This week we discuss Expats the television series based in Hong Kong. The series is adapted from the novel The Expatriates written by Janice Y.K. Lee. Nikki is 6 months in with her repatriation and has a very honest chat about being friendless

How much money will I need?

Nov 21st, 2023 42m 30s

What is a good salary in Doha? London? Jakarta? We’ve all seen the questions based on how much money you need to make to survive, today we have a new question. What’s been the biggest cost you didn’t foresee when you moved? What did you forget

The Trailing Spouse is Dead

Nov 5th, 2023 51m 59s

The Trailing Spouse is dead – this week on the podcast we talk about why the “Accompanying Spouse” has arrived. I mean the Accompanying Spouse was always a better term wasn’t it? We all walk side by side don’t we? Sidenote – the term Trailing S

Should I go home?

Oct 4th, 2023 51m 49s

This week on the podcast we answer a question from the Fatterati’s “Should I go home?” We also discuss the complications of re-acquainting yourself with old friends after repatriation. Kirsty’s three favourite things: Exposed (podcast) Deadloch

Repatriation – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Cry

Aug 24th, 2023 48m 2s

🎧 Nikki has repatriated and she’s yet to make a new friend BUT it’s not all bad because she’s living in paradise AND she’s discovered her new favourite drink (a gin mule). This week on the podcast we’re talking repatriation, the good, the bad

When do you spill the beans that you’re moving? Long term postings or always on the move which one are you?

Jun 13th, 2023 55m 23s

This was Nikki’s very last podcast before she repatriated.The post When do you spill the beans that you’re moving? Long term postings or always on the move which one are you? first appeared on Two Fat Expats.

Given birth away from home lately? Here’s how things have changed. Also, an expat mental health check.

May 24th, 2023

It’s been seven hours and sixteen years…yes I know the song doesn’t go like that but it fits with the intro. It’s been a long time since Kirsty and Nikki have hit the maternity ward so we asked the Fatterati what it was like to have a baby away

Want to know the truth? Here’s some long term expat challenges you may not have thought about. Food discoveries from the Fatterati.

Apr 19th, 2023 1h 3m

What are some of the unique challenges long term expats face? Savings and superannuation, self care and medical issues? Heart breaking friend break ups? Property ownership and all the tax implications that come with it? We ran through a few. We

I don’t like it here – what to do when you hate your location.

Mar 5th, 2023 44m 15s

Also, the ageist expat are you a victim or a perpetrator? Kirsty’s three things: Shrinking, The Big Swing and while we’re on the subject….golf! Nikki’s favourite three things: White Collar, 1923, Robbie Williams live in Copenhagen And watch out

Doing it live in Singapore

Feb 22nd, 2023 46m 45s

Welcome to our first live audience podcast recorded in Singapore – yes yes Kirsty was in Singapore in 2016 but it was a 4 kids, 20 suitcases and a beagle reading whereas this was the full package! The theme of the evening was friends. Kirsty as

The Realities of Repatriation

Feb 12th, 2023 1h 4m

Nikki is dealing with the realities of the impact her expat life has had on her family relationships and describes how it feels like a bit of a “kick in the guts”. We talk about Kirsty’s book and its premise. Ever been described as excess bagga

How do you Repatriate with expat itchy feet

Jan 21st, 2023 54m 12s

How will you settle? Expats traditionally have itchy feet so how do you settle when you’re heading home? How will you plan your expat year ahead? Or how will you divide up your time ahead? Now that expats are back travelling between countries w

2023 – Episode One

Jan 9th, 2023 39m 32s

How will you cope with no-one giving a flying fig about your expat life when you’re home for the holidays or repatriating? Kirsty and Nikki discuss why expats are hurt by friends and family that appear disinterested in their expat lives. Is it

The Festive Expat

Dec 16th, 2022 40m 39s

Will you be with family or without for the festive season? What do you do to make your holiday season special or is the holiday season non existant where you’re currently living? Instead of our usual three favourite things with podcasts, movies

Would You Move to China Right Now?

Dec 9th, 2022 46m 34s

In our would you/could you we discuss what Covid restrictions look like in China right now. Would you/could you move there? We talk to the Chinese Fatterati about their lives and report back. Would you/could you make your house a home without y

The Redundant Expat

Nov 30th, 2022 46m 4s

This week on the podcast we discuss travelling between countries with medications and how to navigate when you’ve been prescribed something in one country only to discover it’s banned in the country you’re moving to. Nikki has some big news whi

Expats at The World Cup

Nov 23rd, 2022 43m 18s

This week’s episode is all about the World Cup both in Qatar and South Africa. I’ve written a piece about living in Qatar and the recent press. Here’s a few of the links I talked about: David Beckham Peyton Manning World Cup Commercial Ghanin A

Episode 200 is here

Nov 21st, 2022 1h 6m

A quick chat about having the World Cup on your door step. Who has the longest work hours and is it just a part of Expat Life? Should you put up and shut up? What’s it like to work in Qatar during the World Cup? We answer your questions about o

Feeling Frisky? Or are you sick of the pat down? Here’s some airport security tips to help you get to the gate on time. And how to have the boarding school conversation without losing friends.

Sep 7th, 2022 47m 47s

Are you ‘randomly selected’ for an extra pat down every time you make your way throught the airport? We think we may know the reason why. Listen in to find out why it’s happening to you. Would you/Could you break up a friendship over conversati

The Great Expat Summer. Lost luggage delayed flights and a very small hotel room with a positive covid test. Are we having fun yet?

Aug 10th, 2022 38m 18s

Nikki walks us through her covid on holidays experience. Would you/could you send packages to a transit hotel? What are the rules? Do all hotels let you do it or are some hotels going to charge you for the privilege? We discuss. Would you/could

Could you kill the Two Fat Expats group? Also, expat insurance what do you need to cover yourself?

Jul 1st, 2022 37m 46s

In would you/could you this week we discuss expat insurance. What do you need? Are you paying too much? Or have you forgotten to pay at all? We also discuss recent activity in the Two Fat Expats Group. Anger management, political commentary and

Never lose a suitcase or package again – we’ll tell you how.

Jun 16th, 2022 52m 47s

We begin with a couple of would you/could you questions. Would you / could you leave an apple air tag in your shipment (either air or sea) to track your belongings? Would you / could you take a trip home without your family, if you all hadn’t b

Would you / could you change your June / July holidays this year? Travelling in the European summer is going to be manic.

May 26th, 2022 49m 8s

We begin with a couple of would you/could you questions. Would you / could you leave your child in your home country and return to live in your expat location without them? Would you / could you change your June / July holidays this year? Trave

What’s an ESTA? Don’t get caught out with recent changes.

Apr 12th, 2022 43m 18s

Would you / could you agree to remote parenting roles while in separate countries? Nikki asks Why am I organising sleepovers from 10,000 miles away? Would you/could you tell me what an ESTA is and if so do you feel up to date with its rules and

Expat swimming. Have you swum in the icy cold nude? Or are you bobbing around like vegetable soup in the middle east?

Apr 1st, 2022 45m 20s

Would you / could you (and where) would you swim in your current location? Would you / could you listen to a podcast at more than 1.0 speed? (Are we better at 1.5?) Would you / could you pay for the cost of your job interview if it was in anoth