Chai with Ping | Immigrants | Cultures | Minority Issues

Diversity in a South African and American sense. What about it? Egon and Jo shared their view on race and culture. Being a foreign spouse, what did Jo go through during the marriage registration? Journey Africa IG @journey_2_sa https://www.instagram.com/journey_2_sa/ www.hopp.bio/journey-africa Don't forget to listen to Ep106 for the first part. If you enjoy this episode, I recommend... ➡️ Ep64 We Were Called Chocolate Chips in A Giant Cookie w/ Sandra Addo ➡️ Ep49 Applying for US Residency as a Foreign Graduate w/ Andrew ➡️ Ep46 High School and All That Jazz w/ Charles Jai-Sheng Lin ➡️ Ep64 We Were Called Chocolate Chips in A Giant Cookie w/ Sandra Addo ➡️ Ep81 A Home Away From Home w/ Ping

In this episode, we explore the fascinating story of Ego from South Africa and Jo from Taiwan. They met unexpectedly, sparking chemistry that led to a profound exploration of their diverse cultural backgrounds. We discuss unique cultural concepts, from how natural disasters like earthquakes shaped Jo's perspective to how Ego sees nature's power in South Africa. Their story also includes pivotal moments like a cross-cultural marriage proposal, navigating immigration interviews, and humorous exchanges—like how something as simple as a chocolate bar led to conversations about their differences. Finally, Ego and Jo share how these experiences inspired them to start a travel touring agency in Africa, blending their distinct worldviews to offer a unique travel experience. Join us for an inspiring journey of love, decisions, and cross-cultural understanding! Journey Africa IG @journey_2_sa https://www.instagram.com/journey_2_sa/ www.hopp.bio/journey-africa

Ernesto and I had a great conversation about our relationships, marriages, and different perspectives on gender expectations. Please let us know what you think about the new format of content. :) The book mentioned about his needs and her needs, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49245.His_Needs_Her_Needs

Kamini Wood, a certified life coach, helps high-achievers heal their relationships with themselves. She helps people take courageous steps in identifying limiting beliefs and reasons for stagnation and overcoming self-doubt to live a fulfilling professional and personal life. Trained in internal family systems and cognitive behavioral-based coaching, Kamini utilizes her skill set to help professionals find the balance between work and personal lives. She is the creator of AuthenticMe® and CEO of Live Joy Your Way, a coaching company that helps high performers and overachievers who have seen success through old-rooted, traditional metrics reestablish their relational self-awareness. This episode focuses on some common challenges immigrant communities may face and how we can shift our stories. ➡️ Connect with Kamini https://www.kaminiwood.com/ IG @itsauthenticme https://www.instagram.com/itsauthenticme/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminiwood/

Discover how Tami and Kavita's vision for Free Cafe emerged in 2018 and Wagon Coffee Roastery in 2020. Later, they talked about how their dedication to creating a safe space for individuals in recovery has shaped their mission. From navigating the intricacies of starting a business to fostering a culture of inclusivity and support, they offer invaluable insights into the intersection of entrepreneurship and social impact. If you're looking for a supportive community, feel free to check them out. If you want to give, ask them how you can help. Find their socials https://www.freerecoverycommunity.com/ @wagoncoffeeroasters https://www.instagram.com/wagoncoffeeroasters @freerecoverycommunitycafe https://www.instagram.com/freerecoverycommunitycafe

How do adult third-culture kids develop in their lives? How did their childhood experiences shape their emotions and personalities? Tanya shared in-depth theories and practical tips with us. Contact Tanya ⁠https://linktr.ee/TanyaCrossman⁠; IG @misunderstoodtck https://www.instagram.com/misunderstoodtck Tanya's previous episode: Ep48 Supporting Third Culture Kids w/ Tanya Crossman Ep86 Childhood Experiences & Third-Culture Kids? w/ Tanya Crossman Tanya's Book: Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing up Overseas in the 21st Century ⁠https://a.co/d/7BJA9e7⁠ TCK Survey till April 2024: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TCKwellness Books: https://www.amazon.com.au/Incredible-Lives-Courage-Live-Them/dp/1399953109 https://www.amazon.com.au/Unstacking-Your-Grief-Tower-Processing/dp/B09GZKQ1P8 https://www.amazon.com.au/Belonging-Beyond-Borders-Culture-Cultivate-ebook/dp/B0BNLRZYL2 https://misunderstood-book.com/ https://www.tcktraining.com/for-atcks | IG @tcktraining

We kick off the episode by introducing Sneha and her background. Like many others, Sneha faced the challenges and stresses of modern life. Struggling with physical and emotional issues, she embarked on a quest for a holistic approach to healing. Enter yoga – an age-old practice known for uniting mind, body, and spirit. Connect with Sneha on IG @acehibiscusinfinity https://www.instagram.com/acehibiscusinfinity

As a celebration, I decided to share my dissertation briefly with you. I also talked about my writing strategies with Sneha! My dissertation is about supporting international students in the Educational Administration programs in the U.S. Pomodoro Technique with Music https://youtu.be/ul8NcakAj6Y?si=7ppyYT6zKCEy8WTz Pomodoro Timer https://pomofocus.io/ Bollywood Dance Workout https://youtu.be/tTdlI6QZvhg?si=SJe4EPGuldLXQCdN Zumba https://youtu.be/HhR9jUIPtnY?si=RKQhHxhjxTO5l9Vd

Celine shared her journey of being a Jamaican international student in the U.S. How did she process her steps after graduating with her master's? How did she land an internship after six months? Happy New Year! Listen to Ep 87 and 88 for Celine's previous stories. Follow Celine @extracelistial https://www.instagram.com/extracelistial/

What are some boundaries interpreters have? I also provided some insights and tips for fellow interpreters after working many years. Don't forget to listen to Ep97 for part 1 if you haven't.

Sorry for the buzz in the background. Agi interviewed me for my medical interpreter experiences and recapped some examples of our work and reflection. Stay tuned for part 2!

Sneha was on the show in 2020, and let's hear her stories after coming to the U.S. Being a doc student from India in Colorado, what challenges does she face, and what comforts does she find? Find her on IG @acehibiscusinfinity https://www.instagram.com/acehibiscusinfinity or sneha.srinivasan4444@gmail.com Sneha's previous episode: Ep35 Study In Taiwan and I found Healing

Praise the Lord, I graduated after six years! It's a short episode with some appreciation, acknowledgement and updates. I'm still here! Thanks for listening and being patient with me.

We continue talking about Jamil's experience growing up in a Muslim family and how he made sense of the world. If you haven't listened to part one, don't forget to scroll down.

When many think of South India, we might not know the population of Muslims is more significant than in Pakistan. How did Jamil grow up in a Muslim family in the U.S., and how did his identities shift after he became an adult? Check out Jamil's resources. Financial Blog: https://jamilbatcha.substack.com/ | Travel Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTI1MrSF7U0wdREjwEMYTNA/featured *The sound gets better after 3 mins. Sorry XD

After the fun facts about Taiwan and the hiring process to be a tour guide in Finland, Ralphe shared some of his reflections afterward. Instagram: @ralphhong5465 https://www.instagram.com/ralphhong5465/ Medium: https://ralphhong5465.medium.com/

Ralph is our first guest talking about Finland. He worked as a tour guide there for a few months, and what happened? Instagram: @ralphhong5465 https://www.instagram.com/ralphhong5465/ Medium: https://ralphhong5465.medium.com/

Elene comes from Georgia, East Europe. Georgia is called the bridge between Asia and Europe. What are some fun facts about Georgia? How did she come to the U.S. to study? How does she navigate life abroad when she's usually the only Georgian in the crowd? Elene's email: elen193@yahoo.com

Dr. Priya is one of the early immigrants in Taiwan and she's been living in Taiwan since her college life. Why did she choose to live in Taiwan and have her family there? What interesting stories does she have as a professional interpreter? On a side note, Oct 15 is Indian Independence Day and it was the 75th year in 2022. Search #75years75stories on Facebook or visit for more stories at https://www.facebook.com/IndiansInTaiwan & https://www.facebook.com/groups/IndiansInTaiwan Stay connected with Dr. Priya: Website: www.priyalee.info | All Links: linktr.ee/priyalee

Celine from Jamaica did her undergraduate studies in Floria. Now she's doing International Development in Denver, Colorado. What did she encounter? How was her experience at school? If you haven't, do listen to Celine's part one: Ep87 Jamaican Schools & Undergrad in Florida.

Celine grew up in Jamaica and we talked a lot about her education back home, languages,and some transitions to the U.S. I love her voice!!!! Stay tuned for her graduate school stories. Chai with Ping | Ep87 Jamaican Schools & Undergrad in Florida w/ Celine

How do childhood experiences shape the future of TCKs?Tanya joined TCK Training (www.tcktraining.com/socials) which is a global consulting agency. She put a lot of effort to explore deeper in TCKs and specifically high-risk Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) (https://www.tcktraining.com/research/caution-and-hope-white-paper). Check out Tanya's first episode: Ep48 Supporting Third Culture Kids w/ Tanya Crossman Contact Tanya https://linktr.ee/TanyaCrossman Tanya's Book: Misunderstood: The impact of growing up overseas in the 21st century https://a.co/d/7BJA9e7 Lauren Wells' Book: Raising Up A Generation of Healthy Kids https://a.co/d/gxWedzN

I've been super busy these days so I released this episode late when I'm traveling. Hope this is fun to listen to.

Daphne came from Tamil Nadu, India and she is doing her MBA degree in Denver. We discussed her 1-12 educational experience growing up and how different was it from other kids. Since I'm so distracted so we also talked about some cultural aspects including religions, bindi, and foods.

This is one of the most interesting topics I've done. We rarely talk about hair being an identity however, for Hayil, it's a daily routine to fix her hair. Instead of looking at the afro hair and being amazed by it, I went on to interview her all about it because it's just so different from my hair culture. If you like this kind of topic, please let me know!

Being a Third-Culture Kid isn't always easy. Marc lived in 6 countries but he experienced great fun with a positive attitude. We talked about his journey of making music and how he was inspired in choosing his styles. MARC AMELLO formerly known as M3L, is a Multilingual Afro-Reggaeton and R&B Artist based in Toronto. Born in Cameroon yet raised in six countries, his music embodies the lived experiences of a “Third Culture” kid, with roots in Anglophone Afrobeats and Hiphop/R&B, Reggaeton and Francophone Zouk/Coupé-Décalé music. His ability to flow seamlessly between English, Spanish and French makes for a unique listening experience and showcases elite versatility. If you haven't heard Marc's Part 1: Ep78 African Musician Growing Up in 6 Countries w/ MARC AMELLO The sounds are so great in this episode! Thank you, MARC for renting a pro mic! Find MARC: Spotify Playlist spoti.fi/3BDCIb2 | m3lmuzik@gmail.com | IG @marcamello | TikTok @marc.amello | MARC AMELLO on all streaming platforms

Making friends away from home has always been a topic for me after being in the U.S. It isn't easy however, I'm so glad that I found the Bridges International student club on campus. If you're like me and want to make more friends in the U.S., check out https://linktr.ee/bridgesinternational. They also offer a space for spiritual conversations and maybe you will find the meaning of life in Jesus. :) Feel free to reach out to me for a chat. If you enjoy this episode, I recommend... ➡️ Ep61 Growing Up in Intersections ft. Dare to Travel (浪遊天涯) Duncan ➡️ Ep50 Life in the US, Cross-Cultural Marriage and Love at First Sight w/ Ping & Louis ➡️ Ep45 Thrive with a Thai w/ Thi ➡️ Ep31 Becoming Bilingual and Bicultural w/ Rachel ➡️ Ep34 Exploring and Settling in Taiwan w/ Manik & Poonam ➡️ Ep21 How do We Find Comfort in the US as Asian Immigrants? w/ Agi & Ping (2-1)

I've been learning English since the age of 12 and it's been a long journey. It's never ended but has been a very fruitful one. Thank you for listening and it's 80 episodes!!! I'll take a summer break for two months and will be back in September. Stay tuned with live streaming or some vlogs on my socials! Share your stories with me!

Pawku returns to talk about how she went through depression as a refugee from the Karen tribe in Myanmar. She, her parents, and 4 other siblings left Myanmar in 1997 and lived in a refugee camp in Thailand for 10 years before they came to the U.S. How did she encounter depression? How did she get healed? Check out Pawku's part 1: Ep66 A Refugee From Burma to Thailand and the U.S. w/ Pawku

MARC AMELLO formerly known as M3L, is a Multilingual Afro-Reggaeton and R&B Artist based in Toronto. Born in Cameroon yet raised in six countries (Cameroon, Senegal, Kenya, Canada, USA & Spain), his music embodies the lived experiences of a “Third Culture” kid, with roots in Anglophone Afrobeats and Hiphop/R&B, Reggaeton, and Francophone Zouk/Coupé-Décalé music. His ability to flow seamlessly between English, Spanish, and French makes for a unique listening experience and showcases elite versatility. Find Marc on IG @marcamello | @marc.amello on TikTok | MARC AMELLO on all streaming platforms

Emily grew up in Taipei and became an international student in the US starting at the age of 12, practicing her English, and learning some very-American sports and activities. During her time in the US, she lived in Michigan, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New York City. She moved back to Asia in 2007 to work in television and journalism. Co-founder of Ghost Island Media, a multilingual podcast network based in Taiwan, with current affairs programs in Mandarin, English, and French. Our shows range from climate, cannabis, gender, culture, diplomacy, China, documentaries, Taiwan, and politics. We also run an emerging creators program for students and interns. We've been nominated for some cool podcasts and journalism awards, including winning Best Podcast Host in Taiwan in 2021. I had so much fun talking to Emily about her schooling and some of the cultural identities in her past. Fun to compare notes when we're both "in-between". Facebook: @ghostislandme @franceataiwan @emilyywu.me IG: @ghostislandme @frataiwan @emily.y.wu Twitter: @ghostislandme @emilyywu

Sarah is from the USA and has lived in north India since 2010. She owns a language education business that runs courses for people seeking to learn English or Hindi. Sarah loves seeing people connect to each other through language learning. She also loves fantasy novels and rainy afternoons. We talked about her Hindi learning process, her reasons for staying in India, and some tips for Hindi learning. Check out Sarah's work at hindigateway.com and osls.info

It's me talking a lot again! In this episode, I talked about my experiences being a freelancing medical interpreter in Colorado. It's been a meaningful and rewarding process even though it's hard. Feel free to share your job experience with me! Colorado Language Connection Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreter Training

DD is from Istanbul, Turkey and she's a bakery chef in hotels back home. In 2020, she came to the U.S. as an Au-Pair babysitter right before the pandemic started. She worked for three families in three states within the span of two years on a J-1 visa. She talks about her working experiences and some tips and perks as an international au-pair employee. Too bad that I put the mic a bit too far from me so my sound wasn't very clear but DD's more important. XD Contact DD on IG @dmlboz | Au-Pair International Exchange Programs

Lindsey spent 2015-2016 as a Fulbright scholar and we focus on the returning experience from China to Illinois. She later became a Designated School Official (DSO) for international students on a college campus. What changed in her? How did she feel differently after coming home? She later offered some tips for international students in the U.S. and the locals who want to support international students. ➡️ Connect with Lindsey on IG @hobsonlc1 or on LinkedIn. If you haven't listened to Lindsey's last episode, check out Ep72. It's really fun to listen to.

"Going to China made me love China even more." Lindsey said. She spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in China learning Mandarin Chinese and doing her research. She learned so much from being an American in a foreign country. There were so many cool stories and Lindsey is such a great storyteller! Stay tuned for her part 2. Contact Lindsey on LinkedIn.

Have you thought about migrating to a new country and starting all over? Juan is a civil engineer who got a Diversity Visa and came to the U.S. from Costa Rica in 2017. We talked about his background, shifts in jobs, and life after moving here. DV certainly gave him a new opportunity to be abroad and achieve his dreams. ➡️ Find Juan on FB: Juan MI Sanchez or IG @juan_sanchez506 | DV Lottery https://www.dvlottery.com/ |

Hello guys, so many of you asked us questions about our marriage and here you go. Ping is from Taiwan and Louis is from north India, we've been married for 6 years and now living in Colorado, the U.S. We talked about our experience from the meeting, dating to getting married, challenges, and fun moments. We also shared our ideas in getting resources and support in a third culture and couple's therapy helped us tremendously! Hope this episode helps and encourages some of you. Marriage is hard work but we mature gratefully. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or need some cheerleaders. :) ➡️ Questions Before Dating Example

Vera is a second-generation Filipino American from L.A, California. We talked about how she grew up in an immigrant single-parented family, getting community support, and the differences she sees when she moves to Colorado. Quite insightful and reflective. Find Vera on IG @vcordoodles | FB: Vera Karlotta Heffner |Email: vera.karlotta.c.heffner@gmail.com

**Bilingual Alert: This episode was conducted in a mixture of Mandarin and English. However, I think this would be more beneficial for English listeners or for those who're interested in learning Mandarin or going to Asia to teach English as a Second-Language (ESL). Kevin is a cool biracial fellow that I met at work and he shares his work as an ESL teacher in different cities in China between 2007-2010, then again from 2013-2015. We actually had chai while chatting. He started teaching kids in Shanghai for 5 years. Later moved to Xiamen and began learning Mandarin there with her girlfriend (now wife). He also talked about his high school experience at Columbine which suffered from the shooting in 1999 (OMG!!!)

Ági is originally from Budapest, Hungry, and went to the U.K. in 2008. She received her permanent residency in 2021 and it felt different. Oh~ I truly enjoyed this conversation! We talked about the meaning of home, fitting into a new country, and some new home cultures. When being away from my original home, Taiwan, I feel lost and left out when I go back because there are many things that changed and many people have their own lives that I'm not familiar with. Even the language, jargon, and the updates are happening which I can't catch up on... What are your sentiments toward home? ✅ Find Ági and more resources about TCK on IG @tck.mama

Pawku was born in Burma and they're from the Karen tribe which was facing genocides from the military during the civil war. They fled to Southwest Thailand when she was four and lived in the refugee camp for 10 years. What did they do in the camps? How did she get to the U.S.? What has she learned? Take a listen! Pawku works at Bridges International Student Club

How is it like to work remotely? Can we really relax at home? Can we save more time or spend more time at work? I talked about my personal experience working at my university context and compared some of the perks and considerations for studying and working online/from home/remotely.

Sandra Addo is a Diversity Advocate in Higher Education and she strives to promote equity in education. She's the first-gen Ghanian after her parents moved to Dallas, Texas. We had a great discussion about race and mental health relations. | Contact Sandra: @sandraaddo (Facebook/Instagram) @sandraoaddo (Twitter) | ➡️ After the episode, I just want to make a shout out to Sandra and whoever needs this, you're loved and you're good enough. You don't need to do anything to prove that. I hope you find contentment and peace along the way and if you'd like to talk to me, please do reach out to social media or email. :)

Agi grew up in Budapest, Hungry, and went to the U.K. to volunteer. She ended up staying for a year then she met her now-husband, Jesse!  How does she navigate her life with a cross-cultural marriage and parenting three Third Culture Kids (TCKs) at home? How did Brexit shape her experience being a bilingual and bicultural person? She talks about some stories about her kids learning about cultures and languages.   Agi shares parenting resources for the benefit of all multicultural families and parents. Find her on IG @jesseandagirowe and more resources on @TCK.mama | Her podcast is called Home Anywhere. Search to listen!

Kat is a recent graduate with a master's in international & intercultural communication and a self-proclaimed ag nerd. She shares her life and stories while growing up handling animals to stock shows and on a school farm. Now Kat is an ESL teacher in Seoul, Korea! Contact Kat: kathryn.gay.mccauley@gmail.com

It's been a long time since I collaborated with another podcaster in English and here it is! The host of Dare to Travel, Duncan who was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Macau as a Cantonese and English speaker who moved to California, lived in New York and now in Taipei, Taiwan. He talks about his journey of growing up and the transitions from the U.S. to Taiwan. How does he cope with all the changes and being at the intersections of cultures, languages, and identities? He met his true love when traveling and how did it happen? | Find Duncan IG @followduncan and Dare to Travel @daretotravelpodcast or https://www.daretotravelpodcast.com/ | Duncan is also teaching English online, contact him! If you listen to Mandarin, go to their podcast and listen to my episode on my cross-cultural marriage experience in Ep50~!

Thanks for voting on this topic on Instagram. If you haven't followed me on Facebook or IG, please check out @chaiwithping. If you're a Mandarin listener or Chinese reader, please do follow my new account @chaiwithpingcn and there will be more fun content coming out. I'm not a saving expert and have never gone too extreme but here are five tips that I apply to my life when it comes to saving money! Hope you like it. And please do share your tips with me! Do you know what we were doing in the cover pic? Painting our kitchen walls!!!

Alexi was adopted from China when she was nine months old. She's a special education teacher in an elementary. She also encourages her students with her dyslexia (in reading) and dyscalculia (in math). Her family and four other families went on vacations together throughout the years as a community. | Alexis' IG: @alexis_hallll | If you like similar content, here are the other two episodes in the Adoptees mini-series: #57 Being Asian Adoptees in the U.S. w/ Sarah & Emily Quinn #58 Challenging My Identities Constantly as A Korean Adoptee w/ Mitchell Stone

Mitchell was adopted from South Korea to Colorado, U.S. He and his four siblings were all adopted. He constantly battles with questions about his own history and identities. However, he also comes to a recognition to accept his circumstances. | Contact Mitchell IG @mitchellyongsoo or on FB by Mitchell Stone | Adoption Agency: Eastern Society Welfare Services in South Korea | Heritage Camps Adoptive Families |

Sarah and Emily are Chinese adoptees in Colorado, USA. In this episode, we talk about their experience being Asian adoptees and how this identity shapes their life experiences. I love how their parents are supportive of them. Don't forget to check out the resources below and say hi to them! *This is the first episode of the mini-series of "Asian Adoptees in the U.S.", stay tuned for the next episodes! ➡️ Heritage Camps for 9 different regions of origin https://www.heritagecamps.org/ | Adopteen https://adopteen.org/ | Korean Adoptee Story - "aka DAN" KOREAN ADOPTEE DOC Pt. 1 https://youtu.be/OzGHY6enzDs | Colorado DragonFest https://dragonfest.org/ | Contact Sarah - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/squinn; sarah.l.quinn@outlook.com; IG: @squinnster | Contact Emily IG: @equinnox94 |