🏡 Welcome to Home/Abroad: A Bold New Direction

Jan 25, 2025

Hey friends!

This post is a little late — normally, I’d be sharing this with you on a Friday, but yesterday I was up to my ears in boxes, moving house! It’s been a whirlwind, but here we are, and I’m so excited to finally bring you this big update.

After stepping away from our traditional editorial calendar to connect more intimately with our subscribers and the broader Substack community, we've discovered a vibrant array of individuals sharing their unique experiences from around the globe. This revelation led us to a pivotal insight: rather than adding more content about living abroad, there's a pressing need for a platform that curates the best existing stories, organises them for easy access, and connects writers and readers within this dynamic community.

Welcome to Home/Abroad 🎉 — your one-stop resource for the finest narratives, insights, and connections about life abroad.

A New Era for Home/Abroad

We are in the process of rebranding. Formerly known as Girls’ Guide to Living Abroad, we’re transitioning into Home/Abroad — a name that embraces inclusivity and welcomes everyone who chooses to live abroad or dreams of doing so.

This is just the first step in our rebrand. Over the next few months, you’ll see a fresh new look for Home/Abroad — complete with a redesigned logo and updated visuals to reflect this exciting chapter. Stay tuned!

Our mission remains simple: to curate, categorise, and connect.

1️⃣ Curate: Showcasing Substack’s Finest

We’re becoming the ultimate curator of all things related to life abroad — focusing specifically on the rich, diverse content found on Substack. Each week, we’ll select the most insightful, useful, and inspiring posts from individuals sharing their global experiences. These will be reposted with permission, giving full credit to the original creators and linking back to their work.

If you’ve written something that aligns with our vision, we’d love to feature it!

Think of us as your personal librarian, handpicking gems you won’t want to miss:

Authentic stories about the joys and challenges of relocating to new countries.
Practical advice on navigating visas, remote work, and cultural adaptation.
Creative and inspiring, as well as authentic, honest and real perspectives from individuals embracing life in new and unexpected ways.

Occasionally, we’ll include standout articles from the wider internet — but only if they’re must-reads.

2️⃣ Categorise: Simplifying Your Search

To make Home/Abroad a truly valuable resource, all curated content will be organised into a searchable, filterable hub:

📍 By Country or Region: Whether you’re dreaming of Portugal, Thailand, or Argentina, you’ll find content tailored to your destination.

🎯 By Challenge or Topic: Seeking visa tips, budgeting advice, remote work guidance, or cultural adjustment stories? It’s all here, neatly organised for your convenience.

This isn’t just a publication — it’s your personalised guide to the world.

3️⃣ Connect: Building a Global Community

Beyond sharing information, Home/Abroad is dedicated to fostering connections:

Linking aspiring movers with those who’ve already made the leap.
Connecting readers with services like relocation coaches, visa experts, and grant-finding professionals.
Bridging writers and readers through reposts, recommendations, and a community of shared experiences.

🎙️ Introducing the All Abroad Podcast

Launching in July, All Abroad will feature inspiring individuals undertaking remarkable endeavours abroad. From entrepreneurs and activists to artists and adventurers, these stories will showcase the myriad ways people thrive in new countries.

Why This Matters

Living abroad is more than just a picturesque postcard life — it’s a journey filled with twists, turns, and the occasional detour. From navigating unfamiliar systems to stepping outside your comfort zone, it’s as challenging as it is rewarding.

With Home/Abroad, we’re here to guide you through the maze, offering curated resources, organised knowledge, and a connected, supportive community to help you thrive.

Your Voice Shapes This Vision

We’re building this together. Your Sunday Survey responses, comments, and feedback have been instrumental in shaping this direction, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Recent insights from last week’s survey revealed:

💸 Financial concerns are the primary obstacle.
❤️ Parting with loved ones is a significant challenge.
🌎 Navigating bureaucratic processes adds to the complexity.\

Your stories — like Asia Dawn’s reflections on finding community, Courtney Jill’s visa challenges, and Purcival’s thoughts on emotional ties — are the heartbeat of this space.

(The survey is still open if you’d like to participate!)

Welcome to Our Newest Subscribers!

This week, we’re delighted to welcome some incredible new members to Home/Abroad:

Debbie Hudzik – The Lotus Nomad 💛: A solo traveller redefining midlife reinvention.
Chet Bailey – The Gringo Who Listens to God: Bridging the digital divide in the Amazon.
Port and Sardines – Visual Explorers of Portugal: Capturing stunning photography and cultural stories.

We’re so excited to have you as part of this evolving community and can’t wait to hear more from you!

What’s Next?

In the coming weeks, you can anticipate:

Curated Articles: Weekly highlights of the best Substack stories from the global community.
Practical Guides: Step-by-step resources covering visas, budgeting, and more.
All Abroad Podcast: Stories of boldness, creativity, and reinvention from individuals thriving abroad.

Let’s Build This Together

This space is as much yours as it is ours. Have a story to share? Know of a post we should feature? A service you’d recommend? Drop a comment or reply to this email — we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s dream big, take action, and make Home/Abroad a place we’re all proud to call "home." 💛

KKxx, MSxx

P.S. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s Simple Sunday Survey, which promises another intriguing question into your life abroad — whether you’re dreaming of it or already living it.