Her American Dream vs My German Dream After 9 Years in Munich

American Dream vs German Dream 🇺🇸🇩🇪 Immigration stories, cultural differences & life abroad in Munich after 9 years abroad. In this episode of The Pod Abroad podcast, I share the incredible journey of my Guela Dolores Cásarez, who immigrated from Mexico to the United States in search of her American Dream. I reflect on how her sacrifices shaped my own path as I built a German Dream in Munich after nearly a decade abroad. This episode was truly candid and I opened up about several things on my heart and was happy to share her story. I don't always have all the right words to say, but I'm here to do the best that I can and speak in a way that is respectful, inclusive, expressive and above all: human. I hope this episode can serve as a reminder of the sacrifices behind immigration and how cultural differences shape what we imagine as “the dream.” We talk about: 👟 The shiny shoes that first sparked my grandma’s American Dream 🌊 Crossing the border at night with her father and sisters 📄 Fighting for her papers and the cost of “doing it the right way” 🙏 Faith, resilience, and raising a family in Texas 🇩🇪 How her American Dream compares to my German Dream after 9 years in Munich 🌍 What the “dream” looks like for me today: slowing down, balance, and life abroad ⏰ CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro & Gratitude for 1k Subscribers 07:43 Reflections on the state of the U.S. today 09:07 Beginning my grandma’s story 15:26 The dangerous border crossing 22:11 My grandma went back to Mexico 25:05 Papers, faith & the American Dream 42:26 Comparing the American Dream to the German Dream 48:47 Final reflections & gratitude About The Pod Abroad Howdy und Servus, y’all! I’m Paulina, originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for the last 9 years. The Pod Abroad is a podcast sharing funny, honest, and unfiltered stories about building a life abroad. From cultural differences to new beginnings, each episode dives into what it means to create a home away from home. Weekly episodes feature my own stories and conversations with international friends. 👉 What’s your dream? American, German, or something else? Share in the comments! ✨ Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday about cultural differences, immigration, and life abroad. 🎧 LISTEN & CONNECT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/711j4OK Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast More platforms: https://linktr.ee/thepodabroad Instagram → @thepod.abroad / thepod.abroad TikTok → @thepodabroad / thepodabroad Email → [email protected] 🎥 CREW Video, Audio & Music: Tim ter Huurne Design/Branding: Ali Khazanbeik https://ytjobs.co/talent/profile/410967