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Writer's pictureRyan Cleeren, LCSW, MSW, MBA

The Rollercoaster Ride of Creating My First Expat Courses: Blood, Sweat, and Happy Tears

So, guess what? I’ve just completed my first two pre-recorded courses for Exstad, and let me tell you – it was no walk in the park. I mean, who knew that talking to a camera in an empty room could be so awkward? But hey, I survived! And now, I’m about to kick off my in-person course, "Empowering Expats," this week. Talk about a whirlwind!



*some excellent expressions captured in this process


Course Creation: Talking to a Camera is Just… Weird

You’d think, as a therapist, I’d be totally cool with this. I can hop on a session and talk to anyone about anything without a second thought. But talking into the abyss of my camera lens? Eeeak! Seeing myself on screen is one thing, but hearing my own voice? Do I really sound like that? It was like a whole new level of self-awareness – one I wasn’t entirely ready for. Let’s just say there were some cringeworthy moments and plenty of “Why do I make that face when I talk?” realizations.


The Blood, Sweat, and Happy Tears

Now, when I say blood, sweat, and tears, I mean it quite literally. The blood? That’s from a few moving injuries as I switched my office and guest bedroom over the past two weeks. I went from working in a room with no windows (where I’ve been hibernating for the past 3 years) to setting up in a room with the most spectacular views ever. Sorry, future guests – your new room has no windows.


The sweat? That’s all thanks to these lights! Apparently, recording in a dark, windowless room requires the hottest, brightest lights imaginable shining right in my face. Who knew course creation would double as a sauna session?


And the tears – those were from the joy of starting something new and actually staying on task long enough to get the inertia going. It’s a strange feeling to look at the finished product and think, “Wow, I really did this!”


Up Next: The In-Person Course Adventure

Now, as I gear up to start my in-person course, "Empowering Expats," I’m feeling a mix of excitement and nervous energy. It’s like the first day of school all over again, but this time I’m the one leading the class! I can’t wait to connect with others face-to-face, share laughs, and dive deep into the expat journey together. It’s going to be a blast (and hopefully, a bit less nerve-wracking than talking to my camera).


Why I’m Doing This (Aside from the Fun of It All)

I’ve been busy creating and sharing my thoughts because, at the end of the day, I want to make this expat journey a little easier for others. We all know how tough it can be to navigate life abroad, and if I can make even a tiny difference, then all the late-night editing sessions and coffee-fueled brainstorming were worth it.


So, if you’re ever tempted to dive into course creation yourself, just know – it’s hard, it’s messy, but it’s also incredibly satisfying. Here’s to creating more expat courses, many more late nights, and the ongoing journey of sharing what I’ve learned.

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