study abroad & homestay

after studying abroad...

I'm backkkkk! This time, with the one and only Quinby (queen-bee). We start off talking about poop. Then, we cover how family dynamics (and sibling numbers) shape the way we communicate our needs to others, specifically, with our homestay parents. Finally, we wrap up this episode, and our time with IES, discussing the anxieties of returning home after having changed so much. Enjoy this zestful (hopefully funny) and cozy episode :)

where is home?

Lately I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be an international student, and how it shapes us far beyond the number of languages we speak. What happens when we’re educated about the world in ways that slowly pull us away from our own cultures? How does the idea of “home” evolve when exploration is so deeply rooted in our values? How do we stay close to the people we love when they live across oceans and time zones? And the most difficult question of all: will we ever find a place that feels like home, when we’ve never fully known what home is?

modern loneliness

Maybe the cure to the modern mental health epidemic is simply to....have someone to talk to.... even if it's just for thirty minutes per night. Let's break down the magic of 'talking about nothing', and how important it is in fulfilling humans' fundamental desire to feel safe through connection. In this episode, I reflect on my experiences living with family in Shanghai, living alone in NYC, and now living with a homestay family in Milan. Enjoy ~

i am bad at platonic friendships

Since middle school, I have struggled to make platonic male friends. I say this because I somehow always get accused of being flirtatious, or leading people on. My personality gives off the wrong impression, and I cannot help it unless I pretend to be someone I am not. I asked around for some advice on how I can start making some male friends without seeming like I am romantically interested in someone. Tune in to listen to how I plan on preventing myself from falling back into old patterns of developing unwanted sexual tension with men I merely see as another human being.

study abroad & homestay

In moments of drastic change, life can feel completely turned upside down. From daily meals to sleeping habits, everything is forced out of its familiar rhythm when you move abroad. Today, I invite you to reflect on the small things that made this transition a little easier. What do you appreciate? Now, think back to a time when you faced a similar major shift. What new insight do you see now, looking back at a younger version of yourself? I’m so grateful for every one of you listening, and I’ll talk to you all very soon. :)