In today's episode, you are going to hear the three top reasons why you want to relocate for a new life abroad, the power you carry when you do so, and the legacy that begins as soon as you take that step. Welcome to starting over in the USA, the Expat Woman's Guide to overcoming Homesickness, embracing cultural Differences, and creating a new home away from home. On this podcast, we talk about leaving behind the familiar, the pangs of homesickness and culture shock to the journeys of reinventing yourself. I'm Yolanda Reshemah. After relocating six times, I know firsthand what it's like to start from scratch feeling like both a foreign child and an adult in a new world. It's Friday today, we are looking at why we really move abroad and what that says about us, the emotional toll of our relocation and the legacy it allows us to create. Now you can probably hear I'm a little bit hoarse because it's been a busy, shouty, fun weekend, but this episode is a little bit different. I recently read the 2024 Global Expat Survey by Crown Relocations. I don't know anything about them, but I thought the survey was very interesting and that's why I want to delve into it. don't worry. We are not here for dry stats. You and I are going to look at what these trends uncover, what they mean for us women who've crossed borders, built new lives they're still rewriting the rules of belonging. I know what you are thinking, Yolanda. Episode about a survey. Huh? Listen, trust me, this isn't just data, it's pointing towards what's possible. Whether you move for love, whether you are that expat woman who immigrated for work, for safety, or for self reinvention, this episode is for you. Now. What did the survey show about why we move?.The top reason people relocate globally is for a better quality of life. And that's not just about sunshine and safety. That's about possibility. It's about personal development, but also cultural exploration. These were the highest on the list and for us migrant women, that resonates because this decision to immigrate is not random. We talk ourselves in and out of it. If you don't believe me, check out episode 22 to hear how we talk ourselves out of our dream. But our decisions are not haphazard. They're strategic and they're layered. Often outta both necessity and vision. According to the crown global Expat Survey Did you know that, nearly 49% of US based expatriates surveyed in this survey were actually owners or CEOs? And of those 42% identified as women, that makes me so happy. Sniff the aroma of that, and let it ruminate we are not just surviving relocation. We are actually shaping industries, leadership isn't just reserved for the few. Nearly one in five US businesses are owned by immigrants and almost half of all business owners in the USA are women. I didn't make it up. That's courtesy of zipper 2025 research. It tells us that migrant women aren't just adapting and for expert women in the US it's a signal that our voices, our ventures, and our visions are already transforming the landscape. Let's go back to the crown global Expat Survey for a few last words, and I'll be done with the stats. According to the survey, the best things about relocating include improved quality of life. I'm just listing these for you. Improved quality of life, career growth, and new opportunities. Exposure to new cultures and personal development. We know about these things, we've chatted about them, but these are not perks. This is proof. Proof that migration can be a portal for expansion, not disruption. Here's what I wish I knew when I first moved to the USA, relocating isn't just a logistical shift. It's more than the excitement. It's more than chasing the sun. For me, it was a act of defining myself, trying to find out who I can become. And if you've ever felt guilty of thriving in your new home in the USA or wherever you might be let this be your permission Slip. Joy is not betrayal. Be joyful about your move and what you've accomplished about the great work that you are doing. The businesses that you have started. Just be joyful. Growth is not abandonment. You have not abandoned your culture or your country of origin. You are allowed to bloom. I've recently had a discussion with a chap who moved from England to start his new venture here in the USA, because back in England, there were no investors, there were no supporters. No one really believed in their idea. But it's happening. It's hard work, yes, of course. But they are doing it. Of course, the journey is not going to be smooth, not always. Some of the biggest stressor cited in this survey are the cost of relocation, moving your belongings, but also cultural adaptation, and that's where the focus of this podcast is, the psychological impact, Cultural adaptation. Homesickness. Language barriers Identity shifts. These hurdles are real, but they're also important reminders that systems aren't built necessarily with us in mind. but that's exactly why we are here, to rebuild them. Expat women from every country on the planet. We come with ingenuity, we come with excellence. We come with ideas, we come with our humor. Our beauty and men. you are not excluded from this, We love you too. For migrant women like you and me, it's a declaration that says, I belong wherever I choose to build and this data doesn't just validate our experiences at all. It amplifies it. It tells us we are not anomalies. We are creating and designing, defining our lives. This week I am reflecting on the parts of me that feel most expanded. Because of this journey, I'm asking how can I lead from that place? I want to write it, I want to speak it, I want to share it, and I'm inviting you to do the same. What part of you has grown the most since relocating? Is it your resilience, your ability to make new friends, your courage to speak up? Whatever it is, write it, speak it, and share it. In the meantime, if this episode resonated with you. Share it with another expat woman who needs to join our community. That's it from me today. I am taking myself and this croaky voice for some tea. I'll see you in the next episode.