Friends on the Map Melody Galvez

How old were you when you first moved to another country? Or perhaps, how old are you now planning to move to another? I left the Philippines at the age of 25 and even at that age, it wasn't easy. Imagine moving to another country at 18? That's exactly what my friend Peter did. At 18 and fresh out of college, he went with his friends and moved to Thailand - formerly knows as Siam - to see where life takes him. 

Back when the pandemic was starting and all the countries around the world were starting to close their borders, most people were trying to go back to their home country. On the other hand, my newlywed friend Cyrinne, was rushing to leave and fly to a foreign country halfway across the globe moving there for good together with her Dutch husband. Figuring out the whole logistics of leaving the Philippines and flying to the Netherlands was one thing. Immersing herself in a new culture and environment that's a total opposite of what she's used to during a very uncertain time had her describe the whole experience as "crazy". Finally, after over a year I get to talk to her about the challenges she's faced, adjustments she had to make, and personal wins she's achieved not just in moving to a new country but being married to someone who came from a totally different environment than she did. You can also take a peek into her life in the Netherlands from her Youtube channel, CyrinneTV (hyperlinked).

Let's be real, you probably already know a thing or two about Japan. Either from history books, their economic status, pop culture, technology -  this geographically small country in East Asia has a big reputation globally and you would have heard about it! Despite that, I'm sure you're still curious about what's life like for a foreigner to live over there. That's why I called up my friend, Shali to have a chit-chat and ask her my most curious questions about her life there. Apart from listening to this episode, you can see more of her life through her Youtube channel Shalinine (hyperlinked).  

What better way to start this little journey than to begin with the friends that are closest to my current home. I've invited Francis and Lori, who both grew up in small provinces in the Philippines, to share some of the most exciting and talk-worthy experiences living in Malaysia. In this episode, you'll get a glimpse of what it's like to pack your bags and end up in a country you didn't really intend to stay in long term, how one too many immigration stamps on your passport can delay the process of crossing country borders, and why sometimes things will just fall into place at the nick of time. 

Hello! Welcome to this podcast where I introduce you to my friends on the map. Here's a quick intro about myself as well as this podcast. Fasten your seatbelt because we are ready for take off.