Culture shock, living abroad, adapting to life abroad, moving abroad, expat life, life in Germany, cultural differences, immigration, culture shock in Germany, adjusting to a new culture, identity abroad, expat struggles, Munich, Germany.

What if the hardest part of moving abroad isn’t learning a new language or understanding a new culture, but slowly questioning yourself?

In this episode of The Pod Abroad, I sit down with Jessica Scholl, an American who has lived in Germany for 13 years and works extensively in intercultural relations. Together, we unpack what culture shock actually looks like, why adaptation isn’t simply a matter of time, and how living in another culture can affect your confidence, identity, and sense of self.

Jessica explains why culture shock can be much more subtle than the obvious cultural differences we notice when we first move overseas. Sometimes it’s the accumulation of small moments: misunderstanding social cues, struggling to communicate, feeling like you’ve broken a rule you didn’t know existed, or suddenly finding something difficult that used to feel easy.

Over time, those experiences can make you wonder: Is the country the problem… or am I?

We talk about how to recognize those patterns without immediately blaming yourself, why adaptation doesn’t follow a neat or linear timeline, and what can actually help you build a life abroad while still holding onto who you are.

We also discuss:

What culture shock actually is

Why culture shock can happen subconsciously

Why adaptation isn’t a linear process

The impact of living abroad on self-confidence

Why easy tasks can suddenly feel difficult

Language barriers and feeling misunderstood

Cultural compatibility vs. incompatibility

Germany’s rules and social expectations

Making friends and finding community abroad

Why you can still struggle after years abroad

Giving yourself grace while adapting

How moving abroad can change your identity

If you’re experiencing culture shock, struggling to adapt to a new country, feeling frustrated with yourself while living abroad, or wondering why you still don’t completely feel at home after years overseas, I hope this conversation helps you better understand what you’re experiencing and gives you a little more grace along the way.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Understanding Culture Shock

06:29 Early Culture Shock

11:46 Adaptation Isn't Linear

17:27 Language & Belonging

32:08 You or the Culture?

46:11 Breaking the Self-Blame Cycle

🌍 ABOUT THE POD ABROAD

Howdy und Servus, y’all :-) I’m Paulina — originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for nearly 10 years.

The Pod Abroad is a long-form podcast about life abroad, cultural differences, identity, immigration, and building a life overseas through honest conversations with people from around the world.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday.

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🎥 CREW

Video, Audio & Music → Tim ter Huurne

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