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. If you missed it, be sure to go back one episode and listen to part 1 of this series where I speak with Chris Barnhart, who designed the survey that Jen assisted on. You can also read a summary of their findings on our blog here.   And scroll back one more episode, to #057, to hear my impromptu conversation with a group of China-based expats who found them themselves trapped in Bali just as the outbreak began spreading across China.   To learn more about Jen and her work as a life coach for women living abroad, check out her website,  https://www.jenknight.com, or follow her updates on Facebook and Instagram.    Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

Migratory Patterns

#059: Trapped In Wuhan During COVID-19 | Jen Knight

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. Read the summary of Chis and Jen's findings on our blog, here. You can contact him with questions about his study via e-mail at c.r.barnhart@outlook.com, or you can follow him on LinkedIn here.   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#058: Studying Anxiety In Expats In the Time of COVID-19 | Chris Barnhart

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. Learn more about Asher's groundbreaking business, Go Vegan, by visiting their website here, or by jumping over to their Instagram page. Shawn is chronicling her time in Bali on Instagram. You can follow her here.  You can see Chris' videos, where he's vlogging about his experiences as an expat both inside of and outside of China during the coronavirus outbreak, on his YouTube page here.   We'll be back in a few weeks with Season 4, so stay tuned! Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#057: Emergency Pod with Coronavirus Expats

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. Be sure to listen to the previous episode to hear us break down the issues that we've faced during our move to Bali!   You can learn more about Dr. Jaeger and her work, or inquire about making an appointment with her by visiting her website, https://www.sonia-jaeger.com/. You can also follow her on social media here:   Facebook Instagram LinkedIn   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#056: The Expats Are Alright | Dr. Sonia Jaeger

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.) To hear the interview that I did on The Bittersweet Life, click here or search for it in your favorite podcatcher. (It's episode #288.)   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net). Please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#055: Big Trouble On the Little Island of the Gods | Alisa Rutherford-Fortunati IV

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. Learn more about Global Nomad's World and Daniela's work with migrant families by visiting their website,  https://www.globalnomadsworld.com/.   Dive deeper into the issues that children & families face when living overseas by checking out our past interviews with people who have gone through the experience themselves:   Ep. #033: Coming of Age As A TCK… And Then What? | Mio Rudnicki Ep. #030: A Grown-up TCK Raising TCKs & Searching for Community | Dr. Kate Bailey Gardner Ep. #025: From Raising A TCK to Empty-Nesting Overseas | Amelie Mongrain Ep. #019: Studying TCKs As A TCA | Tanya Crossman Ep. #017: “This Wasn’t A Choice She Made”: Raising A Daughter Overseas | Sarah Peel Ep. #014: Growing Up As A TCK & Developing ‘Bordered Dinners’ | Ragini Kashyap Ep. #006: Forging Your Own Identity & Socially Responsible Pizza | Kerry Lin   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net). Please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#054: Mental Health In A 'Global Nomad's World' | Daniela Tomer

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. For another take on the American immigration story, check out episodes #042 & #043 to hear the about the Baba sisters and their family's journey from Sudan to the U.S. to Sudan to the U.S. (No, that's not a typo!)   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net). Please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#053: "The Immigrant Story's Not Dead." | Dr. Victoria T.

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. Read more about Naked Nut Butters' recent presentation at China's Paradise Foundation annual board meeting + their meeting with Alibaba founder Jack Ma here. You can also check them out on social media:   Instagram Facebook WeChat: "NAKEDnutbutters拿颗酱"   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net). Please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#052: A Passion for Naked Nut Butters | Meredith Sides

We all need community. And nobody needs community more than people who move overseas; we leave family and friends behind when we move, and building new networks and support systems is vital for us. This can be an especially fraught process for members of the LGBTQ community. This week, we're collaborating with our sister podcast Pop Abroad to take a closer look at how one person is turning what is normally a hardship for queer expats and migrants into a business opportunity. My guest, Gabby Gabriel, has found a way to leverage the privilege that she has as a foreigner in China to organize events and connect people and businesses in a way that supports LGBTQ people in a society where human sexuality is a taboo subject, at best, and a marker for outright discrimination at worst. Her venture, Qmmunity, is a platform that helps queer people find others like them, and helps businesses become more queer-friendly.   Learn about Qmmunity, the great work that it does, and download the app here: http://www.theqmmunity.com   Follow Qmmunity's work on all of the platforms:   Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net). Please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!  

#051: Building Community with Qmmunity | Gabby Gabriel

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. Meet the entire lineup of Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies and hear some of their music by visiting their Facebook page, and check out some of their original music on their Bandcamp page here.   Learn more about the Beijing music scene by checking out Ep. #032 for my interview with Badr Benjelloun (link).   If you've never heard of SantaCon, check out this link!   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net). Please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe! 

#050: Thriving In the Expat Music Scene | Steven McKinney

Shannon Martin thinks a lot about life stages- of podcasts and of people. Currently the Director of Communications at Podbean, the hosting platform for all of Migration Media's shows, she has a bird's eye view of the rapidly-changing world of on-demand audio and often helps shows just starting out to grow and endure. She also works with Aging Wisely, a company that works with families to help plan for the later stages of life. Given that experience + her many years living overseas, She knows better than anyone that while the #ExpatLife is full of fun and adventure, it's never too early to start thinking about how they'll spend their later years. Her work has been mostly focused on families in the US, but many of them face situations - like children who live far away from their parents - that are analogous to expats. What is it like to help plan for the care of an older parent when you live thousands of miles away? And what kind of obstacles do expats face when thinking about where they'll settle down in their later years? Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

#049: The Challenge of Caring for Elder Family While Abroad | Shannon Martin

This week I've got some more bonus content to share with you: a recent episode of The Bittersweet Life podcast. On my last episode I spoke with co-host Katy Sewall about her journey from a safe career with NPR to expat, to podcasting entrepreneur, and we touched on some of the themes that come up often in her show. In essence, I tried to do in about 40 minutes what she and her co-host, Tiffany Parks, have done over 275 episodes (so far). So I thought that it might be a good idea to share an example of the kinds of conversations that they have each week. On the episode that you're about to hear, Tiffany has just returned from a visit to the U.S. and reflects on the things about American life and culture that never fail to surprise her every time she goes back. She also reveals the surprising reaction she had upon flying back to Rome, as well as a thought she hasn’t had in all her 15 years of the #ExpatLife.   Find The Bittersweet Life wherever you get your podcasts, or check out their website to learn more: http://thebittersweetlife.net/about   Follow the show on social media:   Twitter Facebook Instagram   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe! 

BONUS 04: The Bittersweet Life #270, "STATES"

Katy Sewall used to be, as she says, one of those "get-a-great-job-and-hang-onto-it" kind of people. That is, until she got an opportunity to move to Rome where her best friend from childhood, Tiffany Parks, had been living for several years. A senior producer at NPR's Seattle affiliate, Katy decided to jump at the chance for adventure and turn her experience into creating a podcast. Their show, The Bittersweet Life, has been "on the air" ever since and has become one of the most popular shows about the #ExpatLife as it's documented their respective journeys as migrants. Katy talks with me about what it was like to make the transition from a person with a career to life as a podcasting entrepreneur, the hesitancy of long-term expats to get to know short-term folks, her migration back to and within the US, and how her show has evolved - with her- to not so much ask, "What's it like to live overseas?" as it asks, "What's it like to live, and what kind of life do you want for yourself?"   Find The Bittersweet Life wherever you get your podcasts, or check out their website to learn more: http://thebittersweetlife.net/about   Follow the show on social media:   Twitter Facebook Instagram   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe! 

#048: Documenting Her 'Bittersweet Life' | Katy Sewall

Chaniece started her journey towards life overseas when she was deciding which foreign language to take in college. As it turned out, the professor with the highest satisfaction ratings from students taught Chinese, so that's what she chose. After scoring consistently high grades in her classes, she decided to make it her major and her fate was sealed: You really can't succeed in a Chinese program without spending time in China. Far from the exoticism of the #ExpatLife that many imagine, Chaniece spent time in the trenches doing menial jobs before an opportunity arose to actualize one of her passions, veganism. Now she's the CEO of Plant-based Consulting, a company that works with local restaurants and the vegan community to expand plant-based options and to reduce the amount of animal products consumed in the city. Today, after 5 years overseas, and after having learned so much about herself and developing so many new skills, can she see herself ever returning back "home?" To learn more about Plant-based Consulting and Vegans of Shanghai, you can follow them on WeChat by searching for their official account, "vegansofshanghai".   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe! 

#047: Her Grades Made Her Do It & Plant-based Consulting | Chaniece Brackeen

This week I've got a bonus mini-pod for you! Both before and after my interviews with Olivia Muszynski & Alaina Miller - the Ricci Scholars featured in my previous two episodes - we had fun, engaging conversations about a lot of topics that I couldn't fit into their podcasts, which is a pity because they're both brilliant, driven people who are endlessly fascinating. Luckily, I was able to get my microphone out for one of those chats and record it. Enjoy! Learn more about the Ricci Scholars program at Loyola University here:  https://www.luc.edu/ricci/index.shtml   Get in touch with comments, suggestions or interview recommendations:   Twitter: @zax2000 eMail: mike.shaw@migrationmedia.net   Check out all of the shows in the Migration Media network on the web (www.migrationmedia.net) and please take a moment to "Like" us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts... and subscribe!

BONUS 03: Ricci Scholars Special

Conversations about the reasons humans migrate & how it effects our identity.

hubhopper

Migratory Patterns

hubhopper