Assorted Immigrant Stories

S2 EP 10: More Than Tuition: Access, Support, and Opportunity

In this season finale mini-series episode, we talk about tuition, fees, and the opportunities many international students leave on the table, often without realizing it. Using a real classroom moment from the first day of the semester, this episode breaks down why the fine print in your syllabus matters and how student fees actually pay for critical support services like counseling, accessibility accommodations, writing centers, wellness programs, and health resources. I share a personal story about struggling with writing-intensive coursework, watching grades drop, and realizing far too late that the help I needed had been available all along. We also explore another powerful way to reduce the cost of education: leveraging your abilities. From athletic talent to specialized skills, this episode explains how full-ride scholarships don’t always mean becoming a professional athlete and why visibility, asking questions, and going directly to the right offices can change your educational journey. The conversation highlights wellness initiatives like the She Care Wellness Pods and Boris L. Henson Foundation Self-Care Wellness Pods, the importance of mental health support, and why reading your emails and syllabus can literally save you money. As we honor Black History Month, celebrate Africa Podcasting Day (February 12), and close out this mini-series, this episode leaves listeners with one clear message: don’t leave money or opportunity on the table. assortedimmigrantstories@gmail.com

S2 E9: More Than a Degree: Legacy, Access, and Choosing an HBCU

In this episode, I reflect on identity, education, and belonging through the lens of Africa, immigration, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Inspired by viral moments of IShowSpeed traveling across Africa and the reactions they sparked, I take listeners back to my own journey — growing up in Zambia, coming to the United States in 2003, and navigating classrooms where accents, culture, and identity shaped my early experiences. I share how my understanding of African American culture evolved, how divisions between Africans and Black Americans became visible during my early college years, and why learning the history of HBCUs changed my perspective on higher education in America. This episode breaks down what HBCUs are, why they were created, and why they continue to matter today — producing leaders, professionals, and change makers despite making up a small percentage of U.S. colleges. I also explain why, despite earning my BSN at the University of Maryland, I intentionally chose to pursue graduate school at an HBCU, Coppin State University — a 103-year-old institution that is expanding access by recruiting students from states without HBCUs and offering in-state tuition opportunities. I discuss legacy, finding self, connection, affordability, and why HBCUs deserve serious consideration, especially for immigrants, mature students, and first-generation learners. The episode closes with reflections on representation, belonging, and choosing education with intention. In the next episode, I’ll break down how students can fully take advantage of what they already pay for through tuition and fees — including writing centers, academic resources, and student support services that are often overlooked.

S2 E8: Coming to America in 2026: Who Can Travel, Which Visas Are Affected, and Why

In this episode of Assorted Immigrant Stories, we break down what the expanded U.S. travel bans mean for people trying to come to America for school, work, sports, or family reasons. Using real-life examples, we explain how different U.S. visa types are affected — and why people from the same country can experience very different outcomes. Building on earlier Season 1 episodes that explained F-1 student visas, M-1 vocational visas, and the Diversity Visa (DV Lottery), this episode zooms out to explore how travel restrictions interact with visa categories such as B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F and M student visas, J exchange visas, and employment-based visas like EB-3 for nurses. We use global sports as a practical example, explaining why World Cup players from countries like Senegal can travel on special athlete visas, while fans may be unable to attend due to visitor visa suspensions. We also discuss why professional athletes such as Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji are able to travel back and forth internationally — highlighting how P-1 and O-1 visas work differently from tourist or student visas. The episode also looks closely at Zambia’s partial travel restrictions, what they mean in practice, and which groups are exempt, including green card holders, diplomats, athletes, and individuals granted national-interest waivers. We address common questions from students, nurses, and families navigating the U.S. immigration system, including how EB-3 immigrant visas for nurses are affected during visa suspensions. Anchored by the Book of the Month, The Tiny Things Are Heavier by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo, this episode connects immigration policy to lived experience — showing how small details like visa categories, processing delays, and eligibility rules can have life-changing consequences. Whether you are: * Planning to study in the U.S. * Exploring work visas or green card options * Following World Cup travel and visa rules * Or trying to understand how U.S. travel bans affect your country this episode offers clarity, context, and practical guidance — without legal jargon or panic.

FIFA PASS Explained, AFCON IN Motion, DV Lottery Paused.

A deep dive into the 2026 World Cup moment — and what it really means for African fans. In this episode, we break down: * What the FIFA PASS actually is (and isn’t) * The emotion and pride surrounding AFCON, Zambia 2012, Ghana 2010, and Africa’s 10-team milestone * The reality of U.S. travel bans affecting fans from qualifying nations * And the quiet pause of the Diversity Visa Lottery following recent U.S. events It’s about sport, yes — but also about access, memory, migration, and the bittersweet experience of cheering from afar. 🎧 Tune in for truth, heart, and perspective — from the stadium to the screen, and everywhere in between.

Do Not Sleep on Libraries

When I first came to the U.S., the only library I knew was in Towson. I took buses just to check my email—sometimes months apart—because I didn’t yet understand how accessible public and student libraries really were. In this episode, I reflect on how libraries quietly supported my journey as an international student: free internet, quiet study spaces, and access to university libraries simply by having a student ID. I also share what reignited this conversation for me—an appreciation talk with my former primary school headmistress, memories of borrowed books and office libraries, conversations with fellow podcasters building libraries across Africa, and recent reminders that libraries are still deeply relevant in a world of TikTok and short-form content. Most importantly, I talk about discovering library programs for children—reading, music, play areas, computers—when my son needed them most, and realizing we could have been using these resources years earlier. Libraries are not just for studying. They are community spaces, creative spaces, and places of access. Whether you’re new to America or thinking about libraries back home, don’t sleep on them.