What happens when you move back home — and it no longer feels fully like home?

In this episode of Friendship Abroad, Hanna talks to her friend Anja — a Dutch singer, songwriter, and producer — about living in Asia and returning to the Netherlands after years abroad.

They explore something many people don’t expect:

how hard it can be to reconnect with old friends, rebuild your social circle, and find your place again in a country that used to feel familiar.

Is friendship with colleagues real friendship?

Can you outgrow the people you once felt closest to?

And what does it take to build meaningful connection later in life?

Anja also shares an incredibly inspiring story about friendship after 60 — proof that deep connection has no age limit.

In the episode, Anja mentions several social events she attended on her own — you’ll find the links below:

&the table: https://www.andthetbl.com/

After 5 | The IRL friendship platform for women: https://after-5.co/

Apps for making friends: Bumble BFF and Hey! VINA

Follow Anja on TikTok to discover her music and creative work:

Follow Hanna on Instagram for more insights on expat life, health, and social connection.

And if you’d like to become a guest on the podcast, reach out via email: nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com

Because sometimes the bravest move isn’t moving abroad —

it’s learning how to belong again.

What is it like to build friendships across cultures?

In this episode, Hanna talks with her first guest and close friend about the differences between African and European mentalities, Dutch directness, the three darkest months of the year, and what friendship looks like when distance becomes part of life.

They also share the biggest secret to making friends in a new country — something many expats completely underestimate.

During the episode, we mention the Tilburg International Club as a place where internationals (and locals) connect: https://tilburginternationalclub.com/

Follow Hanna on Instagram for more expat life and health insights.

And if you’d like to be the next guest on the podcast, you can reach out via email: nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com

Moving abroad is exciting — until it feels lonely.

In this first episode of Friendship Abroad, Hanna shares why this podcast exists.

After living in five countries over nine years, she realized that the hardest part of expat life is not language or culture — it’s the lack of real connection.

As a nutrition coach, Hanna saw the same pattern again and again: loneliness affects not only our emotions, but also our health, our eating habits, and our well-being.

This podcast is not about perfect stories or expert advice.

It’s about real people, real struggles, and real friendships built abroad.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected in a new country — you’re not alone.

And if you want to become a guest on this podcast and share your friendship story, write to nutrihanna.nl@gmail.com.

This is just the beginning.

Subscribe and stay tuned.

Do you remember how easy it was to make friends when we were children?

As adults, it’s not that simple anymore.

And when you move to another country, it can feel almost impossible.

I'm Hanna, first expat nutrition coach who's going to explore together with other expats what friendship really is.