.Connect with Kaila:Home Abroad Substack__________________________________________Why the name “Transplants”?I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another._______________________________________Connect with Transplants:Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.podSubstack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchiFollow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants

In 2012, Celia Alves was a math teacher in Portugal: her life was stable; she had a house, a husband, and two kids. But Celia was pretty tired of her career; she felt burned out, and she knew that being a teacher forever was not something she was excited about.Then, while some European countries were facing an economic crisis, her brother invited Celia and her husband to attend a job fair focused on immigration - specifically for New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. There, they discovered there was demand for her husband’s skills, and they decided to take the leap and move to Canada.Although the beginning of this new life was not easy, they eventually settled and were happy - until circumstances changed and they were suddenly facing a deadline to leave the country. Since going back to Portugal was not an option for Celia and her husband, she went all-in on a study permit, started from scratch in a new field, and began rebuilding everything.In this episode, we talk about the real cost of immigration - the fear, the paperwork, the setbacks - and the story behind Celia’s new career. While taking freelance jobs to help support her family, she honed her Excel skills and reinvented herself as an Excel specialist and community leader, which later landed her a job.Connect with CeliaWebsite - solveandexcel.ca Youtube ChannelInstagram @solveandexcelLinkedin __________________________________________Why the name “Transplants”?I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another._______________________________________Connect with Transplants:Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.podSubstack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchiFollow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants

When she was a kid, Karen Bussen always dreamed of moving to New York City. Eventually, that dream became reality: she moved to the Big Apple and built a successful, creative career. After more than two decades working as a wedding planner and even creating her own startup, she truly believed she would live in the city forever.Until Paris happened. Led by her love for the French capital and the French language, Karen decided to spend some extended time in Paris to live like a local and practice her French. And after a friend convinced her that going on dates could be a great way to practice the language, she gave it a chance — and met the man who would become her husband.In this episode, Karen shares all the details of that story, as well as how she integrated herself into Parisian life, put herself out there, and built an entirely new life.Connect with KarenSubstack - https://karenbussen.substack.com/Youtube channel  https://www.youtube.com/@karenbussenInstagram https://www.instagram.com/karenbussen/__________________________________________Why the name “Transplants”?I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another._______________________________________Connect with Transplants:Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.podSubstack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchiFollow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants

When Fernanda Santos first moved to the U.S., she had a clear plan: study journalism and return to Brazil. But everything changed after a chance encounter at a job fair. She met the love of her life, decided to stay, and built an extraordinary career, becoming the first Brazilian staff writer at The New York Times, contributing to major publications, publishing a book, and now serving as Editor-in-Chief at The 19th News.But Fernanda's story is not just about professional milestones; it’s also about navigating love, loss, and identity as an immigrant. After losing her husband to cancer, she found herself starting over again - this time as a widow and single mother, raising her daughter, and searching for a new sense of “home” in another country. In this episode, we talk about how Fernanda rebuilt her life, how she found confidence in her voice, how grief reshaped her story, and how she eventually found love again - without losing herself in the process.Connect with Fernanda:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heyitsmefernanda/Substack: https://byfernandasantos.substack.com/__________________________________________Why the name “Transplants”?I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another._______________________________________Connect with Transplants:Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.podSubstack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchiFollow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants

Aneri Desai was born and raised in India, and expected to follow a path shaped by tradition, including getting an arranged marriage. When she went to London to study abroad for a while, she discovered another world - and then she decided to pursue an MBA in the United States. And her arranged marriage… turned toxic. But Aneri had the courage to walk away - with nothing. With no money - and no choice - she rebuilt her life from scratch in the U.S. Today, Aneri  is a career coach, immigrant women advocate. In this episode, we talk about reinvention, resilience, and how she landed her job after 300 job rejections and, later, launched a coaching business for immigrant women. Connect with Aneri:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aneridesaipatelWebsite: https://aneridesai.com__________________________________________Why the name “Transplants”?I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another._______________________________________Connect with Transplants:Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.podSubstack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchiFollow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants

Gabriela Dutra, a Brazilian content creator known as Gabu, shares her transformative journey from a fashion designer in Rio to a global traveler now residing in Thailand. She discusses the allure of spontaneous travel, influenced by Jack Kerouac's philosophy. Gabriela reveals her financial strategies for long-term adventures, including work exchanges and prioritizing experiences over material goods. She candidly reflects on navigating relationships while traveling, emphasizing the importance of individuality even within partnerships. Her story inspires those feeling stuck to embrace change and seek personal fulfillment.

Kimberly Anne, an inspiring expat and writer of 'Expat on a Budget', shares her transformative journey from a 20-year abusive marriage in the U.S. to a fulfilling life in Portugal at 56. She delves into her battle with addiction, the empowering year spent traveling the U.S. in a van, and the realities of expat life, debunking myths and revealing everyday challenges. Through journaling and reflection, Kimberly has defined her values and sustainable living strategies, proving it's never too late to start over in a new country.

Milena Berry, co-founder and CEO of PowerToFly, shares her journey from Bulgaria to the U.S., navigating life as an immigrant woman in tech. She recounts arriving in NYC just before 9/11 and the challenges of breaking into the tech industry. Milena discusses the importance of remote work for inclusivity and her passion for advocating diversity. She offers insight into parenting four kids while managing a career, the beauty of her partner's transition, and her commitment to helping immigrant women succeed in their careers.

Chilean actor-turned-entrepreneur Carolina Malis shares her compelling journey from a spontaneous trip to New York City that unexpectedly turned into a decade-long adventure. She discusses her transition from babysitting to co-founding a social media agency, overcoming challenges of writing in English, and navigating adult friendships in a new city. Carolina also dives into her long-distance relationship and the emotional complexities of moving to London, reflecting on the immigrant experience and personal growth through diverse cultures.