Cross-cultural Stories

In this episode, I'm joined by Nur, a senior scientist at 10x Genomics and the Treasurer of CCIS, the nonprofit that supports international spouses and families here at Stanford. Originally from Bangladesh, Nur moved to the U.S. at 18 with one clear dream: to be at the forefront of genetics research. And she got there. But her story is about so much more than a career. From reading Time magazi...

How do you find your footing in a completely new country? For Kumud, it started with a lonely moment at a party and ended with her finding a family at the Bechtel International Center. In this episode of Cross-Cultural Stories, I interviewed Kumud about her move from India to Stanford. We discuss the realities of being a trailing spouse, the pressures of raising a teenager in Silicon Valley, and t...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanette, a human resources and talent management specialist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who moved to Stanford to support her husband’s PhD journey. But instead of pressing pause on her own life, Jeanette dove headfirst into building community, leading workshops, and reimagining her personal and professional identity in a new country. From navigating culture shock...

This Episode is generated from Episode 027 (Korean) by AI. I hope you find this episode interesting! This interview features Hailey, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, who shares her personal and professional transition from South Korea to the United States. She discusses how living abroad redefined her concept of home and shifted her perspective on cultural differences, such as American small...

If you’ve ever wondered: What’s it really like to be a postdoc at Stanford? Are U.S. labs truly more “equal”—or just another form of solitude? How do Asian students adapt to an academic culture that asks, “Why don’t you have an opinion?” How do you rebuild a life beyond research in a foreign country? In this episode, our guest Hailey shares her real survival notes. Having experienced the high-pres...

Hi, I’m Ray! The guest of this episode is my good friend Kanna, whom I met at Stanford. A year ago, when we first got to know each other, she was navigating life in the Bay Area as a “trailing spouse,” trying to find her footing. Back in Tokyo, she was a goal-driven and ambitious career professional, but after moving to the States for her family, the shedding of her social identity unexpectedly le...

From "Who would watch such cheesy plots?" to "secretly bingeing on the subway," how did short dramas sneak into our lives unnoticed? In this bonus episode, our speaker, Producer Wanzi , who has a background in sociology, puts theory into practice. Using Goffman's front and backstage theory and symbolic interactionism, she dissects the "undercurrent chemistry" at the heart of short dramas. Turns ou...

In this episode, we continue our in-depth conversation with Producer Wanzi, turning toward life’s bigger decisions and a more enduring sense of homesickness. When her career and life in Jeju Island were at their most comfortable, what led her to make the resolute choice to return to Shanghai? As she transitioned from a cross-cultural editor to a film and television producer in China, what kinds of...

As President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea visits China, Chinese-Korean relations have once again become a hot topic. At this moment, my friend from my time studying in Korea and I would rather talk about the specific people and concrete experiences. In this episode of the podcast, we are honored to invite PD Wanzi, the former Chinese-language editor-in-chief of the benchmark cultural magazine  Jej...

Samira, an Iranian girl born in Tehran, was initially eager to pursue physics and maths, but after seeing historical artworks, she shifted her focus to art. This change in direction, especially choosing the path of pursuing art, was a shock for her family, who were mostly in managerial, engineering, and medical professions. Now an accomplished artist who made her first movie at age 19, Samira expl...

Ilor and Madina's story began in the shared kitchen of a university apartment in Israel. From roommates to lovers, from a cross-border marriage to building a life together in Silicon Valley, their relationship has been continually reshaped across cultures and continents. In this episode, Ilor shares openly about: ​An unexpected romance that started with carpooling to buy groceries ​The legal and c...

Welcome to Cross-cultural Stories! Today we are talking with Ana, a guest who embodies leadership and dedication. Ana came to Stanford as a spouse from Guadalajara, Mexico, and quickly transitioned from her previous role as a project manager to a key volunteer at the CCIS. She now helps lead the Loan Closet, a system designed to help international students borrow essential items when they first ar...

What does it take to rebuild your life and career in a foreign country? Juan and Carolina share their cross-cultural story: from the traffic jams of Bogotá to the supportive halls of Stanford. Learn how they found balance between a demanding PhD and a creative pastry career, and why their final advice is simple yet powerful: "Be patient and trust yourself.” 00:00 - Introduction 01:17 - Guests' Sel...

This is Episode 18, the English version of Episode 17, which was originally recorded in Chinese. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of our guest, Alan, presented in a different way. The English audio was generated using AI tools based on the original transcript, so it offers another way to experience his journey. He dreams of building a library, a museum, and a football field for Laosi Village...

Guest:  Alan (Village Chief Tan) — Village Chief of Laoshi Village in Hainan, structural engineer, and guitarist in a Bay Area band. Alan is "Village Chief Tan" of Laoshi Village in Hainan, the guitarist for the Bay Area band "Wishes," and a family man accompanying his loved ones and child. Even earlier in his life, he lived a dual existence: a meticulous structural engineer by...

In this special episode, the tables are turned as podcast host Ray, me, becomes the interviewee. Gently guided by Stanford volunteer Brad's insightful questions, I open up about my journey across three cultures: China, South Korea, and the United States. I share my upbringing in China's Henan province, how living in Korea helped me find a self that felt "seen," and my navigation...

In this episode, our guest Brad shares his journey as a long-term volunteer at CCIS in Stanford’s Bechtel International Center. Together, we explored: Where does our sense of insecurity in a new environment come from? How is a genuine connection like a “dance for two”? And why can an open community ease both the confusion of the young and the loneliness of the elderly? Listen as Brad reflects on m...

This Episode is in English and generated from Episode 013 by an AI Tool. What happens when the formative six years of adolescence are spent in a temple- an atmosphere of spiritual reflection? Our guest, Yu'En, currently a Postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, experienced this unique journey. Join me to understand why and how this special life experience impacts him.

This episode features Yu'En, a scholar from Taiwan currently working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford. His life trajectory has involved multiple migrations, starting from Taipei to Central Taiwan and back to Taipei, and now includes his endeavors in the US Bay Area. Yu'En defines the concept of "homeland" as being closely related to "growth". He is currently strivin...

This Episode is in English and generated from Episode 011 by AI. I hope you find this episode interesting! In this episode of  Cross-Cultural Stories , I’m joined by my first male guest, Brian, who, like me, is from Henan. His journey has taken him from Zhengzhou to Beijing, Shanghai, Texas, and now California. Along the way, he reflects on how moving between cities and cultures shaped his outlook...

In Episode 11, we have the very  first male guest  I've interviewed since starting the podcast, Brian! Brian is my fellow Hénán native. Although we haven't reached the point of "seeing a fellow villager in a foreign land brings tears to the eyes," meeting him still felt exceptionally warm. Brian and I have known each other for over a year. Last summer, he and his wife moved from...

Welcome to Episodes 9 (Chinese) and 10 (English)! I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya. This also marks my first attempt at recording online. Although separated by the Pacific Ocean, our conversation still reached the depths of our hearts. Where I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya. This also marks my first attempt at recording online. Although separated by the Pacific Ocean, our con...

Welcome to Episodes 9 (Chinese) and 10 (English)! I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya. This also marks my first attempt at recording online. Although separated by the Pacific Ocean, our conversation still reached the depths of our hearts. We met and became acquainted while doing volunteering at the Stanford International Center. Niya lived in California for a year as a  Berkeley Visiting S...

This Episode is in Korean. Welcome to Cross-cultural Stories , the podcast that shares tales of emotions, changes, confusion, and growth that we experience when living away from our hometowns. This podcast aims to offer comfort and a sense of shared understanding for listeners, and for me and others navigating multicultural lives, it's a journey of self-reflection and healing. In this special two-...

This Episode is in Korean. Welcome to Cross-cultural Stories. In this special two-part series, we delve into a profound conversation with my friend of nearly ten years, Ara, who is currently a post doctoral researcher in Stanford. Ara's life has been a continuous journey through different "foreign lands" since her childhood, taking her from her hometown to Seoul, Pohang in South Korea, and now, Ca...