In this episode, I sit down with Andreia as she takes us on a transformative journey from her small-town roots in Portugal to becoming a seasoned traveler who's explored over 40 countries. Andreia opens up about her early struggles with not fitting in and how an unexpected pivot from a law career led her to embrace a life of travel—a leap she now sees as life-changing.

We dive into the cultural challenges she faced while living in Sweden, including what it was like to experience the pandemic there and her growing love for Swedish traditions. Andreia also shares highlights from her recent eight-month adventure through Asia, where Taiwan took her completely by surprise (spoiler: it might steal your heart too).

Along the way, we discuss the nitty-gritty of budgeting for long-term travel, the joys—and pitfalls—of ethical volunteering, and her eye-opening experiences with Japanese work culture. She also reminds us how prioritizing mental health can sometimes mean walking away from a job.

This episode is full of candid reflections and life lessons, including how solo travel fosters independence, why embracing uncertainty can lead to the most beautiful moments, and how love sometimes finds us in the most unexpected corners of the world.

You can follow Andreia on her Blog and Instagram @around.the.world.in.flip.flops

Noted websites to check out:

Volunteering: Worldpackers

Budgeting Tool: Acorns

Practical Financial Advice: I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Background

01:01 - Growing Up in Portugal

04:54 - Pursuing a Career in Law

07:51 - Moving to Sweden: The Erasmus Plus Experience

13:03 - Cultural Challenges in Sweden

17:54 - Experiencing the Pandemic in Sweden

23:11 - Traveling in Asia: An Eight-Month Adventure

27:54 - Budgeting for Long-Term Travel

34:41 - Financial Literacy and Its Importance

41:31 - Unexpected Travel Discoveries

47:14 - Cultural Differences in Work Environments

54:13 - Navigating Relationships While Traveling

01:09:18 - Embracing Uncertainty in Travel and Life

01:11:57 - Unpacking Travel Stories and Experiences

01:11:58 - Exploring New Destinations and Cultures