What if your next life chapter started with one bold decision, a passport, and a dream?

Shayna Greene has spent years building a career, a lifestyle, and a sense of self across China, Taiwan, Japan, Ecuador, Germany, and more—and she breaks down exactly how she did it.

Here I sit down with Shayna for a raw, practical, and inspiring conversation about living abroad, teaching overseas, and turning travel into a full way of life.

From Trinidad to the US to Asia and now Europe, Shayna shares how anime sparked her fascination with Japan, how a sister’s move to China opened the first door, and how she kept saying yes to new countries, new contracts, and new versions of herself.

You’ll discover:

How to get started teaching abroad with a TEFL or CELTA

What it actually takes to work in China, including the documents, passport requirements, and recruiter process

Why salary, benefits, housing, and cost of living matter just as much as the country itself

How solo female travel in Asia really feels, from safety to community to confidence

Why she moved from China to Germany, and what it means to pivot after years in one path

Shayna also gets specific about the realities most people skip: passport bias in recruiting, negotiating your value, choosing between schools and recruiters, and how to spot the difference between a dream destination and a place that fits your real goals.

If you’ve ever wondered whether teaching abroad is still worth it, how to make long-term travel sustainable, or what it looks like to build a life overseas without losing your identity, this episode gives you the roadmap.

This one is especially for dreamers, teachers, solo travelers, and anyone who knows they want more from life but isn’t sure how to begin.

Shayna’s story proves that you do not need to have it all figured out to start moving. Sometimes the first step is just being brave enough to go.

Connect with Shaya at @shayna_smiley on IG