Episode 4

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Published on:

25th Mar 2025

4. How to Make Friends Abroad as an Adult-Real Talk on Expat Life, Loneliness, & Building Community

Welcome to ESA MAN, the podcast for expats, travelers, and anyone trying to survive (and thrive) in a new country.

In Episode 4, host Kat—an American living in Ecuador—opens up about one of the biggest challenges of expat life: how to make friends abroad, especially as an adult.

Whether you’ve just moved abroad or you’ve been living overseas for a while, friendship can feel like a never-ending rollercoaster. In this episode, Kat gets real about:

  • Making friends when you’re not in your 20s anymore
  • Why adult friendships abroad can feel extra hard (and fragile)
  • Her favorite tips for building community overseas
  • The emotional toll of saying goodbye when friends leave
  • Why being a long-term expat can feel isolating—and what to do about it

If you’re living abroad and struggling with loneliness or wondering how to find your people, this episode is here to help you feel seen and supported.


🎧 Hit play and let’s get into the honest, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking reality of finding friends while living abroad.


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Show artwork for Esa Man┃Living abroad, Gringa in Latin America, Expat life in Ecuador

About the Podcast

Esa Man┃Living abroad, Gringa in Latin America, Expat life in Ecuador
Welcome to Esa Man, the go-to podcast for expats living abroad! I'm your host, Kat, a foreigner living in Ecuador for the past 7 years, keeping it real as a gringa trying to navigate life in Latin America. You know, living abroad is not always rainbows and butterflies so come with me as we make our way through the ups and downs and crazy in-betweens of living abroad.

Every other week, you'll hear me sharing hilarious and heartwarming stories about life in Ecuador—from the quirks of daily life, the fun cultural differences, the beauty of having two homes in the world, and the mindset shifts it takes to build friendships, find your purpose, and live your best life abroad.

I love hearing from all of you, so come say hi on Instagram. You can find me at https://www.instagram.com/katmcgreevs. Now let's laugh our way through the chaos of living abroad. Chao chao!

About your host

Profile picture for Katherine McGreevy

Katherine McGreevy

I'm your host, Kat, a foreigner living in Ecuador for the past 7 years, keeping it real as a gringa trying to navigate life in Latin America. You know, living abroad is not always rainbows and butterflies so come with me as we make our way through the ups and downs and crazy in-betweens of living abroad.