Esteban Tejedor is a Computer Engineer, Master Coach, NLP Practitioner and MBA. A former analyst/programmer and digital nomad, now a business entrepreneur, event organiser and a personal and professional development coach and trainer.

Nicole (Host): Welcome to the moving roadmap podcast powered by Avvinue.  My name is Nicole, and I'll be your host for the show. In this episode, we're excited to introduce our guests. Esteban Tejedor who is a Computer Engineer, Master Coach, NLP Practitioner, and has an MBA. He is a former Analyst Programmer and digital nomad.  Now a business entrepreneur event organizer and a personal and professional development coach and trainer. Welcome to the show Esteban.

Esteban Tejedor: Thank you. Thank you, Nicole. I'm happy to be here in this new podcast.

Nicole (Host): Yeah. We're excited that you're able to join. So first off, I just want to know. So where are you originally from and where are you now?

Esteban Tejedor: I'm from Madrid from Spain. And, I have been living in the UK in Liverpool for the last four and a half years, but, right now I'm in Madrid.

Nicole (Host): Very cool. So you have been spending your time abroad in Liverpool. How long did you say you've been living in Liverpool for four years. Awesome. And, when did you decide or when did you know you wanted to move abroad?

Esteban Tejedor: Well, that has been always the, my person, not always, I started late, actually, when I was like, 20 years old, I went to, to the UK and personally to, to visit my cousin. That was the second time I went abroad. The first time was to Portugal which is right next to Spain. So, that was not so impressive. But when I went to London, I discover, you know, so many cultures, there are somethings that I was missing before.

So since then, encouraging me to keep on exploring the more countries. And since then I have been traveling to over 30 countries. What I believe, every country you go, you learn something new, the farther you go, the more you learn them, the more you discover about life or their, perspective to see the life. And that is very exciting.

Nicole (Host): Yeah. I mean, the fact that you've traveled to over 30 countries, I'm sure you've seen so many different things. I mean, yeah. There's so many beautiful things all around the world. So being able to travel and experience that is definitely eye opening, for sure. So when you moved to Liverpool, so I'd love to know more like your relocation, how long did it take you to, to get ready to move?

So in planning and coordinating everything. How long did it take for you to decide, okay. You know what I'm going to move?

Esteban Tejedor: Well, if I talk about how I moved to Liverpool, I must talk about first, how I moved to the South of Asia, because that was my previous big travel before, before the UK.

In 2012 I, well, it has been always my dream to live abroad, but, that day I finally, I moved. I previously I was working as a program analyst in different companies in Spain, but, then I became a freelancer and, doing websites, developing websites, online, looking for different customers.

I could work, online. So that allowed me to be free, location for free. And I went to live to in Asia. starting in Thailand, I went to also, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, all the countries around there. And, and it was an amazing experience, because, I was afraid to decide where to go, and when, when I was, let's say in one place, I just moved.

Or when I was, I felt good in one place that I just stayed. So that was, a very interesting, stage of my life. Yeah, I live a lot of fun adventure there, so I don't know. I don't think I would have time to tell all of, all of them right now, but once, once I said, I think it's time  for a new stage of my life.

That is when I decided to move to Liverpool. And, well, it was because I was doing a period online with a woman from Live since for last time I went. Initially, that was the skills to go to Live and to go to the UK and at point I didn’t progress, but, soon after the opportunity to, in Liverpool, a program for entrepreneurs, that is when I created my company in the UK.

So at the beginning, nothing is easy because. You need to adapt to a new place, well, to a new language. Well, a new English, when I went to live in Asia, my English was not fluent, so there was a little handicap at the beginning, but soon I could, I began to, and because I was communicating in English almost all the time.

And then when I went to the UK, my English, it was much better, but still, I had to adapt to the accent, big accent, especially in Liverpool, accent is quite difficult. So yeah, the beginning of, as I say, not easy usually because I’m sure, you need to find a place to stay. At the beginning, I was staying with a friend and then rent in different places.

And the like finally I found a place I felt comfortable and I could stay for a long time. And now also regarding the work, the same you need to work hard at the beginning to, to arrange many things. For example, in the UK, the national insurance number, I opened a bank account, many things, but it paid off, not only in travel and everything well at the beginning, say it's difficult, but after you feel much more confident, everything is arranged and you let's say you have it expanded your come zone.

Yeah, how's it gone bigger and bigger. And then you are, you feel comfortable in many more places in, in many more circumstances it is very worth

Nicole (Host): Definitely. Yeah. I mean, you just walked through some amazing, like, just about your journey and where you were living. and you're right.

Like when you can leave a place and you get tired of one place, you just hop to the next, but. Once you realized you wanted to officially get settled? that's when probably more steps came into play. Right. Getting documentation, becoming a resident there in the UK and different things. So how long did it take for you to officially feel like you were settled?

Esteban Tejedor: In the UK for example, it took two months because as I said before, I went to Live, but after I moved to Liverpool, I was around three months after. So that was kind of a little, a new beginning in Liverpool first I stayed with our family and then I said with another family because of that family, I know the guests come in and then I found a stay like in a hotel for the time until finally I could get an apartment.

So that was kind of September, 2015. That is when I landed in the UK. It was not until. like March that I was found in my own apartment, or feeling relaxed, finally in that case.

Nicole (Host): Yeah. Everyone's story is so unique, you know, like you mentioned that you're staying at host families, you know, and then different, you know, hotels and, and it takes time, right? To feel comfortable in, you know, once you get your own place. And then, like you said, you eventually start expanding your comfort. Then to realize, okay, this is the grocery stores I'm going to be going to, these are, this is the train I'm going to be taking and you start to feel more comfortable and making your new home feel like home.

So what were some challenges or challenging aspects of coordinating your relocation?

Esteban Tejedor: Well, it's good that you have a friend there or family, or Somebody, you know, so you can stay at the beginning with that person, then you can look for a place once you are there. That is easier. Otherwise you need to look for a place before, or just starting in a hotel or what's familiar for example.

And usually you plan to stay for a long time, you need to open a bank account. And then for example, in the UK, they asked for proof that we live there. So it's not that easy and that’s most of the bank. And also as well, for example, so the national insurance number, official document number that you need in order to work there.

But basically with those things, of course, you can do need to get a number,  get a phone number, like a SIM card or something. So, yeah, actually it's not that difficult to sustain a place, but if you want to work there, you know, you’re like fish away.

Nicole (Host): Yeah, definitely.

So what would you, what were some things that you didn't expect to happen when you were moving? And I know, you know, you were moving and trying to get settled, but was there something that you didn't expect to happen?

Esteban Tejedor: Yeah, for example, when I first went to Live. I expect to, to stay in Live, but the circumstances took me to another place.

So I had to move. So yeah, the beginning is kind of an adventure. Now, when you go to a new place, unless you go with a job already in advance, but usually, also when I went to live in Asia, it was something similar. I had to find a place, but you can very easily find a place. Like very cheap places. Compare them with the Western price, for example, in the United States and Europe. So you can find a guest houses there for very cheap prices and you can move around very easily. Well, unexpected things can always happen, but, usually, I mean, you get through them, just be ready to, face unexpected things, but usually you're fine.

I mean, at the beginning, for example, they, the first time I traveled to London, I was kind of, well, not the scare, but you know, you have some concerns, but when you travel more and more to different places, so in the end you become a confident with you find unexpected things. You always survive.

Nicole (Host): Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes it's the smallest things that scare us or make us nervous. And then we realized, Oh, why was I so nervous about that after you, when you look back, right?

Esteban Tejedor: For example, it’s good to go researching in advance about the place, where to stay, where to go also about the vaccines. For example, when I went to Asia, I had to go to the doctor and be vaccinated with some things.

So yeah, it's good to research in advance. also, one of my first trips, I was kind of naive and I booked a flight to Russia and just a few before I realized I needed a visa, I needed to rush get a visa and finally it, but it was very stressful. So things like that you need to have into account a visa and insurance, a vaccine.

So it's good to research to Google go to some websites or guide and like a lonely planet or these kind of things that you can research.

Nicole (Host): Absolutely research is really important, especially, I mean, in that case, you're traveling, but if you are planning to move, it's even more important to, to figure out, you know, where are you going to go? Where are you heading? Even some of our guests on the podcast I've mentioned, you know, if you're able to go and visit and stay there for a few months, just to get familiar with what area you'd like to say.

I mean, you even mentioned, you were expecting to stay in Live, but then you moved to Liverpool. So that was unexpected. Right? so always just being open and having an open mind that not everything happens perfectly, you know, but just to be open to the unexpected and know that you're going to turn out okay, things are going to be alright. and you'll look back. And who knows that may have been for the better,

Esteban Tejedor: Yeah. When you look back. You remember those, those things like, in a nicer way, because you, they were challenging, but at the same time you learn and then you became better and stronger, no?

Nicole (Host): Absolutely. So now that we've, you've shared a lot of your, your journey, you know, Southeast Asia and I'm in the UK. Now looking back, what advice would you give to someone, especially those of our listeners who are considering their move abroad? What advice would you give to them?

Esteban Tejedor: I have already mentioned some of them that to do some research and I do know people there, or know people who know people there is always good to contact them and maybe they can house you or they can show you around.

And also the research on our, for example, if you are going to need the money. You might need to change in advance, or, what they usually do is once I am in the airport from places where you can change money in the airport is more expensive, usually. So usually I change a little money there and then once you are in the city, there are places as well, and, with a, with a better change.

So that is also something that you must have into to account, of course, the language as well. You should know a list of all the basics. Not only to communicate of course, but also it is good for the locals to be happier. If you speak their language, you know, a few words like, hello, hold on, to be ready.

You can put in a paper, the basic, things, in the local language in case you, you don't remember, you can show of the paper. Or if you you’re  going to find out restaurant or toilet, or, you know, these kinds of things that sometimes it might be priority, but preparing  in advance for these kind of things.

Nicole (Host): Yeah, absolutely. That's great advice. I love that because, you know, living in a new country or even when traveling. We like to practice new words before we go. And then in the moment, sometimes we forget. So having it on a piece of paper, having it ready to show them is, is really good. Alright. So kind of just wrapping up with our episode, I like to ask, and I know you've traveled to over 30 countries, but where is your favorite city?

Esteban Tejedor: It's difficult to say only one, you know, because every place has their own town. Well, when I was in, in the South East Asia, for example, I lived mostly in the cter of the city, and the capital of the South of Vietnam, the capital is Hanoi, but it's an interesting place because, you feel like kind of, you are in a Villa, but it's a super big city with millions of people living there, but the way people behave, the culture there, you feel sort of welcomed by the people.

So at the beginning, I thought it was busy. It was a very noisy area because there are a lot of motorbikes around all the time, but in the end I met Spanish people who became friends and well, the food is also very, very nice there. So, that would be a place for example, I can mention many more.

Nicole (Host): Oh, I imagine there are many beautiful places around the world. So that's always our tricky question at the end. Like where's your favorite city? So thanks for sharing that. All right. So the last question, how can our listeners find you on social? Where can they connect with you?

Esteban Tejedor: They can find me @EstebanTejedor on Facebook, LinkedIn, or certainly EstebanTejedor.com my website, the companies that I have I created in the UK, www.holapeople.co.uk, Hola that is hello in Spanish, or this this one other thing with learning languages and travel and work abroad and I have another one that is about professional development courses.

It's QLUproject.com hopefully that one day will be an university at the moment it's near project but yea that's just some of the ways you can find me.

Nicole (Host): Perfect. Well, I'm sure some of our listeners are really going to want to touch base with you learn more about the projects that you're working on.

And of course, even with the development courses that you have available. So we'll be sure to include the links in the description so they can connect directly with you. But overall, thank you so much for joining us great episodes to learn more about your journey abroad. And so thank you for, for sharing with us.

Esteban Tejedor: You're very welcome. Thank you again.