Overcoming fear to move to Europe: A Brazilian expat’s journey of growth

In this expat conversation, I sat down with Bruno to talk about how he's grown by overcoming his fears and being open to different cultures.

Bruno is the co-host of the CorajosaMente podcast.

---

How To Be An Expat is a podcast that explores how to live expat life to the fullest, hosted by Expat Coach Kelly Boyle. Each episode is a conversation with other expats around topics of expat life, from culture shocks and learning a new language, to working and making friends. Listen as we share our stories and experiences, and learn how to be an expat. You can also find us at: https://kellyboylecoaching.com

--

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro and getting to know Bruno

02:00 - Why move abroad? The unexpected decision

06:45 - First impressions of living in Ireland

10:30 - Language barriers and the value of struggling

15:15 - Cultural shock: dinner times, social norms, and more

20:10 - How diverse teams shape your mindset

25:00 - Work culture differences: Brazil vs. Europe vs. US

30:20 - The surprising work-life balance in Europe

34:45 - How moving abroad improves adaptability

39:15 - Learning to ask for help and be vulnerable

42:00 - Overcoming fear and embracing discomfort

46:45 - Making friends across cultures

50:30 - Funny cultural misunderstandings

55:00 - Career growth through international experience

58:45 - How living abroad changes your values

1:02:00 - Final thoughts: Would we do it all over again?

1:04:30 - Outro and reflections