The Truth About Living Abroad Nobody Talks About

Can moving to another country actually become part of your healing?In this episode of UnCultured: Work + Relocation, Shauna K. sits down with career strategist, entrepreneur, international speaker, and Curaçao permanent resident Vakassia "V.J." Niles to explore what happened after a season of overwhelming grief completely changed the direction of her life.Following the sudden loss of her mother and several years marked by repeated family deaths, V.J. found herself questioning everything she thought she knew about work, purpose, and where she wanted to live.What began as a birthday trip to Curaçao eventually became permanent residency, renewed purpose, unexpected love, and a business that became stronger because she finally gave herself room to breathe.Together, Shauna and V.J. discuss why so many people postpone relocation while waiting for perfect circumstances, why your children don't have to become the reason you abandon your dreams, and how slowing down can actually accelerate your growth.They also explore entrepreneurship abroad, building a location-independent business, finding love later in life, adapting to island culture, and why vacation and relocation are two completely different experiences.In this episode:Relocating after griefLiving in CuraçaoHealing through environmentBuilding a remote businessEntrepreneurship abroadCareer pivotsWhy perfect timing doesn't existFinding love after relocatingParenting and relocationDigital nomad lifePermanent residencyIsland livingDiscovery trips before relocatingSlowing down without losing ambitionLifestyle design through relocationIf you've ever wondered whether a different place could create room for a different life, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical wisdom.Welcome to the Uncultured Show's Work and Relocation Mini-Series, featuring guest speaker VJ Niles! Tune in next week for our next guest speaker and episode. Vakassia “VJ” Niles is a dynamic Strategist, Transformational and International Speaker, and the founder of The Niles Group. With over 20 years of experience spanning four industries, V.J. specializes in guiding midlevel professionals through career development, leadership training, and pivots into different industries or entrepreneurship. Her super power is being able to see a person’s or organization’s vision and break it into smaller actionable steps to help them obtain their goals and objectives. She equips her clients with the essential tools and strategies to thrive authentically with confidence. VJ is a past president of MBA Women NYC, a professional chapter of the National Association of Women MBAs. She’s a contributing author in "Just Me: The Business Woman's Personal Branding Guide" and frequently speaks on career growth, pivots, succession planning, and entrepreneurship. She serves as a Strategist for careers and business for organizations and individuals. She started living abroad in 2018 and became a permanent resident of Curacao in 2022. She wants to live in a few other countries before permanently calling one home.Please visit my website for more information: https://www.shaunahenson.com▶️Learn more about the show: https://www.shaunahenson.com/show