Where Do We Go From Here?
Episode 14 - August 27th, 2020
Looking Back and Moving Forward.
I reflect on some of the first episodes of Balancing Cultures and where I hope to go from here.
Why are so many people drawn to Mira’s story in Episode 1?
What is it like for an immigrant on the path to belonging.
We can find a community, friends, grow our families, but there will always be a grey area between where we are and being “one of them”. It could come down to the pop culture people absorbed through their childhoods that echo in their everyday conversations. The inside jokes of a whole generation that you fake laugh at but don’t truly understand.
In a way, we all feel new and different. It isn’t just Mira as a German in New York.
All my guest’s stories have an element of newness and or being different.
Episode 2
Rebecca from Episode 2 with The Practical Kitchen was new to food blogging. She is a bit different. Her guilt free, body positive blog encourages home cooks to just try it. That difference makes her blog appealing.
Episode 3
Mitch in Episode 3 was new to parenting – a new dad. We talked through a lot of questions international parents can have about languages and cultures and heritage and how to teach values… But it doesn’t take being an international parent to feel new or be different. All parents are different and we all have a point when we feel like we don’t belong.
Episode 4
Ann in Episode 4 talked to us about kid’s books and how we can use them to help everyone in the family talk newness before it comes: Before a new baby, a big move, a first day. Or to start conversations about differences. We need window and mirror books – to look out and learn about others, but to also to look inward and reflect on ourselves.
Episode 5
Vanessa in Episode 5 told the story of her German and Belgian parents moving to the USA and feeling different. Then raising American daughters and their challenge to balance the differences at their own dinner table. The balance of third culture kids, first generation anywhere, and the
Episode 6
Laura in Episode 6 gave us a behind the sense look at being an international jeweler. And her feelings as she balances between the worlds of contemporary and classical jewelry making. A full career of work behind her and she can still feel new, as she tries to find novel ways to solve problems.
Episode 7
Meghan in Episode 7 talked through a big decision of potential newness: Parenting. What if she doesn’t want kids? Her episode is full of questions not just about becoming a parent but about the process of making a decision, when new, unpredictable things could result. Needless to say, becoming a parent would definitely leave her feeling different.
Episode 8
And then there’s me.
In Episode 8 I talked about where I’m from, where I am and the path in between… But where do we go from here?
In my interview with Nora from human postcards in Episode 13, we talked about the Hustle of social media and having an online presence as a creator. Something she said really stuck with me in the past weeks. As I got frustrated with anything website or podcast related recently, I asked myself why I care so much.
Nora said it perfectly: the guests have trusted me with their stories and I feel a responsibility to not let that go to waste. I want to make sure their stories are heard and shared and enjoyed and that their stories can spark something in others.
So, with this responsibility and conviction on my shoulders, I am pushing through the sea of content. The new website is one step. It will help you have access to links and information and give all of us a platform to have easy contact for more conversations.
More to come. I can’t wait!
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