Welcome to the introductory episode of Nomadic Diaries, The Belonging Project hosted by Doreen Cumberford. Doreen reflects on two years of conversations with guests e.g. cross-cultural trainers, writers, therapists, and ordinary people who have lived abroad and returned or moved elsewhere. No matter the topic, discussions lead back to one fundamental question: 

Where do I belong?

Key Topics & Themes

• The Belonging Project:
  Doreen launches a series exploring belonging, inspired by recurring themes from previous episodes. 
• Belonging as an Active Process:
  It's not passive. True belonging means making life welcome—actively participating, saying yes to new experiences, staying curious, and stepping outside familiar bubbles. 
• Global Perspectives:
  Perspectives from international teachers, third culture kids (TCKs), academics, and artists will appear in future episodes. There is a focus on how belonging varies depending on passport, heart, and lived experience, not just geographical location.
• Home vs. Belonging:
  Doreen raises thought-provoking questions: Are home and belonging the same? Can you have one without the other? What does belonging look like for you personally?
• Personal Journeys:
  Both Doreen and her co-host, Megan Norton Newbanks (author of Belonging Beyond Borders), bring personal experience to the subject. 

Notable Quotes

• “Belonging doesn’t always look the way we think it will. Sometimes it’s not just about finding your tribe - it’s about shared activity, space, or connection.”
• “Making life welcome helps us belong. It’s not passive, it’s an active topic.”
• “Home can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time and just learning to be okay with that paradox is important"

Takeaways

• Belonging is a deeply human need, crossing borders and cultures.
• Creating belonging requires stepping out of comfort zones and proactively engaging with new environments.
• The podcast series will feature a diverse range of stories, perspectives, and insights from global citizens.
• Listeners are invited to reflect on their own journey toward belonging.

What’s Next?

The next episode will introduce Megan Norton Newbanks, who will share what belonging means to her - from a TCK perspective - and the hopes she and Doreen have for the series.

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