Navigate Across Borders

Most people dread culture shock. Sarah Riches goes looking for it.

Sarah is a travel journalist who started her career teaching English in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She later worked in Abu Dhabi, and has travelled to around 50 countries. In this episode, she talks about why the unfamiliar is what keeps her going.

Why would a stunning trip to Tuscany leave a seasoned traveller feeling empty?
Which move turned out far easier than she ever expected?
Of all the countries she has visited, where did she feel the safest?
And how did a few words of the “wrong” language get her out of trouble in Taiwan?

If this episode makes you think about your own culture shock moments, there’s more where it came from. 

Tell me what was your biggest culture shock.

If you are an expat, a global professional, or simply someone fascinated by international living, you are in the right place. This podcast explores the real-life stories of people who live and work outside of their country. But it’s also about locals who are willing to share their cultural stories.

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

Listen to the other episodes of Navigate Across Borders for more stories of people living and working across cultures. 

Follow the podcast behind the scenes and much more on Instagram @navigate_across_borders

Join the YouTube community at youtube.com/@NavigateAcrossBorders. 

Chapters

0:00 Meet Sarah Riches, travel journalist
4:03 The one thing she always packs
5:46 The foods Britain didn’t have yet
9:34 A strange confession about culture shock
11:11 First day in Japan
14:41 Inside a Japanese workplace
18:29 Moving to Hong Kong
22:52 Taiwan, and a language surprise in Taipei
27:17 Who queues, and who doesn’t?
30:14 Moving to Abu Dhabi
33:42 Who actually lives in the UAE?
37:09 One country at a time
39:00 Argentina: it’s not what you think!
43:10 What keeps bringing her back to India
44:57 A side of Vienna most visitors miss

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Léo Castaing, ingénieur aéronautique stagiaire pour une entreprise française, nous raconte sans filtre sa vie d'expatrié à Bangalore, dans le sud de l'Inde.

Ensemble, nous cassons les clichés souvent véhiculés sur ce pays, et comment s'y adapter facilement. 

Tu découvriras les réponses à ces questions :

• L'Inde était-elle vraiment le premier choix de Léo pour son V.IE. (Volontariat International en Entreprise) ?
• Comment mieux comprendre les malentendus entre les professionnels français et indiens ?
• Comment bien communiquer avec ses collègues locaux ?
• Est-il plus facile de s'adapter à Bangalore ?
• De quel budget a-t-on réellement besoin pour avoir un train de vie confortable en Inde ?
• En quoi le réseau des expatriés français et les groupes de discussion facilitent-ils la vie sur place ?
• Faut-il croire ce que l'on voit sur les réseaux sociaux avant de s'expatrier ?

Épisode indispensable pour les futurs stagiaires et jeunes professionnels qui hésitent encore à franchir le pas pour s'expatrier.

Si tu es nouveau ou nouvelle, je suis Dorothée, une expatriée originaire de Lyon. Je vis en Asie depuis plus de 20 ans. Je suis basée à Bangalore depuis 2018.

Pour en savoir plus sur l'expatriation et les expériences interculturelles, abonne-toi à ce podcast sur ta plateforme favorite, YouTube et Instagram ici : https://lnk.bio/navigate_across_borders

Laisse un commentaire pour commencer une discussion et 5 étoiles pour soutenir l'émission ! 

Chapitres

• 00:00 - Introduction de Léo, ingénieur V.I.E 
• 01:09 - Comment trouver son stage
• 04:12 - Ses missions et chocs culturels en entreprise
• 05:16 - La gestion du temps en Inde v.s. en France
• 17:55 - L'importance de la diplomatie, de l'ego et de la hiérarchie au travail
• 21:30 - La vérité sur la sécurité dans les rues indiennes
• 23:53 - Hygiène, livraison de repas et bonnes adresses à Bangalore
• 26:45 - Budget et salaire V.I.E : de combien as-tu besoin pour bien vivre ?
• 28:46 - L'aide de Business France
• 31:48 - S'intégrer : le réseau des expatriés et le groupe de discussion indispensable
• 36:03 - Le conseil final de Léo pour ceux qui ont peur de partir à l'étranger pour un stage.

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She's founded three companies on two continents, and still won't leave the house without her emergency snack kit.

In this episode of Navigate Across Borders, I virtually sat down with Anna Kuhnt, a German entrepreneur based in Bangalore for over six years. 

Anna talks about building Quadrigo, her German-language learning centre and about co-founding a business network connecting expats in Bangalore with Indian professionals.

The conversation covers her culture shocks and life in different countries.

Anna's network organisation

If you've ever felt like a slightly different person depending on the language you're speaking, this one's for you. Subscribe for more on identity, migration, and building a life across borders.

Chapter

00:00 - Introduction & Welcome

01:22 - Icebreaker Questions: Cultural Quirks & Food

03:51 - Travel Essentials & Commuting in Bangalore

05:13 - What Drives an Expat: Motivation & Mindset

07:24 - Building the Expat Business Council

11:06 - Community Support, Events & Expat Services

13:44 - Quadrigo: German Language & Cultural Learning

16:43 - Navigating Cultural Differences: Germany vs. India

24:06 - Experiencing Culture Shock & Adapting Abroad

29:02 - How Speaking Multiple Languages Changes You

30:52 - Closing Thoughts: Staying Curious & Living Abroad

Access the other podcast episodes of Navigate Across Borders on YouTube and on your favorite platforms here

If you are an expat, a global professional, or simply someone fascinated by international living, you are in the right place. This podcast explores the real-life stories of people who live and work outside of their country. But it’s also about locals who are willing to share their cultural stories.

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

EBC: https://www.expatbusinesscouncil.org/

Learning center
Quadrigo: https://www.quadrigo.in/

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In this episode I chatted with Sangeetha, a Spanish teacher from India who speaks five languages. She shares her captivating journey from Bangalore to Madrid. She had to figure out how to survive in a meat-heavy culinary culture as a vegetarian. Ultimately, she learned how to understand Spanish traditions and culture. 

Beyond her European adventures, Sangeetha helps us decode the contrasts between North and South India. We also uncover essential etiquette for working in India.

Chapters

00:00 – The weirdest food combinations

04:31 – Leaving the corporate world for teaching Spanish

08:05 – Culture shock in Madrid

16:14 – How speaking five languages changes your personality

20:45 – The deep cultural contrasts between North and South India

32:24 – The unspoken rules of Indian business etiquette

39:42 – Conclusion and final thoughts

Access the other podcast episodes of Navigate Across Borders on YouTube and on your favorite platforms here.

If you think someone you know will enjoy this episode pass it on!

If you are an expat, a global professional, or simply someone fascinated by international living, you are in the right place. This podcast explores the real-life stories of people who live and work outside of their country. But it’s also about locals who are willing to share their cultural stories.

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

Support the show

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 differences between American, British, and Indian ways of living and working, the challenges of returning to a country after years abroad, and the hidden emotional cost of expatriation.

Kusum also shares a beautiful poem about transition and what it means to move from one chapter of life to another.

Whether you're an expat, an international professional, or simply curious about life between cultures, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into finding home in more than one place.

Access the other podcast episodes of Navigate Across Borders on YouTube and on your favorite platforms here

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Kusum's Global Journey
02:57 Cultural Habits, Time, and Life Across Three Continents
08:48 Work Culture: USA vs UK, Competition & Work-Life Balance
18:18 Where Is Home? Identity, Expat Life & Belonging
26:34 The Expat Experience, Transitions & Returning to India

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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 particulier
• Les défis, les surprises et les points positifs d’une expatriation en famille
• Comment un conjoint ou une conjointe suiveur/suiveuse peut se faire un réseau d'amis et ne plus se sentir seul(e).

Un témoignage authentique et inspirant pour toutes les personnes qui envisagent de vivre à l’étranger, de travailler en Inde ou de tenter une expatriation en famille.

Voici le lien de Bangalore Accueil, l'association française dont nous parlons dans cet épisode.

Je suis Dorothée, une expatriée originaire de Lyon. Je vis en Asie depuis plus de 20 ans. En ce moment je suis basée à Bangalore depuis 2018.

Pour en savoir plus sur l'expatriation et les expériences interculturelles, abonne-toi à ce podcast sur ta plateforme favorite, YouTube et Instagram ici : https://lnk.bio/navigate_across_borders

Laisse un commentaire pour commencer une discussion et 5 étoiles pour soutenir l'émission ! 

Chapitres

00:00 – Pourquoi Marie a tout quitté pour Bangalore
03:30 – De l’Amérique du Sud à l’Inde
08:20 – Partir en Inde avec 2 enfants : peur ou opportunité ?

11:40 – L’adaptation des enfants à l’école internationale
16:00 – La réalité du quotidien à Bangalore

22:00 – Ce que personne ne dit sur le retour en France

27:00  Le bilan honnête de Marie après 2 ans à Bangalore.

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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 the other podcast episodes of Navigate Across Borders on YouTube and on your favorite platforms here

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Meet Brian Hooks

02:57 Cultural Adaptations: The Indian Head Nod & Local Habits

06:27 The Story of Moving from the USA to Bangalore

15:59 Moving to India with a Family: Safety & Logistics

24:17 Navigating Indian Diversity & Language Barriers

29:22 US vs. India Lifestyle: Comparing Global Cultures

33:50 Bangalore Food Scene: Microbreweries to Street Food

41:23 Living Cashless in India: Navigating UPI & GPay

44:25 Expert Tips for Living and Working in India as an Expat

49:13 Conclusion

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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 Jersey all the way to India.

This episode is a series of cafe talks on YouTube. Make sure you tune in to watch more about Ethic Attic cafe on the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@NavigateAcrossBorders

If you are an expat, a global professional, or simply someone fascinated by international living, you are in the right place. This podcast explores the real-life stories of people who live and work outside of their country. But it’s also about locals who are willing to share their cultural stories.

I’m a French expat who has lived and worked in Asia as an educator for more than 20 years. I’m now based in Bangalore.

Check out the cafe's website here: https://tinyurl.com/muynnrtp

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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 français de ce podcast. Le but est d'avoir des invités francophones et anglophones.

Nous parlons d'expatriation, de vie à l'étranger et des expériences interculturelles.

Commentez avec vos préférences pour les futurs épisodes !

Je suis Dorothée, une expatriée originaire de Lyon. Je vis en Asie depuis plus de 20 ans. En ce moment je suis basée à Bangalore depuis 2018.

Pensez à vous abonner sur YouTube, sur votre plateforme favorite pour ne manquer aucun épisode et suivez-moi sur les réseaux sociaux ici ou là.

Si vous appréciez ce podcast et voulez le soutenir, voici le lien pour votre contribution.

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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.

Navigate Across Borders is a podcast where you hear about the real-life stories of ambitious professionals and expats from different countries. Whether they’re working with international teams or living with someone from a different culture, they will explain how they build cross-cultural connections. 

Who am?

I’m Dotty, a French expat & global educator who has lived and worked in Asia since 2004. I’m now based in Bangalore, India.

This podcast is on all major podcast platforms & YouTube. Access here:

https://lnk.bio/navigate_across_borders

 https://linktr.ee/navigateacrossborders

If you are an expat, a global professional, or simply someone fascinated by international living, you are in the right place. This podcast explores the real-life stories of people who live and work outside of their country. But it’s also about locals who are willing to share their cultural stories.

If you want to know more about the blogs Zafar writes about his food experiences and adventures, you can find them here:

A bowl of sugar

The Traveller, The Recipe Collector, and the Chef on Substack

The 2 books Zafar is referring to are: 

Coorg The cookbook by Kaveri Ponnapa 

Chutney - by Rushina Munshaw-Ghildiyal

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