Home Away From Home

Building Confidence Working in German - Kalina's story

Imagine giving presentations at work in a language that isn’t your mother tongue.
Kalina shares how she went from being too afraid to speak up at university to actively pushing herself to say yes to presentations at work.
So how did she get past the fear of making mistakes?A simple answer: dare to speak.
We also discuss the strange similarities that come with working and presenting in a language that isn’t your own and why it's worth getting uncomfortable in order to grow. 
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)
This episode was edited by Eilomusic. 

Learning German Was One Thing – Living It Was Another: Kalina’s Story

Kalina went to a German school in Bulgaria and later moved to Germany to study pharmacy in German. Academically, the language wasn’t the problem.
But life outside of university still felt different.
In this episode, she talks about the gap between studying in German and actually living it day to day, especially in social settings. This is part one of her story - she has now been living in Germany for over eight years.
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)

Home Isn’t One Place Anymore

I often ask my guests what “home” means to them...but I’ve avoided answering it myself.
I used to think it was simple: a place, or a person, or a feeling. But that’s changed.
Home, for me, isn’t one thing anymore. It’s scattered across people, places, and different versions of me.
And that’s what this episode is about: what home has become for me, and how it keeps changing.
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)

Thrown in the Deep End Abroad: Jadon on Figuring Life Out in Berlin

Moving abroad comes with surprises...some funny, some more challenging - Jadon’s story has both.
From a frying pan that sparked a full-blown German-language showdown to the challenges of his first months in Berlin, he shares the laughs, the struggles, and the lessons that come with being thrown in the deep end.
Along the way, he’s grown, learned, and now Berlin feels like home - a place he could imagine staying for a longer time than planned. 
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)
 

My Student Exchange in Germany – On Two Scholarships

Think a school exchange is out of reach? Think again.
I share how I got to Germany as a student on scholarships: from two weeks in Berlin with students from around the world to three months living with a host family in the Bavarian Alps.
These experiences shaped my life, and if you’ve ever dreamed of living in Germany but a school exchange was too expensive, there are other opportunities out there. 
Here are the links to the two scholarship programs I talk about: 
Goethe Institut: https://www.goethe.de/ins/nz/en/spr/unt/ver/sti.html 
SAGSE (Scholarships for Australian German Student Exchange): https://www.sagse.org.au/ 
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)
 

Living Alone in Germany for the First Time

I don’t think I’ve ever properly shared how I ended up in Germany.
Because it wasn’t one big decision, it was actually a lot of small moments along the way that led me here.
One of the biggest was a ski season I did just after school, living alone in a tiny village in the Alps - it was fun, chaotic and a bit crazy at times. 
But it also ended up being my first real home away from home.
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)
 

Chasing Europe: Jadon on Job Hunting from Sydney and Life in Berlin

What does it take to move from Sydney to Europe?
In this episode, Australian engineer Jadon shares how he applied for jobs across multiple European countries from Sydney, hoping to land anywhere that would get him to Europe and eventually ended up in Berlin.
We talk about the differences between life in Sydney and Berlin, the culture shocks that come with living in Germany and the slightly awkward moment of running into a colleague in a German sauna.
Nearly three years later, Berlin has become a place Jadon now calls home - even though Australia will always be home too.
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)
 

6 years in Germany: What I’d do differently

We’re back! The vitamin D in Hamburg is working its magic, and hopefully that’s it for being sick this year. Now it’s time to get back to business. 
Six years after moving to Germany, I’m looking back at the things I’d do differently if I could start again: from being more confident with the language to trusting my instincts and celebrating the small wins. I'll cover a few honest reflections for anyone navigating life abroad. 
*I mention this crazy word in the podcast "Schokogugelhupf" - for any non-German speakers wondering what it is (or anyone like me who didn't know the word existed until recently) it is a delicious chocolate cake with a hole in the middle :) 
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad)

Friendships Abroad: Finding Your People

Moving abroad often starts with a place and a strong desire to feel at home there. 
But it took me a while to realize, that it’s not about finding the place where you feel most at home, it’s the people you meet and connect with along the way who can actually make a place truly feel like home. 
In this episode, I share my journey of finding my people in Germany and open up about the reality of it not happening overnight. I share details about meeting my best friend, shared circles and the moment that made me feel like I belonged here. 
If you’re looking for connection in a new place, this might give you a few ideas to start and a gentle reminder to invest in your people, it pays off. 
Here are some online communities worth joining: Girl Gone International & bbacommunity.
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.lifeabroad).

Learning on the Go: Luisa on Studying in a Foreign Language

What does it really take to study in a foreign language?
Persistence. One semester at a time.
Luisa shares how she kept going through her degree in German. From re-reading complicated texts, surviving presentations, and telling herself that if she could do one semester, she could do the next. She opens up about language fatigue and the strategy she uses when her mind needs a break.
This episode is a reminder that showing up, again and again, is how progress happens.
Join the conversation on Instagram (@homeawayfromhome_podcast) or TikTok (@tanna.nankivell).