Life as an Expat in Albania - Kristin Wilson & Badass Digital Nomad Podcast

This is the full interview with Kristin Wilson that took place in August 2022. It aired as episode 175 in October, and is now released in its video version.
So, if you are interested in knowing more about the “why” and “how” with regards to my move to Albania, please tune in. Kristin and I also discuss culture shock and strategies for life as an expatriate. As a bonus, you will also hear about Vincent’s adventure alongside mine, which I suspect will be the highlight of the interview.
Being interviewed was a first for me (disregarding job interviews) and was a fun, confidence-boosting experience - the time flew by! I am excited to share it with you and look forward to any feedback.
Please like, share and subscribe. Kristin has some fantastic travel and working-remote content - in fact much of it informed my decision making, or led me down interesting tangents.
www.badassdigitalnomads.com/l...
All of Kristin's podcast episodes: www.badassdigitalnomads.com/
Please like, comment and subscribe if you enjoy this content; it helps my channel's reach! Below are links to my other media platforms. Thanks for watching :)
Consider supporting me for as little as $1 (one-time or monthly)
/ karenespig
buymeacoffee.com/karenespig
Web: www.karenespig.art
Facebook: / karenespigart
IG: Expat_Notebooks
IG: Karen_Espig_Art
Blog: / karenespig
Photos of Pogradec are by Karen Espig
Photo of Karen is by Vyckie Garrison.
Thanks for watching!

[@montedreams1]

Thank you, Kristin & Karen for taking the time to share so much great info (: Have a blessed day

[@maureenmitchell3297]

Very informative as a fellow Canadian planning to retire to Albania. Thank you so much for this information!

[@karenespig]

I’m pleased you found it helpful. Thanks for listening 😊

[@janhertzberg1797]

Thanks for interviewing a retiree…many of your interviews understandably focus on younger folks who are still working. Also, I applaud you for refraining from interjecting your own experiences. Is very tempting but you kept the focus on your interviewee. Well done.

[@expatsinalbania]

Nice to hear this interview Karen and thanks for sharing your experience. Learning more about your 'cultural fatigue' as Cecilia mentions and hearing similar experiences from other expats arriving in Albania alone, it has become apparent that some help is needed in the intercultural communication and adaptation. Glad to see you doing so well & enjoying yourself and good for Vincent, now the wild Albanian cat :) awesome!!!! :) 😻

[@karenespig]

Thanks, and agreed! At the moment there are veteran expats that really help out, but it takes time to find them.

[@bessmahaneypilates8638]

I am also planning to retire in Albania when I'm 65, I have another year and a half, this is very encouraging I will be alone, I am single, and I'm getting excited now! Thank you so much for this interview

[@karenespig]

Nice! If you have any questions, feel free to connect.

[@bessmahaneypilates8638]

@@karenespig would love to connect with you, what is the best way.

[@ladyliberty]

We will have to hang out. I'm 4 years away but going next month to look.

[@Giandoni123]

Good choice

[@stacie007]

Hi Karen! Stumbled on your interview because Albania is recently on my radar (I am a US citizen currently living in Mexico, but it's actually getting too expensivehere!) So much of what you are said here resonates with me and not just because I also have a cat :) Great info and interview. I am focused on looking in Saranda right now because how easy it will be to get to so many other places I want to see (Italy, Greece, Turkey, etc). I am very excited about switching to a Mediterranean and fresh produce diet

[@karenespig]

Thanks! Yes, it’s much easier to see other points of n Europe from here. There’s a ferry to Corfu from Saranda. 🇬🇷There are expat groups for Saranda on Facebook as well as the a few in Tirana. Feel free to contact me with any questions :)

[@570messenger]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@davecoultas1874]

Thanks for this . Have had Albania on my radar after listening to Andrew Henderson of Nomad Capitalist some months ago . I admire how you took the road less travelled when you arrived there . Put in for retirement and am looking to the next chapter . Thanks again for sharing .

[@karenespig]

Thanks Dave. Enjoy your next chapter to the fullest 😃

[@user-zy4ws2ku8o]

Excellent

[@spartakdauti9783]

As a Canadian -Albanian i"m looking forward to get back to my hometown Tirana. Gonna be one way ticket . I feel it. Its not a turkish coffee , its an italian espresso .

[@karenespig]

Përshëndetje! Yes, I drink both coffee types now 😂. I’m sure you will enjoy being back in Albania, but you will also likely experience reverse culture shock. I encourage you to meet up with other re-pats once you are there.

[@spartakdauti9783]

Oh thank you , as a former student of international cooeration University of Montreal , I know what you"re talking about @@karenespig . Only 9 years in Canada Montreal and Toronto, its gonna be a slight shock not the strongest one . Anyway Im preparing the resilience Plan . Um subscribing the channel as a start .

[@JuneK618]

This is such an eye opening interview. I think 54 is a perfect age to retire especially if you have enough income to support yourself. I’m 42 now with a toddler. My partner and I plan to retire in 12 years. We’re hoping by then we’ll have enough passive income to sustain our lifestyle and travel full time. We are currently staying in Albania for winter. Love how affordable this country is. Thanks for sharing. You both were lovely.

[@karenespig]

I say “go for it” as soon as you can! Thanks for watching

[@englishteachercecelia2061]

Cultural fatigue is a good word for when it’s not so shocking. So glad to see this video after when you first shared about arriving there in the expat group!

[@karenespig]

@@englishteachercecelia2061 Thanks! And yes, I prefer “fatigue” over “shock” 😀