From Expat Parenting To Solo Travel Adventures

Send us Fan Mail You can live overseas for years and still feel your stomach drop the first time you travel alone. That tension between “I want to go” and “what if I can’t handle it” drives our conversation with Paula Barnes, the travel creator and expat storyteller behind Truly Expat Travel, joining us from Sydney. Paula shares how a “six-month” move from Australia turned into nearly two decades across Asia, raising three kids in places like Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. We talk about the real-life logistics that shape confident travelers: language barriers before smartphones, how Google Translate changed everything, and why cultural context matters more than snap judgments. Along the way, we compare notes on how travel reshapes kids, families, and the meaning of home. Then we get practical for anyone considering solo travel, especially women over 45. Paula breaks down how to start small, when a tour can be the perfect bridge, and how to handle the surprisingly hard parts like eating alone at restaurants. We also dig into the tools that make modern travel smoother and safer, from WhatsApp communities to TripIt itineraries and using AI like ChatGPT and Claude without letting it overstuff your days. Plus, Paula gives guidance on planning Australia the right way and shouts out destinations that deserve more attention, including Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Subscribe for more thoughtful travel stories, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to book the trip, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us. Paula's Website: https://trulyexpattravel.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trulyexpat Podcast: https://podcast.trulyexpattravel.com/ Download full-color PDFs of my book at prices below Amazon paperbacks. Visit my store at https://shop.jimsantosbooks.com  Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 [email protected] "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon