Navigate Across Borders

After spending decades living in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Kusum Mongia has learned that the question "Where are you from?" is not always easy to answer. In this episode of Navigate Across Borders , Kusum shares her journey across three cultures, reflecting on identity, belonging, work culture, and the realities of building a life across borders.  We discuss the d...

Dans cet épisode, Marie raconte son expatriation en Inde du sud avec son mari et ses deux enfants après avoir quitté la France. Ils sont maintenant à Bangalore. Dans cette discussion sans filtre nous voyons : Comment des enfants francophones s’adaptent dans une école internationale avec un niveau bas en anglais dès le départ À quoi ressemble vraiment la vie de famille en Inde, et à Bangalore en pa...

Thinking about moving to India?  In this episode I sat down with Brian Hooks, an American expat who has spent over five years living and working in India.  Brian provides an honest look at the realities of life in Bangalore. Whether you are a professional considering a global career move, an aspiring expat, or simply curious about cross-cultural experiences, this conversation is for you. Access th...

In a city as busy as Bangalore, in the south of India, finding a quiet oasis feels almost impossible. But what if I told you an American expat built exactly that? Today is a different episode format. I'm taking you to a hidden gem in the heart of Bangalore called Ethic Attic Cafe. I sat down with Rachel at the café. And we recorded this episode. She shares her fascinating journey from New Jer...

Des journées marathon sur les plus grands paquebots de la planète, aux 800 kilomètres du chemin de Compostelle, Damien a fait du sport et des voyages son mode de vie. Dans cet épisode, nous allons découvrir la réalité du travail sur les paquebots de croisière ainsi que la vraie valeur des langues et de leurs cultures dans notre vie personnelle et professionnelle.  Ceci est le premier épisode en fr...

In this episode, Zafar shares his passion for food and travel, exploring the deep connections between culinary traditions and cultural heritage in India, Africa and other places he has traveled to.  Zafar also reflects on his journey as an accidental cook and the rise of culinary tourism. Don't forget to click and subscribe for more cultural insights from different parts of the world. Navigat...

For this episode I virtually sat down with Lizzie, an American educator who traded the quiet beaches of Cape Cod for the vibrant, high-energy city of Bangalore in the south of India. With an Irish-Lebanese heritage Lizzie joins me to discuss the reality of teaching abroad and the unexpected turns of a cross-cultural marriage with an Indian man. From the 'entrepreneurial hustle' of India’...

In this conversation, my guest Dan Kriske shares his journey from the Midwest of the U.S. to living in India, discussing cultural differences he has encountered along the way. He reflects on his experiences in South Korea, the nuances of communication in different cultures, and the dynamics of relationships and family life with his Indian family. We also talk about how food and language can shape...

This week I share my conversation with Nida Sheriff. Born Indian, she studied in the UK, then in Dubai where she started to work there. She explains the challenges she faced upon returning to India even though she is originally from this country. We discuss cultural differences at work when we communicate with people from different places and some cultural shocks she faced. Finally, we talk about...

In this episode, I chat with Rachel Eels, an international teacher from the US who’s lived and worked across Germany, Lebanon, Congo, India, and the U.S. She shares how she’s picked up cultural habits across the countries she’s lived in, experienced cultural misunderstandings, and learned what it really takes to adapt in different cultures. Rachel also talks about how clothing, hierarchy, greeting...

In this episode I chat with a colleague from Kenya Stella Wangu Washira. We discuss insights into her personal and cultural background. Stella talks about how names are given in Kenya and the different tribes in this country.  She also reflects on common misconceptions about Africa.  We talk about the cultural diversity within Kenya and Africa.  We finish with practical advice for Westerners trave...

In this episode, I talk with Kusshaal Polepally from Bangalore, southern India. He works for a big tech company and we connected via a common friend. His story is a fascinating one. We talk about how Kusshaal learnt to navigate and understand cultural differences when he worked in the hospitality business. He now collaborates with colleagues from everywhere. He also shares how learning French comp...

In this episode I chat with Petra Nenning about life between Germany and India. Petra and I used to work together in Bangalore. She shares her stories of fitting in with Indian traditions when she was living and working there.  We also talk about how speaking different languages changes who we are, and how living abroad helps you be aware of your own country’s culture. Chapters 00:00 Cultural Habi...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Amy Zimmerman, an American woman, married to an Indian man. She shares with us her experiences of moving from the USA to India. We discuss the cultural differences in family life, relationships, and the challenges she faced in adapting to a new environment. She highlights the importance of family culture, the dynamics of her marriage to an Indian man, and the wa...

In this thought-provoking episode, I virtually sat down with Augustine Colebrook. She is a global midwife whose work has taken her to different places around the world.  We explore how Americans and others living abroad face the challenges of communication across cultures and the subtle art of giving feedback across cultures and in the U.S. We also see what it means to embrace your identity as a g...

How do you define “home” when you’ve lived in different countries and carry multiple cultural identities? In this episode, Janeth opens up about navigating life across Mexico, the U.S., and India. We also see how cultural values show up in everyday life, from how we joke to how we connect with others. Chapters 00:00 Navigating cultural identity 06:01 Understanding Mexican culture 11:43 Cultural di...

Join us for a deep dive into the world of international work. In this episode, Ravi, from India, shares his unique perspective on navigating diverse cultures—from direct communication to building trust.  Learn his top tips for success when working with Indian colleagues and Westerners. A must-listen to understand/discover global mindset at work. Chapters 01:00 Ravi's journey 03:00 Fast vs. Sl...

Today we join Sonia as she shares her stories about culture shocks and life-changing experiences from Spain to Asia. This is a real expat experience you won't hear anywhere else.  Get ready to travel, learn about how to work and live in several countries in Asia. This is all about cross-culture - lost in translation and decoding culture. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sonia's Journey 01:...

Today, we meet Nena Nikolic, a Serbian educator and expat with over 20 years of international experience across Asia, Latin America, and India. Nena shares how embracing adaptability and cultural empathy helped her succeed in different countries. Chapters 00:00 Cultural Awareness and Communication 02:43 Teaching Across Borders 05:52 Understanding Serbian Culture 08:35 Direct vs. Indirect Communica...

Welcome to Navigate Across Borders, the podcast where we explore the real-life stories of ambitious professionals and expats from different countries. We talk about how to decode cultures and how to succeed with people who are from different places.  Whether my guests are working with international teams or live with someone from a different culture, they will explain how they build cross-cultural...