Unless you live under a rock you’ve probably heard the term Euro Summer, but what actually is it? How does one ‘Euro Summer’? In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out we are putting on our travel agent hats and laying it out for you as two girls who live in Europe and have done a lot of traveling. Whether you have a trip to Europe planned this season or Euro Summering is on your bucket list, this episode will be sure to leave you with practical advice and tips to ensure you have the trip of your dreams!Love the show? Leave a review, it helps other people dreaming of moving abroad find us.🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

So the elephant in the room is that Taylor and Lili have never met in real life… until now!Lili flew to Prague and is officially an American in Prague for this episode and in honor of our first IRL episode, we are answering listener questions. Love the show? Leave a review, it helps other people dreaming of moving abroad find us.We cover everything from how we started the podcast, to how personalities change when moving abroad, to career struggles, and more! 🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

You know that moment when someone asks "where are you from?" and instead of a one-word answer, you watch someone take a breath and figure out where to even begin?Those people have a name: Third Culture Kids. And their stories are some of the most fascinating ones in the world of living abroad.In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out, Taylor and Lili sit down with Veronika Kozel, a true TCK who grew up across multiple countries, fled communist Czechoslovakia, and has lived in 12 countries total, only to find herself back in Prague as a teacher. Whether you're a TCK yourself, were raised by one, or have literally never heard the term before, this conversation will stick with your PUPO heart!In this episode, we cover:What Third Culture Kids actually are and why their experience of the world is so differentWhat it was like growing up across multiple countries with no single "home"Veronika's story of fleeing communist Czechoslovakia and what came nextLiving in 12 countries and what that does to your sense of identity and belongingThe complicated answer to "where are you from?" and why it's so much more than a locationWhat TCKs can teach the rest of us about adaptability, culture, and building community abroadHow Veronika ended up back in Prague and what it means to return to a place that's changed and so have youIf you've ever felt like you belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time, this one is for you.🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other Americans dreaming of moving abroad find us.📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

You walk into your first gynecologist appointment abroad, feeling nervous but prepared. Then the doctor gestures for you to undress  (no gown, no curtain, no "whenever you're ready") and suddenly you're going full Pooh Bear from the waist down while she stares at you like this is completely normal.Because for her, it is. Nobody warned us though!In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out, Lili and Taylor are getting into one of the most asked-but-rarely-talked-about parts of expat life: navigating healthcare abroad. The admin, the culture shock, the language barriers, and the genuine WTF moments that happen when the medical system you grew up with is suddenly very far away.We break down what healthcare actually looks like day-to-day in the US, the UK, and the Czech Republic — the good, the frustrating, and the genuinely bizarre..Oh, and we end with a Dumb American Moment involving the word "spunk" that we will not be elaborating on here. You'll have to listen.📣 We're recording an IRL episode in Prague soon! Got a question you want us to tackle in person? Drop it in the comments or DM us on Instagram — we want to hear from you.🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other Americans dreaming of moving abroad find us.📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

Your beloved daughter tells you she’s moving 5,000 miles away from home. WTF?! How are we supposed to stay close? Don’t worry, two mother daughter duo’s are here to help!In honor of our 50th episode AND Mother’s Day, we are bringing on our moms to discuss all things being a daughter who moves abroad and how our moms feel about it. Diane (Taylor’s mom) and Kelly (Lili’s mom) share their perspectives and we only make fun of them a little bit. Enter our Airbnb Giveaway to win a $50 Airbnb gift card (make sure to follow us instagram first to be eligible!): https://pack-up-peace-out.kit.com/airbnbgiveaway Thanks to all the PUPOers for listening, we are so thankful we wanted to give you a lil gift!We talk about: How they REALLY feel about us living abroad The BEST and worst parts of having a daughter abroad How we visit each other If we should do a mother daughter trip for PUPO?? 🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other Americans dreaming of moving abroad find us.📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

You've got the visa. You've bought the plane ticket. You've told everyone you're doing it.Now you actually have to pack up your entire life and get it to another country. No big deal, right?In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out, Lili and Taylor get into the unglamorous but essential logistics of physically moving abroad — what to bring, what to leave, how to ship the rest, and how to survive the first 72 hours without completely losing it.Whether you're doing a short stint of 6–12 months or making a permanent move, the strategy is completely different and getting it wrong means overpaying, overpacking, or arriving somewhere new without the things you actually need.Lili moved to London with just two suitcases and figured the rest out over time. Taylor shipped belongings from the UK to Prague and navigated VAT mess in the process. Between them, they've made enough moving mistakes to save you from most of yours.In this episode, we cover:Short-term vs. long-term move: why the packing strategy is totally differentWhat you should always bring no matter what (documents, medication, sentimental items)What's almost never worth bringing (furniture, bulky items, anything easily replaced)How to think about the stuff you're leaving behind Why moving is an ongoing process, not a one-time eventLuggage strategy: carry-on essentials, how many checked bags is realistic, and when shipping actually makes senseHow to find a reputable international moving company (and what to watch out for)The first 72 hours: why your carry-on is your best friend 🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other Americans dreaming of moving abroad find us.📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

Finland keeps topping the World Happiness Report. And every time it does, someone (probably you) asks: should I just… move there?In this episode of Packing Up & Peacing Out, we're breaking down what the World Happiness Report actually measures and why a country's happiness ranking might be one of the least useful things to consider when deciding where to move abroad.Spoiler: the USA is #23 and trending downward. The UK is #29, also trending down. The Czech Republic? #20 and climbing. But none of that tells you what it's actually like to live there as a foreigner and that gap matters more than most people realize.World Happiness Report: https://data.worldhappiness.report/table What Makes People Happy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkKuTCFvzI Feel Worse Before Much Better: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-dynamics/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2021.688487/full?utm_source=chatgpt.com We get into the research: why immigrants consistently report lower life satisfaction than native residents, why moving to a "happier" country can actually make you feel worse before you feel better, and what the 85-year Harvard Study on Adult Development says is the real driver of happiness (hint: it's not your postcode).Moving abroad can genuinely improve your quality of life — but not because of a ranking. We talk about what actually moves the needle for expats, and what you need to be realistic about going in.In this episode, we discuss:What the World Happiness Report measures and what it leaves outWhy the USA, UK, and Czech Republic rank where they do (and what the trend lines mean)Why immigrants report lower life satisfaction than natives on averageThe happiness factors that rankings can't capture for foreigners: isolation, language barriers, building community from scratchWhy moving to a happier country can raise your expectations faster than your life improvesWhat the Harvard Study of Adult Development says is the #1 predictor of happinessHow moving abroad can genuinely improve your life — and what that actually looks like in practice🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO — connect with expats and future expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor. https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other Americans dreaming of moving abroad find us.📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

Moving abroad isn’t just visas, flights, and cute coffee shops. It’s also realizing your fridge is the size of a shoebox, lunch happens whenever people feel like it, and apparently you now need to say hello and goodbye to everyone.In this episode, Taylor and Lili are rating all the random things they’ve had to get used to while living abroad in Prague and London—from mildly annoying to surprisingly life-changing.Inspired by @katietheguiri’s post about adjusting to life in Spain, we’re sharing the little everyday things no one really talks about when you move abroad.And… BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Lili is visiting Taylor in Prague!! 🇨🇿✨Whether you’re already living abroad, planning your move overseas, or just curious about expat life, this episode is a great one to dive in!🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPO Connect with expats and aspiring expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more future expats find the podcast.📸 Follow the hosts: Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/ Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakesprague Lili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

Death and  taxes… yes, even when you move abroad, the IRS still wants to hear from you.If you’re an American living overseas (or dreaming about it), this is one of those things no one really explains—you still have to file US taxes no matter where you live in the world.Fun!💸 This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxesOur first sponsor (!!) and a tool built specifically to make filing US taxes abroad way easier.Use code PACKUP for 10% off one of their plans here https://www.myexpattaxes.com/ In this episode, we break down what filing taxes abroad actually looks like, why Americans are uniquely affected, and how to stay compliant without losing your mind (or all your money).We’re also sharing how Taylor is legally paying way less in taxes 👀 (hint: things like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) can make a big difference).We also touch on key things you’ve probably heard thrown around but never fully understood—like FBAR, expat tax deadlines, and what happens if you’ve fallen behind.We cover:Do Americans abroad have to file US taxes? (short answer: yes)How to file taxes as an American living overseasWhat the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) is and how it can reduce your tax billImportant expat tax deadlines you need to knowWhat to do if you’ve never filed taxes while living abroad beforeHow to stay compliant with the IRS (without panic spiraling)How Americans abroad can reduce what they owe (legally!)🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPOConnect with expats and aspiring expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show?Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more Americans abroad find the podcast.📸 Follow the hosts:Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakespragueLili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld

She moved from Connecticut to the Czech Republic at 18… because of one NPR segment.No, seriously.That one moment completely changed Liza Jean’s life—and now she’s helped dozens of other Americans move to Europe for university too.Liza is a 25-year-old American living in Brussels who did both her undergraduate and graduate degrees abroad. Now, she’s turned that experience into a career, helping students study in Europe through her company, Skola.You might already know her—she’s built a community of over 300,000 followers sharing what it’s actually like to live abroad, plus tips on how to make it happen yourself.In this episode, we get into the real logistics of studying abroad in Europe as an American—from choosing a university to building a life overseas (and yes, even learning French and navigating EU citizenship 👀).If you’ve ever thought, “Could I actually move to Europe for university?” — this is your sign.We cover:How to study in Europe as an American (step-by-step)Why Liza chose the Czech Republic for universityThe biggest differences between US vs European universitiesHow she built a life abroad after graduationTurning studying abroad into a career (and business)What to know about visas, language, and EU citizenship Follow Liza:  https://www.tiktok.com/@lizaajean Follow Skola: https://www.instagram.com/skola.international Check out Skola: https://skola.be/ Book a session with Liza: https://skola.be/advisors/liza-jean-miezejeski 🌍 Join our community: Dream Life Abroad by PUPOConnect with expats and aspiring expats, ask questions about moving abroad, and chat directly with hosts Lili and Taylor:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GJM3RsfRH/?mibextid=wwXIfr💜 Love the show?Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people dreaming of living abroad discover the podcast.📸 Follow the hosts:Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/packuppeaceout/Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/taylortakespragueLili: https://www.instagram.com/arichwomansworld