In this episode, I talk to Raymond, a telecom engineering student in Italy. We discuss their experience living in Italy as a foreigner, the challenges they faced in the pro"Only humans tell stories. The ability to tell your own story, in your own way, is the one power machines can never take away."
In this episode of Big Convos Pod, Mark Keron welcomes Raymond Kazibwe for a deep dive into the life of a Ugandan "returnee." Raymond shares the highs and lows of his eight-year stay in Italy—from the academic rigor of engineering to the profound isolation of burying his mother via a YouTube live stream during the pandemic.
Inside this conversation:
The Italian Immersion: Raymond describes the process of learning Italian in six months and the "lazy French" connection that helped him adapt. [14:15]
Education vs. Reality: A look at Raymond’s shift from Telecommunications to Computer Engineering and his pursuit of ACCA upon returning home. [28:44]
The Weight of Grief: Raymond opens up about the sudden loss of both his parents and the unique pain of grieving from thousands of miles away. [29:45]
Culture Shock in Reverse: What it feels like to return to Uganda and struggle with the "freestyle" transport system after years of European precision. [01:01:25]
The Priesthood Dream: Raymond reveals his childhood desire to become a priest and why he ultimately chose a different path for social impact. [01:04:16]
The Digital Dilemma: A raw discussion on screen time, social media addiction (Twitter vs. Instagram), and how digital habits steal from our vision. [01:05:56]
Perception & Prejudice: Raymond shares his encounters with racial prejudice in Italy and the funny, awkward interactions at bus stations. [01:48:15]
Bridging the Gap: Raymond’s vision for the future—acting as a link for cultural and economic exchange between Uganda and Italy. [01:41:05][01:00]
The "Friends Doing Business" Podcast: The vision behind Big Convos Pod. [01:06][07:00] Meet Raymond Kazibwe: From Kasubi to Italy and the Man United obsession. [07:37][14:00]
Mastering Italian: The intonations, the "Lazy French" theory, and the A1 to A2 journey. [14:15][23:00]
The Italian Dream: Applying for universities and choosing Torino over Manchester. [24:32][29:00]
A Story of Loss: Dealing with the death of parents while thousands of miles away. [29:45][39:00]
Burying Mom on the Internet: The weird reality of pandemic travel restrictions. [40:22][49:00]
Standing Out as a Ugandan: Identity, British accents, and being "unique" in Europe. [49:35][53:00]
The Elon Musk Era: Raymond’s take on the changes to Twitter and microblogging. [53:07][01:05:00]
The Screen Time Trap: A candid talk on social media addiction and its impact on focus. [01:05:56][01:15:00]
Developing Focus: How to use social media for information without losing your vision. [01:16:05][01:25:00]
The Shadow in the Bar: A funny story of Italian drinks and a late-night chase. [01:31:10][01:43:00]
Overrated Landmarks: Paris, the Colosseum, and finding true beauty in Genoa. [01:44:01][01:51:00]
Racial Prejudice vs. Racism: Real experiences with landlords and social perceptions in Italy. [01:52:01]Listen to more on: - Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3iDhPBe- Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3iDEu0p- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3jEh9Np- Anchor: https://anchor.fm/bcopgram, and what they learned from their experience. We also talk about how they adopted to speaking the italian language.
Listen to more on: - Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3iDhPBe- Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3iDEu0p- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3jEh9Np- Anchor: https://anchor.fm/bcop
