Episode 6: From Canada to Vietnam — Finding Your People Abroad

Episode 6: From Canada to Vietnam — Finding Your People Abroad

What if finding friends abroad has less to do with where you live and more to do with how you approach people? In this episode of Friendship Abroad, Hanna talks to Anna — a serial expat whose journey has taken her from Canada to Vietnam and beyond. Together, they explore why mindset matters more than geography when it comes to building meaningful connections. Anna shares why so many expats make "finding local friends" their ultimate goal — and why that strategy often leads to disappointment. We also discuss what makes friendship with locals challenging, how Dutch neighborhoods shape social life, and why making friends as adults might be easier if we borrow a few tricks from childhood. We also talk about: * how to maintain close relationships across countries and time zones * staying connected with friends you've known since school * the importance of community when starting over abroad * practical ways to meet people and build genuine friendships After listening to the recording, Anna felt there were a few additional thoughts that were important for understanding her story and experience: “I understood after the recording that I sound overly positive and maybe too light on the concept of friendship, which is not the case. With the multiple moves across the world I have developed a specific attitude that might sound cynical, but it really helps me to cope with losing connections and friends. It came to me from a book of Haruki Murakami “Dance Dance Dance”: in my life there’s an entrance and an exit. People pass through my life, and I am very grateful if they choose to stay with me for a while, but I know that most of them will leave through the exit, and I accept that. That approach really helps me to cherish people and time with them, and then let go if our roads separate.Another thing I wanted to mentioned - I was very quick in saying I do not have friends in Russia left. This is not the actual situation, but the topic is too sensitive and emotional for me to go deeper into it” During the episode, Anna also mentions the Toastmasters club: https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club [https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club] Disclaimer: My microphone volume is quite low in this episode, but the good news is that my guest sounds crystal clear! Thank you for your patience, and I apologize for the inconvenience. If you'd like to become a guest on Friendship Abroad and share your own story of friendship, belonging, and life abroad, send me an email at NutriHanna.nl@gmail.com [NutriHanna.nl@gmail.com]

Episode 5: Friends We Lose — And Friends Who Were Never Really There

Not every friendship is meant to last forever. And sometimes the hardest heartbreaks in expat life are not romantic ones — but friendships that slowly disappear, change, or reveal themselves to be something different than we believed. In this deeply personal solo episode of Friendship Abroad, Hanna shares honest and emotional stories about friends lost along the way: friendships that faded after moving abroad, connections that survived distance — and others that didn’t survive reality. She also talks about a painful but important realization many adults experience: sometimes people we called “friends” were only part of a specific chapter of our lives. Why do some friendships become stronger through distance, while others quietly fall apart? Why is losing a friend rarely talked about — even though it can hurt just as much as losing a relationship? And how do we learn to let go without becoming closed off to new connections? This episode is vulnerable, reflective, and painfully relatable for anyone who has ever: -outgrown old friendships -felt abandoned after moving abroad -struggled to reconnect after returning home -or realized that loneliness can exist even when surrounded by people If this episode resonates with you, Hanna would truly love to hear your story. And if you would like to become a guest on Friendship Abroad and share your own experience of connection, loneliness, friendship, or starting over abroad, send an email to: 📩 NutriHanna.nl@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram

Episode 4: When Friendship Abroad Outlasts Love

In the newest episode of Friendship Abroad, Hanna’s guest shares a powerful and unexpected story about how moving abroad for love opened the door to an entirely new country — and how, in the end, friendship became the real turning point. What started as romance turned into something different, but a chance encounter grew into a meaningful friendship that reshaped her life and even led to new professional opportunities. Shannon’s story shows how openness to the unknown can make integration easier, help build genuine connections with locals, and transform random meetings into life-changing relationships. Filled with unexpected twists, honest reflections, and moments of courage, this episode is about finding your place abroad — sometimes in ways you never planned. If you’d like to become a guest on the podcast, send an email to NutriHanna.nl@gmail.com [NutriHanna.nl@gmail.com]

Episode 3: Coming Home Isn’t Always Easy

What happens when you move back home — and it no longer feels fully like home? In this episode of Friendship Abroad, Hanna talks to her friend Anja — a Dutch singer, songwriter, and producer — about living in Asia and returning to the Netherlands after years abroad. They explore something many people don’t expect: how hard it can be to reconnect with old friends, rebuild your social circle, and find your place again in a country that used to feel familiar. Is friendship with colleagues real friendship? Can you outgrow the people you once felt closest to? And what does it take to build meaningful connection later in life? Anja also shares an incredibly inspiring story about friendship after 60 — proof that deep connection has no age limit. In the episode, Anja mentions several social events she attended on her own — you’ll find the links below: &the table: https://www.andthetbl.com/ [https://www.andthetbl.com/] After 5 | The IRL friendship platform for women: https://after-5.co/ [https://after-5.co/] Apps for making friends: Bumble BFF and Hey! VINA Follow Anja on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@anjaevemusic?_r=1&_t=ZG-94FlYWxjnTF] to discover her music and creative work: Follow Hanna on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nutrihanna.nl]for more insights on expat life, health, and social connection. And if you’d like to become a guest on the podcast, reach out via email: nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com [nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com] Because sometimes the bravest move isn’t moving abroad — it’s learning how to belong again.

Episode 2: African Soul Finding His Way in Europe

What is it like to build friendships across cultures? In this episode, Hanna talks with her first guest and close friend about the differences between African and European mentalities, Dutch directness, the three darkest months of the year, and what friendship looks like when distance becomes part of life. They also share the biggest secret to making friends in a new country — something many expats completely underestimate. During the episode, we mention the Tilburg International Club as a place where internationals (and locals) connect: https://tilburginternationalclub.com/ [https://tilburginternationalclub.com/] Follow Hanna on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nutrihanna.nl] for more expat life and health insights. And if you’d like to be the next guest on the podcast, you can reach out via email: nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com [nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com]