Guest: Karen Karbo, Creator of Yeah, no. Not Happening
Host: Sonaya Williams, Creator of Your Expat Life
Recorded: January 2026
Location: South of France & Doha, Qatar
Episode Overview
In the first Your Expat Life Live conversation of 2026, Sonaya sits down with writer and author Karen Karbo to talk about what it really means to build a life abroad, beyond the Instagram version.
Karen shares her journey from California and Portland, Oregon to a small village in the very south of France, just miles from the Spanish border. Together, they explore the practical, cultural, and emotional realities of expat life: from language barriers and community building to healthcare, cost of living, and the importance of choosing a place that fits your everyday life, not just your dreams.
This conversation is honest, funny, deeply human, and full of insights for anyone considering a move abroad or already navigating life as an expat.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Why Karen and her husband chose a small village in the South of France over a major city
The importance of visiting multiple times before moving and why timing matters
What daily life actually looks like in a rural French town (no stoplights, long meals, strong opinions)
Cultural surprises Americans don’t expect, especially around social norms and communication
Why language is culture, and how learning even a little can change your entire experience
The difference between American and European approaches to healthcare and financial security
How Karen built community through local associations, hobbies, and showing up consistently
Why loneliness is part of the transition and why having an “interior life” matters
Renting vs. buying abroad, and how tourism impacts housing availability
The financial reality of living in Europe: necessities are inexpensive, luxuries are not
Why you can almost always afford to move abroad, if you’re honest about the life you want
A powerful reminder: the planes go both ways
Key Takeaways
Romanticizing a country isn’t enough. You need to like the weather, pace, and daily rhythms
Moving abroad doesn’t erase discomfort; it shifts what you’re uncomfortable with
Learning the language isn’t about perfection; it’s about participation
Community doesn’t magically appear; it’s built through repeated presence
Healthcare security alone can dramatically reduce everyday anxiety
You don’t have to get it right forever, just right for this season
Why This Conversation Matters
This episode sets the tone for Your Expat Life in 2026: honest conversations about what it really takes to build a life abroad without pretending it’s always easy or perfect.
If you’ve ever thought:
“What if I don’t fit in?”
“What if I can’t afford it?”
“What if I hate it?”
This conversation is for you.
Because, as Karen reminds us:
You can always go back.
About Karen Karbo
Karen Karbo is a writer and author living in the South of France. She is the creator of the Substack Yeah, no. Not Happening, where she writes candidly and humorously about life, culture, and living abroad. Karen is also the founder of Come to Your Senses, an intimate, all-inclusive writing retreat held in Collioure, France, welcoming writers of all levels to reconnect with their creativity through place, food, and community.
About Your Expat Life
Your Expat Life is a multimedia platform for women and families who are building or considering a life abroad. Through honest conversations, real stories, and expert insights, we explore what it truly means to live beyond borders: the freedom, the challenges, the logistics, and the identity shifts that come with starting over in a new country.
Hosted by Sonaya Williams, Your Expat Life goes beyond the highlight reel to discuss visas, money, family life, culture, work, and belonging, so you can make informed, intentional decisions about where and how you want to live.
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