After spending decades living in India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Kusum Mongia has learned that the question "Where are you from?" is not always easy to answer.

In this episode of Navigate Across Borders, Kusum shares her journey across three cultures, reflecting on identity, belonging, work culture, and the realities of building a life across borders.

We discuss the differences between American, British, and Indian ways of living and working, the challenges of returning to a country after years abroad, and the hidden emotional cost of expatriation.

Kusum also shares a beautiful poem about transition and what it means to move from one chapter of life to another.

Whether you're an expat, an international professional, or simply curious about life between cultures, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into finding home in more than one place.

Access the other podcast episodes of Navigate Across Borders on YouTube and on your favorite platforms here

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Kusum's Global Journey
02:57 Cultural Habits, Time, and Life Across Three Continents
08:48 Work Culture: USA vs UK, Competition & Work-Life Balance
18:18 Where Is Home? Identity, Expat Life & Belonging
26:34 The Expat Experience, Transitions & Returning to India

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Dans cet épisode, Marie raconte son expatriation en Inde du sud avec son mari et ses deux enfants après avoir quitté la France. Ils sont maintenant à Bangalore.

Dans cette discussion sans filtre nous voyons :

• Comment des enfants francophones s’adaptent dans une école internationale avec un niveau bas en anglais dès le départ
• À quoi ressemble vraiment la vie de famille en Inde, et à Bangalore en particulier
• Les défis, les surprises et les points positifs d’une expatriation en famille
• Comment un conjoint ou une conjointe suiveur/suiveuse peut se faire un réseau d'amis et ne plus se sentir seul(e).

Un témoignage authentique et inspirant pour toutes les personnes qui envisagent de vivre à l’étranger, de travailler en Inde ou de tenter une expatriation en famille.

N'hésitez pas à réagir à cette conversation en commentaires pour commencer une discussion.

Voici le lien de Bangalore Accueil, l'association française dont nous parlons dans cet épisode.

Je suis Dorothée, une expatriée originaire de Lyon. Je vis en Asie depuis plus de 20 ans. En ce moment je suis basée à Bangalore depuis 2018.

Pensez à vous abonner sur YouTube, sur votre plateforme favorite pour ne manquer aucun épisode et suivez-moi sur les réseaux sociaux ici ou là.

Si vous appréciez ce podcast et voulez le soutenir, voici le lien pour votre contribution.

Chapitres

00:00 – Pourquoi Marie a tout quitté pour Bangalore
03:30 – De l’Amérique du Sud à l’Inde
08:20 – Partir en Inde avec 2 enfants : peur ou opportunité ?

11:40 – L’adaptation des enfants à l’école internationale
16:00 – La réalité du quotidien à Bangalore

22:00 – Ce que personne ne dit sur le retour en France

27:00 Le bilan honnête de Marie après 2 ans à Bangalore.

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Thinking about moving to India?

In this episode I sat down with Brian Hooks, an American expat who has spent over five years living and working in India.

Brian provides an honest look at the realities of life in Bangalore.

Whether you are a professional considering a global career move, an aspiring expat, or simply curious about cross-cultural experiences, this conversation is for you.

Access the other podcast episodes of Navigate Across Borders on YouTube and on your favorite platforms here

Listen to my contribution on the Brian's podcast "What Makes Us", where I talk about expatriation here.

Who am I?
I'm a French expat and international educator. I've lived and worked in Asia since 2004, and I'm based in Bangalore.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Meet Brian Hooks

02:57 Cultural Adaptations: The Indian Head Nod & Local Habits

06:27 The Story of Moving from the USA to Bangalore

15:59 Moving to India with a Family: Safety & Logistics

24:17 Navigating Indian Diversity & Language Barriers

29:22 US vs. India Lifestyle: Comparing Global Cultures

33:50 Bangalore Food Scene: Microbreweries to Street Food

41:23 Living Cashless in India: Navigating UPI & GPay

44:25 Expert Tips for Living and Working in India as an Expat

49:13 Conclusion

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In a city as busy as Bangalore, in the south of India, finding a quiet oasis feels almost impossible. But what if I told you an American expat built exactly that?

Today is a different episode format. I'm taking you to a hidden gem in the heart of Bangalore called Ethic Attic Cafe. I sat down with Rachel at the café. And we recorded this episode.

She shares her fascinating journey from New Jersey all the way to India.

This episode is a series of cafe talks on YouTube. Make sure you tune in to watch more about Ethic Attic cafe on the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@NavigateAcrossBorders

I’m a French expat who has lived and worked in Asia as an educator for more than 20 years. I’m now based in Bangalore.

Check out the cafe's website here: https://tinyurl.com/muynnrtp

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Des journées marathon sur les plus grands paquebots de la planète, aux 800 kilomètres du chemin de Compostelle, Damien a fait du sport et des voyages son mode de vie.

Dans cet épisode, nous allons découvrir la réalité du travail sur les paquebots de croisière ainsi que la vraie valeur des langues et de leurs cultures dans notre vie personnelle et professionnelle.

Ceci est le premier épisode en français de ce podcast. Le but est d'avoir des invités francophones et anglophones.

Nous parlons d'expatriation, de vie à l'étranger et des expériences interculturelles.

Commentez avec vos préférences pour les futurs épisodes !

Je suis Dorothée, une expatriée originaire de Lyon. Je vis en Asie depuis plus de 20 ans. En ce moment je suis basée à Bangalore depuis 2018.

Pensez à vous abonner sur YouTube, sur votre plateforme favorite pour ne manquer aucun épisode et suivez-moi sur les réseaux sociaux ici ou là.

Si vous appréciez ce podcast et voulez le soutenir, voici le lien pour votre contribution.

Support the show

In this episode, Zafar shares his passion for food and travel, exploring the deep connections between culinary traditions and cultural heritage in India, Africa and other places he has traveled to.

Zafar also reflects on his journey as an accidental cook and the rise of culinary tourism.

Don't forget to click and subscribe for more cultural insights from different parts of the world.

Navigate Across Borders is a podcast where you hear about the real-life stories of ambitious professionals and expats from different countries. Whether they’re working with international teams or living with someone from a different culture, they will explain how they build cross-cultural connections.

Who am?

I’m Dotty, a French expat & global educator who has lived and worked in Asia since 2004. I’m now based in Bangalore, India.

This podcast is on all major podcast platforms & YouTube. Access here:

https://lnk.bio/navigate_across_borders

https://linktr.ee/navigateacrossborders

Like the show? Support it here!

If you want to know more about the blogs Zafar writes about his food experiences and adventures, you can find them here:

A bowl of sugar

The Traveller, The Recipe Collector, and the Chef on Substack

The 2 books Zafar is referring to are:

Coorg The cookbook by Kaveri Ponnapa

Chutney - by Rushina Munshaw-Ghildiyal

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For this episode I virtually sat down with Lizzie, an American educator who traded the quiet beaches of Cape Cod for the vibrant, high-energy city of Bangalore in the south of India. With an Irish-Lebanese heritage Lizzie joins me to discuss the reality of teaching abroad and the unexpected turns of a cross-cultural marriage with an Indian man.

From the 'entrepreneurial hustle' of India’s Silicon Valley to the secret of a perfect Irish-Lebanese home, we’re exploring what it really means to be a global citizen.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction

02:55
Cultural Background and Multicultural Influences

06:00
Experiences in Teaching and Living Abroad

08:58
Cultural Differences and Food Experiences

11:59
Life in Bangalore vs. Other Places

14:55
Personal Life and Cultural Integration

17:52
Understanding Indian Culture Through Relationships

20:54
Conclusion

Navigate Across Borders is a podcast where you hear about the real-life stories of ambitious professionals and expats from different countries. Whether they’re working with international teams or living with someone from a different culture, they will explain how they build cross-cultural connections.

Who am?

I’m Dotty, a French expat & global educator who has lived and worked in Asia since 2004. I’m now based in Bangalore, India.

This podcast is on all major podcast platforms & YouTube. Access here:

https://lnk.bio/navigate_across_borders

https://linktr.ee/navigateacrossborders

Support the show

In this conversation, my guest Dan Kriske shares his journey from the Midwest of the U.S. to living in India, discussing cultural differences he has encountered along the way. He reflects on his experiences in South Korea, the nuances of communication in different cultures, and the dynamics of relationships and family life with his Indian family.

We also talk about how food and language can shape cultural identity, and how these elements influence his life with his Indian wife and their child.

Navigate Across Borders is a podcast where you hear about the real-life stories of ambitious professionals and expats from different countries. Whether they’re working with international teams or living with someone from a different culture, they will explain how they build cross-cultural connections.

Who am?

I’m Dotty, a French expat & global educator who has lived and worked in Asia since 2004. I’m now based in Bangalore, India.

This podcast is on all major podcast platforms & YouTube. Access here:

https://lnk.bio/navigate_across_borders

https://linktr.ee/navigateacrossborders

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dan's Journey

03:04 Cultural Insights from the Midwest

05:56 Experiences in South Korea

08:49 Transition to Life in India

11:49 Navigating Language and Communication

14:51 Cultural Differences in Relationships

17:45 Family Dynamics

20:41 Food and Eating Customs

23:31 Language Learning and Cultural Adaptation

26:41 Conclusion and Future Perspectives

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