Migratory Patterns

Jen Knight says that she "won the in-laws lottery" when it comes to her Chinese husband's parents. But luck wasn't on her side this past January, when a day after she arrived in her husband's hometown just outside of Wuhan for a Spring Festival celebration, the Chinese government started shutting down all transit links into and out of the area, effectively trapping her at Ground Zero of what would soon come to be known as the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. She was, as she easily admits, "terrified" and felt isolated, but what helped her feel less alone was participating in a study that asked China-based expats how they were feeling during the crisis. And through 2 months of lockdown in Hubei + 2 weeks of self isolation in her apartment in Shenzhen, her notions of "home" have shifted- or maybe she was just being made aware of a shift that had already taken place.

This week we're kicking off Season 4 with part 1 of a special 2-part series focusing on a pair of international migrants who have written a study on how the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China effected foreign nationals living there. The lead researcher, Chris Barnhart, was a high school teacher in Florida who'd been laid off during a round of budget cuts and was as surprised as anyone to find himself heading to China months later to be the first foreign professor at a university in Guangdong province. His experience there has been a revelation to him, and his empathy and desire to check in on fellow foreigners during the initial stages of the outbreak led him to want to quantify the resilience that he saw in the people around him. When he couldn't find evidence of anyone else studying expats in China during this time he took it on himself to gather the data... and what he found was... well, let's let him explain how things went.

We're interrupting our inter-season interregnum to bring you a discussion with a group of expats who live in China but who have found themselves "stuck" in Bali after the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan shut down virtually all businesses and most travel into the country. It's estimated that there are close to 1 million foreigners living in China, and while those who have been evacuated from, or who are still in, Wuhan and the surrounding area rightly get lots of attention, there are hundreds of thousands more folks who are either stuck somewhere, or grappling with the decision to leave or return. We've gathered 3 of these expats to talk about what it feels like to be "between homes," neither able to be where they live, nor in their place of origin, in a time of crisis. How are they dealing with their isolation? Do they feel guilty about not being in their host cities? Are they glad to have escaped? There are lots of complex emotions to deal with and we're diving right in.

It's part 2 of the two-part Season 3 finale, wherein Mike & Alisa take a look at the issues and problems that have come up for the in their move from Beijing to Bali with a professional. Dr. Sonia Jaeger is a clinical psychologist & psychotherapist who is one of the growing number of location independent professionals who choose to live and work from multiple places. In essence, she's always on the move. A speaker of German, French and English, she helps expats and migrants around the world with their mental health issues through remote sessions. She talks about the struggles of people who follow their partners overseas, so-called "trailing spouses," as well as the importance of finding and building community in your new home and even expat divorce! It's an eye-opening conversation that gives us lots to think about during our break until next season starts.

Season 3 is coming to a close, and in part 1 of the two-part season finale I'm joined by my wife, Alisa Rutherford-Fortunati, to talk about our move from Beijing to Bali, which is our first transition between locations as a couple. There have been lots of unexpected twists and turns, from trouble finding a house, to developing new routines, to just getting around without the benefit of plentiful public transit. Then throw in the curve ball of both of us missing Beijing much more than we thought we would and you've got a potent brew of angst, anxiety and heartache. Will our marriage survive?! (Spoiler: It does.)

Daniela Tomer, founder of Global Nomad's World, knows something about migration. Not only is she a clinical psychologist who specializes in helping families deal with the issues surrounding migration, but she's the product of migration herself. Born to parents who had fled from Eastern Europe to Argentina in the early days of WWII, Daniela migrated to Israel as a child and went through a profound identity evolution. Later in life, a move to Europe and then the US meant the loss of her professional credentials- a familiar roadblock for many who migrate. So she did the most "expat-y" thing next: Start a business to deal with the barrier. Today she is at the vanguard of a growing movement of mental health processionals who are working to create resources that will help people around the world to better deal with the complex issue that arise when they migrate.

As Victoria sees it, "To become an American, you have to put in a lot of work." After all, that's been her story. Victoria's path to the U.S. started with a stroke of luck: Her mother won the visa lottery, granting her and her daughter entry to the country; but as many immigrants soon learn after they arrive, the streets in America are not paved with gold. At one point becoming homeless, acts of kindness and generosity helped them survive. Eventually, the gifted loaves of bread, the teachers who went the extra mile, and their hard work paid off. Victoria has achieved the "American Dream," having earned her PhD and achieved success in the medical equipment business. Her story is an inspiration and shows how America is made better, and richer, when we welcome the most needy of people who ask to enter.

Nut butters were never supposed to be a part of Meredith Sides' life; but, then again, neither was living abroad. Not wanting to choose the path that most other people in her small town followed - moving from high school into the trades, farming or beauty school - she moved to Philadelphia for college, did a semester abroad in Europe, and then, on a whim, decided to spend a gap year before going to medical school teaching English in China. 5 years later she still doesn't even know her own blood type, but she knows what her passion is, and it's nut butters. She's the Co-founder of Naked Nut Butters, a purveyor of all-natural nut butters in China. And far from having any desire to go back "home," she's discovered that she enjoys the uncertainty of the #ExpatLife. She doesn't want to feel "nailed down" by the expectations of her home culture. And with her new business taking off, she's fully invested in life overseas... and nut butters.

Wherever people gather, you'll find music. This certainly holds true for migrant communities. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the music being made in the places finds its way into popular culture. In a world of streaming and niche audiences, you can find an an amazing variety of musical styles and cross-cultural mashups to tickle your ears with. One genre that is still unheralded, however, is "Expat Music." Case in point: Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies is probably the most popular & successful party band in Beijing. Founded & led by Steven McKinney, it's an 11-piece ensemble made up entirely of expats that was born out of a need that is common everywhere- people with the talent & skill need a way to express their passion for music. You'll find groups like them in every migrant hub; but beyond local clubs and bars there aren't any platforms for them to grow beyond their local audiences. But that doesn't keep Steve down. As successful as he's been as a band leader, for him music is, like it is for most expats, a side hustle. After going to China on a lark, he co-founded and now runs a very successful kindergarten. His twin passions of music and being an entrepreneur have helped him fully embrace his unexpected #ExpatLife, and folks in Beijing can expect to see him leading his band mates for years to come.