Living Abroad Isn’t a Phase—It’s Who She Is

Katharina on choosing freedom over expectations and learning life is "figure-out-able"

“When are you going to settle down?”

If you’ve ever lived abroad long enough, you’ve probably heard this question—maybe from family, maybe from friends, maybe from people who think this whole thing is just a detour before ‘real life’ begins.

For Katharina, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Living across the US, UK, and Canada didn’t just shape her; it defined her. Now back in Berlin, she’s sharing what life abroad has taught her about freedom, self-trust, and what happens when the version of growing up you believe in doesn’t match the one you’re expected to follow.

💖Where are you from?

Germany

💖 Where have you lived abroad & where do you live now?

US, UK, Canada. Currently living in Berlin

💖 What’s one thing living abroad has taught you about yourself?

Living abroad shaped me in ways I never could have imagined. It made me incredibly confident and resilient, giving me the space to truly figure out who I am and what matters most to me.

With every decision, I had the freedom to choose my own path, and I realized that above all else, I value that freedom. I also developed a mindset that “everything is figure-out-able” because, well, I had no choice—I had to navigate so much on my own. Most importantly, I learned to go with the flow and trust myself completely.

Nothing in life is certain, and worrying won’t change the outcome, so I’ve embraced the idea that whatever happens, I’ll find a way.

💖 What’s the hardest part about being away from home?

To me, honestly, it's people wondering when I am going to settle. Even though I have lived abroad many times, I think that the people around me still don't believe that it’s just the way I want to live my life.

It's not just a phase, not just me not growing up. So any time I talk to people in my home country, it feels like the question about my next steps will inevitably come up.

💖 What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned from living abroad?

Germans really pride themselves in being efficient. It's honestly one of the main characteristics that we use to describe ourselves. However, through living abroad, I have learned that it's absolutely not true. We mistake avoiding small talk at the grocery store and the cashier scanning items at lightning speed with being efficient.

However, there are so many things about our processes and behaviors that are not efficient at all. I guess that is what living abroad does to you - it makes me understand things about yourself and your country so much that you thought were true.

💖 Read more about Katharina’s life abroad on her Substack. ⤵️

Everything Is Figureoutable: What I Learned from Traveling & Living Alone Abroad

💖📲 Interested in connecting? Follow Katharina’s adventures on Instagram.

💖📲 For Travel Guides, Big Life Questions and Living Abroad,
Subscribe to Katharina’s Substack!

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I resonated so deeply with Katharina’s reflections on life abroad—especially the part about how people often misunderstand the choices we make as expats. Living abroad isn’t just a phase; it’s a conscious life choice.

Broads like us choose freedom, growth, and the kind of adventure that can only happen when you step away from everything familiar. It’s not something we’ll “grow out of”—it’s something we grow into.

I’d love to hear from you 👉 Have you ever felt misunderstood for choosing to live abroad? What do you wish people back home knew about the life you’ve built?

Answer in the comments!

Catchya next week!

Muah 💋
Juvi