Cross-cultural Stories

Ray
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We all carry invisible suitcases when we leave home. Packed with language, memories, rituals, contradictions—and the courage to grow. I’m Ray, a chemical engineer turned storyteller. Born in China, I spent 15 years living in South Korea before moving to Stanford, California. In this podcast, I talk to friends, family, and fellow travelers in Mandarin, English, or Korean about the things we bring with us—and the things we leave behind. We explore cultural differences, identity shifts, everyday joy, and emotional struggles. You may hear your own story in ours.

  1. Episode 029 Why Not? How Saying Yes Changed Everything

    2D AGO

    Episode 029 Why Not? How Saying Yes Changed Everything

    In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanette, a human resources and talent management specialist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who moved to Stanford to support her husband’s PhD journey. But instead of pressing pause on her own life, Jeanette dove headfirst into building community, leading workshops, and reimagining her personal and professional identity in a new country. From navigating culture shock and language barriers to launching Linkedln and Personal Development workshops and Zumba Dance Classes for international spouses, Jeanette shares how she turned uncertainty into purpose and why she believes you can do anything you set your mind to. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that personal growth doesn’t stop when you move abroad. Sometimes, it’s just getting started. Let’s dive in.

    42 min
  2. Episode 028 Hailey's Story: Redefining Home and Research at Stanford (English)

    FEB 13

    Episode 028 Hailey's Story: Redefining Home and Research at Stanford (English)

    This Episode is generated from Episode 027 (Korean) by AI. I hope you find this episode interesting! This interview features Hailey, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, who shares her personal and professional transition from South Korea to the United States. She discusses how living abroad redefined her concept of home and shifted her perspective on cultural differences, such as American small talk and direct communication styles. In her research career, she highlights the contrast between the hierarchical intensity of Korean labs and the independent, horizontal structure found in the U.S. Hailey also reflects on overcoming language barriers and the importance of maintaining mental peace by staying present rather than worrying about the future. Ultimately, she encourages others to remain flexible and less attached to rigid plans when adapting to a new country.

    17 min
  3. Episode 027 The Awakening Journey of an Asian Scholar: From "Obedient Student" to "Opinion-Driven Researcher" (Korean)

    FEB 6

    Episode 027 The Awakening Journey of an Asian Scholar: From "Obedient Student" to "Opinion-Driven Researcher" (Korean)

    If you’ve ever wondered: What’s it really like to be a postdoc at Stanford?Are U.S. labs truly more “equal”—or just another form of solitude?How do Asian students adapt to an academic culture that asks, “Why don’t you have an opinion?”How do you rebuild a life beyond research in a foreign country?In this episode, our guest Hailey shares her real survival notes. Having experienced the high-pressure yet close-knit lab culture in Korea, and now navigating the free yet sometimes isolating academic environment in the U.S., she reveals: Why postdocs in the U.S. don’t have to write as many reportsThe academic philosophy behind a PI constantly asking, “What do you think?”How to handle the responsibility and anxiety that come with “too much freedom”The mental shift from “execution mode” to “thinking mode”Life beyond academia: finding housing, navigating healthcare, building a social life, and practicing self-careWhether you’re considering further studies abroad or are already on your own international academic journey, this conversation offers genuine insight and resonance. 00:00 – Guest Introduction: Hailey, PhD from Korea, Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford 00:51 – The Evolution of “Hometown”: From Indifference to Longing 03:36 – Short-term Visit vs. Long-term Stay: Shifting from “Tourist” to “Resident” 05:06 – U.S. vs. Korean Research Culture: Paperwork, Communication, and Lab Dynamics 13:04 – Adaptation Challenges: Small Talk, Surface Friendliness, and Navigating Real Connections 16:22 – Joys of Daily Life: Backyard Barbecues, Outdoor Activities, and Connecting with Nature 27:13 – Future Plans: Staying in the U.S. for Now, with Heart Set on Returning to Korea 41:11 – Core Cross-cultural Insight: Accepting Differences, Embracing Diversity, Coexisting Gently Timeline

    50 min
  4. Episode 026 Reborn in the Bay Area: From Lost Identity to Authentic Self (English)

    JAN 30

    Episode 026 Reborn in the Bay Area: From Lost Identity to Authentic Self (English)

    Hi, I’m Ray! The guest of this episode is my good friend Kanna, whom I met at Stanford. A year ago, when we first got to know each other, she was navigating life in the Bay Area as a “trailing spouse,” trying to find her footing. Back in Tokyo, she was a goal-driven and ambitious career professional, but after moving to the States for her family, the shedding of her social identity unexpectedly led her to discover her deeply “selfless” nature. In this honest conversation, we talk about how she shifted from “living for achievements” to “finding peace in taking care of others,” and how this inner transformation surprisingly opened new doors for her in Silicon Valley. This is more than just a story about career change—it’s a dialogue about reshaping personal values, building resilience, and constructing a stronger, happier core of life upon the ruins of “loss” in the midst of cross-cultural transition. If you’ve ever gone through an identity shift or questioned your own sense of worth, I believe Kanna’s journey will inspire you. Timeline: 00:00 - 03:00 Opening and Guest Introduction Ray introduces the podcast theme, welcomes guest Kanna, shares how they met at a Stanford job search workshop, and overviews Kanna's transition from leaving her corporate career in Japan to arriving in the Bay Area as a trailing spouse. 03:00 - 06:30 Career Transition and Family Considerations Kanna explains in detail her reasons for leaving the Japanese workforce, the difficult choice between caring for her young daughter and supporting her husband's studies, and the reality of failed internal transfer attempts. 06:30 - 09:50 Real Challenges of Job Hunting in Silicon Valley In-depth discussion on the professional matching barriers immigrants face in Silicon Valley, including niche divisions within the same field such as B2B/B2C, data analysis/content creation. 09:50 - 14:20 Strategies for Rebuilding Professional Identity Kanna shares innovative networking methods after losing her professional title – from "bringing my child to pitch events" to "iterating self-introductions over a hundred times" – detailing her journey from being overlooked to gaining attention. 14:20 - 21:30 Shift in Values and Self-Discovery The core turning point of the conversation: Kanna describes how losing everything led her to discover her inherent nature of "finding peace in caring for others," contrasted with Ray's sharing of her own shift "from pleasing others to focusing on self-fulfillment." 21:30 - 27:50 Career Choices Within Limitations Discussion on how immigrants navigate "imperfect job matches" under practical constraints like visas. Kanna shares her adaptation process as a Community Marketing Manager at a mental health startup. 27:50 - 36:40 Philosophy of Superhuman Time Management Revealing the secrets behind Kanna balancing full-time work, a Stanford MBA, and parenting: her husband's support system, the importance of internal drive, and specific methods of applying work automation thinking to daily life. 36:40 - 45:55 Practical Advice for Those Who Follow Kanna proposes interpersonal principles like "meet at least three times" and "give first, receive later," sharing her real experience of how genuinely helping others ultimately opened doors for herself.

    49 min
  5. Episode 025 Bonus: Are Short-Form Dramas Addictive? A Sociological Breakdown of the Digital Comfort Food (Chinese)

    JAN 26

    Episode 025 Bonus: Are Short-Form Dramas Addictive? A Sociological Breakdown of the Digital Comfort Food (Chinese)

    From "Who would watch such cheesy plots?" to "secretly bingeing on the subway," how did short dramas sneak into our lives unnoticed? In this bonus episode, our speaker, Producer Wanzi , who has a background in sociology, puts theory into practice. Using Goffman's front and backstage theory and symbolic interactionism, she dissects the "undercurrent chemistry" at the heart of short dramas. Turns out, we're not actually hooked on the plot—we're hooked on the emotional symbols of the mobile era. Listen as she discusses how short dramas have become "life’s consumables" and how we can gracefully "see past the magic." Honestly, after hearing her breakdown, I feel like I've officially "graduated" from short dramas. I hope you can also be inspired by this bonus episode!

    15 min
  6. Episode 024 When I Was an Editor in Korea (Part 2): Ten Years After Returning Home (Chinese)

    JAN 23

    Episode 024 When I Was an Editor in Korea (Part 2): Ten Years After Returning Home (Chinese)

    In this episode, we continue our in-depth conversation with Producer Wanzi, turning toward life’s bigger decisions and a more enduring sense of homesickness. When her career and life in Jeju Island were at their most comfortable, what led her to make the resolute choice to return to Shanghai? As she transitioned from a cross-cultural editor to a film and television producer in China, what kinds of “disenchantment” and reconstruction did she experience? We also dive into the small, intimate habits that quietly carry meaning: a bowl of Korean soybean paste soup seasoned by hand, a fridge always stocked with Jongga kimchi, and a cup of hot water she never managed to give up. How do these everyday rituals become subtle bridges between a place once lived in and a place called home? Toward the end of the episode, we arrive at a gentle definition together: “Perhaps ‘a foreign land’ is not a geographic location, but a shared past—one we all carry, yet can never return to.” Whether you are still drifting or have already put down roots, this conversation about choice, memory, and self-reconciliation may resonate deeply. We close the episode with a shared understanding: “A foreign land is a beautiful past preserved in our collective memory, while home is the string that lets the kite fly far—yet always brings it safely back.” Timeline 00:00 — The decision to return: the responsibility of an only child and the career clock at thirty 03:37 — Professional disenchantment: from media editor to film and TV producer 06:40 — Television memories: from guilt-laden viewing to professional analysis 11:30 — Life in between: what changes and what remains in everyday food habits 17:31 — Choosing not to assimilate: iced Americano and selfhood beyond appearance anxiety 23:25 — The meaning of travel: from “seeing the world” to observing everyday life 29:04 — Defining “foreign land” and “home”: the kite string and the past we can’t return to 32:16 — Closing and invitation: to all fellow travelers with stories to tell

    37 min
  7. Episode 023 When I Was an Editor in Korea (Part 1): Soy-Marinated Crab, Typhoons, and the Many Ways to Live Across Cultures (Chinese)

    JAN 7

    Episode 023 When I Was an Editor in Korea (Part 1): Soy-Marinated Crab, Typhoons, and the Many Ways to Live Across Cultures (Chinese)

    As President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea visits China, Chinese-Korean relations have once again become a hot topic. At this moment, my friend from my time studying in Korea and I would rather talk about the specific people and concrete experiences. In this episode of the podcast, we are honored to invite PD Wanzi, the former Chinese-language editor-in-chief of the benchmark cultural magazine Jeju Weekly in Jeju Island. We ask her to share her genuine experiences as a young Chinese person in Korea from three dimensions: student life, workplace culture, and media observations. The content of this episode includes but is not limited to: From Seoul to Jeju Island: Real-life survival stories of renting, job interviews, and eating marinated crabServing as editor-in-chief in a multicultural team: How did a local media outlet become a window for Sino-Korean exchange?Typhoon nights, phone guarantors, the uncle who slipped us money… Those small yet timeless acts of kindnessThis is not just a story of personal growth but also a vivid slice of grassroots exchanges between China and South Korea. If you are also interested in cultural collisions, overseas survival, and personal choices in the context of our times, tune in to this episode now! Timeline: 00:00 Reunion with an old friend: Memories of studying in Korea twenty years ago 03:17 From classmates to "southern drift comrades": Supporting each other in Korea's southernmost cities 09:39 A taste of homesickness and friendship: Marinated crab in Yeosu and traveling across the sea to visit 13:01 Behind the decision to study abroad: Career planning and "landing with trust" 27:13 Fear and warmth on a typhoon night: Human kindness during natural disasters 35:57 Holidays in a foreign land and kindness from strangers: Chuseok and the story of "50,000 won" 44:34 A career as a multicultural editor-in-chief: Practicing and reflecting on Chinese media in Jeju Island 58:52 Observations on workplace culture and closing thoughts: Experiencing hierarchy versus relative equality

    1h 10m
  8. Episode 022 Art Without Borders: Samira's Creative Path from Tehran to Stanford (English)

    12/12/2025

    Episode 022 Art Without Borders: Samira's Creative Path from Tehran to Stanford (English)

    Samira, an Iranian girl born in Tehran, was initially eager to pursue physics and maths, but after seeing historical artworks, she shifted her focus to art. This change in direction, especially choosing the path of pursuing art, was a shock for her family, who were mostly in managerial, engineering, and medical professions. Now an accomplished artist who made her first movie at age 19, Samira explains that art begins by creating something for yourself, and then for your audience. She believes that if you connect with yourself, you turn your creativity on, meaning everybody can be an artist. She also shares that through travel and observation, she began to omit borders in her artwork, focusing on universal connections. She remains active by volunteering in the different communities in Stanford and is focused on studying and preparing to apply for business school. Timeline: 00:28 – Guest Introduction: Samira’s multifaceted background06:17 – Childhood self-talk and inner guidance12:55 – Art as a form of creative expression accessible to everyone20:23 – Observations of Iranian artists in an international context28:10 – Attempts to combine art and business34:22 – Understanding and accommodation in a cross-cultural marriage41:28 – Language, culture, and emotional belonging48:54 – Learning about business and creative strategy in the U.S.54:42 – The importance of community support for new immigrants If you want to know more about Samira, please check out her LinkedIn profile here. https://www.linkedin.com/in/samira-davarfara-945b673b/

    1h 1m
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We all carry invisible suitcases when we leave home. Packed with language, memories, rituals, contradictions—and the courage to grow. I’m Ray, a chemical engineer turned storyteller. Born in China, I spent 15 years living in South Korea before moving to Stanford, California. In this podcast, I talk to friends, family, and fellow travelers in Mandarin, English, or Korean about the things we bring with us—and the things we leave behind. We explore cultural differences, identity shifts, everyday joy, and emotional struggles. You may hear your own story in ours.

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