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Espérance means Hope. And somehow, across genocide, trafficking, and 20 years in captivity on American soil, she never stopped living up to her name. 

In this episode of Language Legacy, a special five-part series from From Where to Here where Alabama teenagers interview elders from immigrant and refugee communities, Espérance sits down with a young interviewer named Kirby and tells a story that most people in this country have never heard. She survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide as a young Tutsi woman, lost both parents to assassination, and was trafficked to the United States by an educated man who made her his slave. What followed was two decades of captivity across multiple US states and foreign countries, hidden in plain sight, in America. 

She escaped in 2013. And she's been fighting ever since.
What makes this conversation so rare isn't just what Espérance survived — it's how she talks about it. Clear-eyed. Specific. Urgent. She draws a sharp line between sex trafficking, which dominates the public conversation, and labor trafficking and forced labor, which she argues is just as widespread and almost entirely ignored. She's pushing to change statute of limitations laws for survivors of modern-day slavery in the US — reform she believes could ripple into policy changes in countries around the world. 

She also talks about what kept her alive: a Rwandan proverb that carried her through decades of crisis, the memory of her mother's storytelling, grandmothers who held her in refugee camps, and a name given to her before any of it happened, a name that turned out to be a kind of prophecy. 

Kirby, a teenager from Alabama, asks her questions that most adults wouldn't know how to frame, and Espérance answers every single one.
This is Language Legacy. Youth and elders. Questions that carry history forward. Stories that were almost lost, and weren't.

Language Legacy is part of From Where to Here, the podcast exploring the cultures, languages, and human stories that connect us across borders. Hosted by Alexandra Lloyd, French-Canadian now based in Birmingham, Alabama.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or watch the full series on YouTube. If this episode moved you, share it with one person who needs to hear it — that's how stories like Espérance's reach the people who need them most.

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Japan hit different when you go not just as a tourist, but as someone visiting family who's built an entire life there, and we had no idea how much it would change us. In this episode of From Where to Here, I'm taking you inside two weeks in Japan: Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Tokyo — city by city, moment by moment, from the best to the worst to the ones I didn't see coming.

We visited family who've lived in Japan for over 20 years, attended a private maiko performance where I got to ask her questions face to face, stumbled into a mochi-making demonstration at night in Kyoto, and sat through a tea ceremony that made me realize how fast I move through life. We also got laughed off a bus by two Japanese women, lost a train ticket mid-exit, and navigated jet lag, wrong directions, and one very disappointing hot dog at 30,000 feet.

This isn't a travel guide. It's a reflection — on cultural contrast, on what disorientation actually feels like when you lean into it, on traveling as a couple for the *second time internationally after eight years together, and on what Japan quietly reveals about loneliness, intentionality, and the way a country can design beauty into the smallest things — including a rice wrapper.

If you're planning a trip to Japan, learning Japanese, curious about Japanese culture, or just obsessed with travel that goes deeper than the highlight reel — this one's for you. We cover Japan travel tips for first-timers, what to know before flying Japan Airlines, how to use Google Translate in Japan, the difference between a maiko and a geiko, Kyoto vs Tokyo vs Osaka, the onsen experience, and why you should never skip Nara.

I also share what I'd do completely differently and why, after saying "once is enough," I'm already thinking about going back.

[DISCLAIMER] This episode touches on the topic of suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support. You are not alone.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (US) | Available 24/7

New episodes of From Where to Here drop regularly. Subscribe so you don't miss what's next and drop your Japan recommendations or your next destination suggestion in the comments. We're already planning.

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Sarah moved to Japan, thinking it would only be temporary. Nearly half her life later, she’s still there, raising a family and navigating two cultures.

What happens when a short trip turns into an entirely new life?

In this episode of From Where to Here, Alexandra sits down with Sarah Sawane, who grew up in Alabama and moved to Japan for what was supposed to be a temporary experience… but ended up staying for nearly half her life.

What began as an opportunity to teach English became something much deeper: building a family, raising bicultural children, and learning to navigate daily life in a culture very different from the one she grew up in.

In our conversation, Sarah shares what it was really like moving to Japan, the cultural surprises that stayed with her, and how living abroad slowly reshaped her sense of home and identity.

We talk about the quiet moments of culture shock most people don’t expect, from train etiquette and removing shoes indoors to sitting on tatami floors, and the deeper questions that come with building a life between two cultures.

This episode is about more than moving abroad.
It’s about belonging, cultural curiosity, and how sometimes the places we visit end up changing the course of our lives.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in Japan as an American, or how living in another culture can transform the way you see the world, this conversation is for you.

----------
🔗 EXPLORE free resources & guides:
Visit my website for free resources that help turn curiosity about language and culture into real connection.
👉 https://fromwheretoherepod.com/5phrases

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What happens when you let the people who love you reflect you back to yourself?

In this first episode of a new solo series called In Translation, I celebrate turning 35 by reading handwritten notes from local friends and family answering two prompts:

What’s one thing I should try this year?
 What’s one thing I do well — or could do better?

From skydiving and Bollywood dancing to learning a fourth language, hosting more French meetups, and continuing to make people feel heard — this episode becomes a live, vulnerable reflection on growth, identity, and the power of community.

As someone who spends the year asking others about their journeys on From Where to Here, this is me pausing to process my own.

If you care about:

• Personal growth through community
• Language learning and cultural curiosity
• Becoming a better listener
• Building meaningful connections
• Living intentionally in your 30s

This episode is for you.

Because growth doesn’t happen in big leaps.
 It happens in translation.

_

🎁 Free resource mentioned:
 5 Phrases That Unlock Any Culture
 fromwheretoherepod.com/5-phrases

Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who loves discovering new cultures.

Until next time — keep learning, keep connecting, and keep celebrating the beauty of languages and cultures. 🌍

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Welcome to Episode 2 of the Language Legacy Project Series, a 5-part community storytelling initiative capturing the powerful conversations between youth from Alabama and elders from immigrant and refugee communities.

In this second episode, Alex D., a young interviewer sits down with Jack Schniper, an elder whose journey began thousands of miles away, arriving in the United States in the 1950s without speaking English, navigating cultural differences in the Deep South, and slowly building a new definition of home.

What unfolds is more than a migration story. It’s a reflection on courage, identity, language loss and preservation, and the quiet sacrifices that shape future generations.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What it was like arriving in America with no English and how language barriers shaped everyday survival
• The emotional impact of feeling "different" while growing up in Alabama
• How cultural traditions were protected inside the home while adapting to life outside it
• The unseen trade-offs immigrant parents make to expand opportunity for their children
• Why asking elders intentional questions can uncover stories that might otherwise disappear
• How young interviewers are learning to see language as legacy, not limitation

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About the Language Legacy Community Project:

Language Legacy is a youth-and-elders interview series designed to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage through storytelling. Alabama teenagers interview elders from immigrant and refugee backgrounds to capture their language memories, idioms, childhood stories, and first-language expressions. These conversations are then shaped into short video stories and shared online to deepen intergenerational understanding and strengthen community connection.

If you’re inspired by stories of culture, identity, migration, and language, this episode is the perfect place to begin.

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ORGANIZATIONS mentioned:
- Alabama Holocaust Education Center: ahecinfo.org

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ABOUT THE PODCAST
Thoughtful conversations exploring cultures, languages, and connection. From Where to Here is hosted by Alexandra Lloyd and shares real stories that bridge cultural gaps and spark understanding.

----------
🔗 EXPLORE free resources & guides:
Visit my website for free resources that help turn curiosity about language and culture into real connection.
👉 https://fromwheretoherepod.com/5phrases

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📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

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What happens when you learn a new language later in life, and have to rebuild identity, confidence, and belonging from scratch?

In this episode of From Where to Here, host Alexandra sits down with the Fernández family to talk about learning English as adults, navigating life with an accent, and building a sense of home far from where they started.

Rather than growing up bilingual, the Fernández family shares what it was like to:

- Learn English later in life and use it for survival, work, and connection
- Carry an accent and the assumptions that come with it
- Hold onto their first language while adapting to a new cultural reality
- Use food, family, and tradition as anchors during migration

This conversation reveals how language learning in adulthood is not just about communication; it’s about dignity, resilience, and redefining who you are in a new place.

Whether you’re an adult language learner, part of an immigrant family, or someone navigating life between cultures, this episode offers a deeply human look at what belonging really means.

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ORGANIZATIONS mentioned:
- Hot Stereo 93.5 – Colón, Panama: https://radios.com.pa/hot/
- St. Mark Latino Ministry: https://stmarkrc.org/latinoministry/

----------
🔗 EXPLORE free resources & guides:
Visit my website for free resources that help turn curiosity about language and culture into real connection.
👉 https://fromwheretoherepod.com/5phrases

----------
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📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

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Welcome to Episode 1 of the Language Legacy Project Series, a 5-part community storytelling initiative capturing the powerful conversations between youth from Alabama and elders from immigrant and refugee communities.

In this first episode, a young teen sits down with an elder who left Taiwan at 18, uncovering a deeply personal story about language, identity, family, and the journey of making a new place feel like home. Through guided storytelling and cultural exploration, they dive into memories of childhood in Taiwan, learning English in the U.S., navigating cultural misunderstandings, and the rich traditions passed down through the generations.

You’ll hear stories of:
✨ Growing up in a multigenerational Taiwanese household
✨ Facing the challenges of learning a new language and culture
✨ The emotional realities of immigrating as a teenager
✨ Why idioms, tones, and tiny language differences matter
✨ How Mandarin and cultural traditions are being passed on to her granddaughter
✨ The humor behind a Mandarin filler word that caused a major English misunderstanding
✨ The warmth of Chinese New Year celebrations, storytelling, food, and family rituals

About the Language Legacy Project:
Language Legacy is a youth-and-elders interview series designed to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage through storytelling. Alabama teenagers interview elders from immigrant and refugee backgrounds to capture their language memories, idioms, childhood stories, and first-language expressions. These conversations are then edited into short video stories and shared across online platforms to foster intergenerational understanding, cultural appreciation, and community connection.

Through this project, we hope to:
🌏 Bridge generational gaps through the power of storytelling
🌏 Elevate and preserve the lived experiences of elders
🌏 Celebrate the richness of languages and cultural identities
🌏 Empower youth as interviewers, listeners, and cultural documentarians

If you’re inspired by stories of culture, identity, migration, and language... This episode is the perfect place to begin.

🎧 Watch/Listen now and join us for Episode 1 of 5.
New stories from the Language Legacy Project are coming soon.

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When Yumna "Yumi" Yassin left Damascus at age 13, she had no idea what life in Alabama would hold. From learning English and building friendships to navigating faith, identity, and belonging as a Muslim woman in the South. Her story is one of courage, reflection, and heart.

In this episode of From Where to Here, host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Yumi to explore:

• What it felt like to move from Syria to the U.S. during the war
• How she found her voice learning a new language
• The emotional connection between Arabic and identity
• Her honest take on faith, hijab, and misconceptions about Islam
• How culture shows up through food, family, and friendship

Yumi opens up about feeling caught between two worlds, honoring her roots while shaping her own path. Her warmth and insight remind us that faith and culture aren’t boxes to fit in, they’re bridges that connect us all.

🎧 Tune in for a powerful, human story about language, faith, and finding home, wherever you are.

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Sponsor Spotlight: Birmingham Breadworks
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This episode is brought to you by Birmingham Breadworks. They have been serving up artisan sourdough, European-style pastries, and scratch-made meals since 2014. With a focus on fresh, preservative-free ingredients, their spacious, light-filled café is a local favorite. They’re also committed to sustainability, proudly holding a Gold Level Earth Aware Team (E.A.T.) certification. Stop by for handmade bread, sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee in a space that feels like home!

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Growing up across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Cass learned to feel at home in difference and to see cultural fluidity as a strength. Her story traces how global events like 9/11 shaped perceptions of identity and belonging, and how being mixed race taught her to navigate worlds with empathy and awareness.

Now a leader in tech and host of the podcast How She Got Here, Cass shares how living between cultures became her superpower: helping her lead diverse teams, bridge perspectives, and champion representation for women in tech.

In this conversation, Cass opens up about overcoming fear and perfectionism to launch her own podcast, redefining confidence as the simple act of showing up, even when you don’t feel ready.

Takeaways:

• Cultural fluidity builds resilience and empathy
• Confidence grows from keeping promises to yourself
• Representation matters, especially in spaces that lack it
• Difference isn’t a flaw; it’s the spark that connects us

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🔗 Links & How to Connect with Cassandra Cross

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Connect with her:

• How She Got Here’s LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-she-got-here/ 
• Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandraccross 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howshegotherepodcast 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howshegothere 
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@howshegothere 
• Website: https://cassandracross.com/hsgh-podcast/ 

Mentions:

• Support Cass’s fundraising: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=60238760&fr_id=109969&pg=personal 
• “Hapa” meaning: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/hapa 
• “STEM” definition and purpose: https://stemeducationguide.com/what-is-stem/ 
• Parable of the Sower (book): https://www.amazon.com/Parable-Sower-powerful-dystopian-future/dp/1472263669 

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Sponsor Feature: Red Cat Coffee House
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This episode is brought to you by Red Cat Coffee House and their Landmark Series Coffees. You can find the coffee blends online at https://theredcatcoffeehouse.com/shop/, at your Red Cat locations, or at your local Piggly Wiggly.

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In this episode of From Where to Here, Alexandra sits down with Dr. John Maddox, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese at UAB, to explore the intersections of language, culture, history, and identity. Dr. Maddox shares how an inspiring Spanish teacher set him on a lifelong path in languages, how games and stories made learning accessible, and why perfection in language learning is a myth. The conversation spans from classrooms in Georgia to study abroad in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, weaving in insights about colonialism, race, and the African diaspora. Together, they uncover the untold stories of Brazilian history, especially the overlooked role of Black women in shaping culture, language, and resilience, and reflect on how embracing mistakes, differences, and shared humanity can connect us more deeply across borders.

Takeaways

1. The spark of a teacher matters. A high school Spanish teacher using games, stories, and immersion inspired Dr. Maddox’s lifelong passion for languages.
2. Language learning thrives on imperfection. Mistakes aren’t failures — they are stepping stones to fluency and connection.
3. Portuguese and Spanish are sibling languages. Though often seen as rivals, their shared histories shaped cultures on both sides of the Atlantic.
4. Brazil’s history is inseparable from slavery. It was the largest slave-based society in the Americas, and its cultural fabric still carries this legacy.
5. Black women shaped Brazilian culture in profound ways. From domestic and community roles to preserving oral traditions and influencing literature, their impact endures.
6. Colonial myths still echo today. Narratives like Brazil being a “racial democracy” obscure ongoing inequalities tied to race and history.
7. Puerto Rican identity offers parallels. Like Quebec, Puerto Rico maintains strong cultural pride through language and resilience despite political and colonial complexities.
8. Shared humanity is the antidote to division. Dr. Maddox emphasizes empathy, curiosity, and seeing cultural diversity as a source of growth, not separation.

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🔗 Links & How to Connect with Dr. John Maddox
=============================================
📍Get in Touch with Dr. John Maddox:
- https://ua-birmingham.academia.edu/Maddox

📍Links:
- Puerto Rico - zafacón (Instagram post): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIqv1i6xVne/?igsh=ZzRkYzN3MzNkanJo

- Slavery and the Portuguese Language (podcast): https://tinyurl.com/bdx73kt7

📍Book Recommendations
- Black Notebooks, Niyi Afolabi -  https://tinyurl.com/ppfmyjdu

- Machado de Assis, Blackness and the Americas - https://www.amazon.com/Machado-Blackness-Americas-Afro-Latinx-Futures/dp/1438498810

- Child of the Dark, Carolina Maria de Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/Child-Dark-Diary-Carolina-Maria/dp/0451529103

- Africans in Brazil, a Pan-African Perspective, Abdias do Nascimento - https://tinyurl.com/2hmvztye

- Changó, Decolonizing the African D

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