The Bittersweet Life

Students often travel abroad for extended periods of time. Does that make them expats? Our guest, student Peter Dziedzic, says no though he hasn't been home in years.

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What planning does it take to retire overseas? Can the average person do it? Rose and Wayne Wentz retired to Rome from Seattle. They pass on their practical and helpful advice.

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Are expats people who feel alien in their native country? Tiffany and Katy explore the feeling of "otherness" and the differences between an expatriate and an immigrant.

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Tiffany is bilingual and that means translating for others. It can be tiring, but it also gives her power. Has she been editing Katy's speech this whole time?

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Moving abroad isn't exclusively for students or childless people. It's an adventure for all ages. Toni DeBella moved to Orvieto, Italy once her son was grown, proving that new dreams can always be ma…

Meet two parents who boldly moved abroad with a dream rather than a plan. 

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We meet three American girls in Orvieto, Italy. Giulia (age 13), Paloma (age 11), and Viola (age 8) have been expats their whole lives. How do they view the United States from afar? Do they feel like…

Train travel is a romantic. Is train travel even better if you record an episode of The Bittersweet Life on the trip? You be the judge.

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Our discussion on comedy continues with this bonus episode. Drunkenness, ESL, and expat cliches are on the table. Our guest, comedian Marsha De Salvatore, runs Rome's Comedy Club. Note: If you haven'…

What people find funny varies from country to country. Comedian Marsha De Salvatore drops by to make us laugh and dissect why we're laughing. You might be funnier in another culture. Did you even thi…

Not all medical systems are created equal. Expats often find that out unexpectedly -- like Katy did after giving herself a concussion.

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Expat Amy has lived overseas since college. First in Italy, then in Nicaragua, then back to Italy. All year she's been planning to return to the United States but she never leaves. Do long term expat…

Moving abroad often means becoming a "minority." For many travelers, this is a new experience. Tiffany, Katy and Katy's husband Derek discuss an eye-opening aspect of becoming an expats.

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Our series on the five senses wraps up with touch/feel. What does it feel like to be an expat and how is that different from the tourist experience?

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Our series on the five senses continues with sight. The sites of Rome have Katy contemplating her own death. Are we just a drop in the bucket? Tiffany and Katy broadcast from a roof on the Capitoline…

Our series on the five senses continues with taste. Katy and Tiffany try eating and podcasting at the same time while visiting Eataly, a grocery store in Rome. Do countries have a national flavor? Do…

Our series on the five senses continues with smell. Katy and Tiffany visit a used book store in Rome that smells like Katy's grandparents house in Pennsylvania. Is smell the closest thing we have to …

We begin a 5-part series on the five senses. This week: Sound. Explore Rome, Italy with your ears, and experience how different a city can sound.

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When you move overseas - no one knows you. You have no reputation. No expectations. No history. Does that mean you can completely reinvent yourself and become a new person? Or is a complete revamp im…

Do you think in English, or do you just think? Which language expresses ideas easier - English or Italian? Tiffany and Katy discuss language in response to listener Adam's email. If you want to hear …