Abroad with Alex Tat Alex Tat

Volume 1 is done! This has been a massive learning experience, and this bonus episode is my way of expressing thanks and providing you with concluding thoughts about my podcasting experience so far. 

Volume 2 is being produced as we speak! Stay tuned for the next 5 episodes - I'm excited for you all to continue listening and following along on the journey. 

Today’s episode is the concluding episode for the first volume of Abroad. We do not have a special guest today. Instead, I will tell you about my story, and how I embarked on my international life and journey.

In part 1, I talk a bit about being born to refugee parents and moving abroad to my family’s home country to learn more about my family’s origins.

In part 2, I share my experience on how relocating to the United States during an historically trying year has impacted me, and why I am cautiously optimistic for the future.

Daniel Wickner is a former colleague, soccer teammate, and good friend from our time together in Korea. He is also an elementary school educator, coach, and writer currently based in Hong Kong.

In part 1, we talk about his transition from engineering to education, moving from Maryland to other parts of the world, and how that helped pave the way for his identity formation and transformation journey.

In part 2, we explore Dan’s ideas on being an identity expert, and how looking at issues through the lens of identity can help make gains with student growth and in the fight for social justice.

Tuan Phan is a literature teacher and writer currently living in Saigon, Vietnam. Tuan was born in Saigon and immigrated to the United States in 1986 after the Vietnam-American war. He’s now back in the city he first called home to trace his roots.
In part 1, we talk about his refugee experience fleeing Saigon as a child and settling in the United States, pursuing life and work in Hong Kong, returning to Vietnam, and the idea of “home” and where that might be for a displaced person.
In part 2, we discuss his upcoming memoir, what it means to read from writers of similar culture and background, and reflect on the issue of personal identity.

"Dog" is a current Hong Kong resident and TCK. The acronym, TCK, stands for “third culture kid”, and aptly describes “Dog” as he was born in Panama and grew up in other parts of the world before residing in his current location. Due to the nature of the topics discussed in this episode regarding the relationship between Hong Kong and China, he has asked to speak under anonymity.

In part 1, we talk about Dog’s upbringing and many transitions from one place to the next, the peculiarities of linguistics, and he explains the story behind a chilling video he shared on social media.

In part 2, we discuss the on-going protests in opposition to China’s draconian measures and consider Hong Kong’s challenges and its future.

Marianna Daniels, an elementary teacher from Wisconsin, has been in Vietnam for nearly 10 years. 

In part 1, we talk about her transition from Madison, Wisconsin to French Canada, to Saigon; how she immerses herself in the community of Vietnam; and the changes she has seen in the rapidly developing SE Asian country.

In part 2, we unpack a BBC report of Vietnam’s success in managing COVID19 and Marianna’s own personal experience with state-mandated quarantine.