This episode is a reflection on my recent conversation with my younger brother, Kyutae Kim. It’s an English summary of our discussion from last week about language, identity, and belonging.

Though we grew up together across four countries and speak three languages, we have both come to believe that for our children growing up in the U.S., having one true home language—English—matters more than speaking many.

three reasons why:

1. Identity and expression come from deep fluency in one language.
2. Cultural understanding creates true connection beyond words.
3. Belonging grows when children feel at home in their community.

We often assume that being fluent in a language means belonging to its society,
but in reality, knowing a language doesn’t necessarily mean being able to live in or feel a true sense of belonging within that community.

*This episode is the 2nd half of the conversation with Kyutae Kim, continuing from the previous episode. The summaries in Japanese and English will be posted next week.

[KOR]

언어를 할 수 있다는 것은 곧 그 언어의 세계에 속한다는 뜻일까요?
실제로는, 언어를 안다고 해서 그 사회의 일원으로 살아갈 수 있는 것은 아닙니다.

* 이번 에피소드는 지난 회에 이어지는 김규태 님과의 두 번째 이야기입니다.
일본어와 영어 요약본은 다음 주에 업로드될 예정이에요.

English:
In this episode, we explore how language shapes identity and belonging. Language is more than communication. It connects us to emotion and culture. Together with Kyutae Kim, we talk about raising multilingual children and the role of language in an AI-driven world. Ultimately, it’s not how many languages we know, but how deeply we can express ourselves in one.

Korean:
이번 에피소드에서는 언어가 정체성과 소속감을 어떻게 형성하는지에 대해 이야기합니다.
언어는 단순한 의사소통의 수단이 아니라, 감정과 문화를 이어주는 다리이기도 하죠.
김규태 씨와 함께 다언어 환경에서 자녀를 키우는 경험과 AI 시대 속 언어의 변화하는 역할에 대해 나눕니다. 결국 중요한 것은 언어의 개수가 아니라, 자신을 진정으로 표현할 수 있는 언어 하나를 찾는 것입니다.

** New episode of Voices Across Borders
Designer Ayumi Ostrowski shares her journey from Tokyo to San Francisco — crossing cultures, languages, and creative boundaries.
We talk about studying design in the U.S., the contrasts between Japanese and American work culture, and how she blends her love for design and food through Gomashio Kitchen.

Listen now and explore how creativity connects across borders.

新エピソード公開

デザイナーの アユミ・オストロウスキー さんが、東京からサンフランシスコへ。
文化・言語・クリエイティビティの境界を越えた旅について語ります。
アメリカでのデザイン留学、日米の企業文化の違い、そして デザインと料理 を融合させた Gomashio Kitchen への想い。

グローバルに生きるクリエイターのストーリーをぜひお聴きください。

Between the Lines: A Designer’s Journey Through Culture & Corporate America

デザイナーのアユミ・オストロウスキーさんが、東京とサンフランシスコを行き来しながら、カルチャーとクリエイティビティを融合させた旅について語ります。現在はフリーランスとして、デザインと料理の新しいつながりを探求中。アメリカでの美大進学のきっかけや、日米の企業文化の違い、そして創造性が国や文化によってどう変化するかを掘り下げます。

Designer Ayumi Ostrowski shares her journey from Tokyo to San Francisco, blending cultures, creativity, and design. Now freelancing, she’s exploring how art and food intersect. We discuss her path to U.S. art school, the contrasts between Japanese and American work culture, and how creativity evolves across cultures.

In this very first episode of Voices Across Borders, host Mina Kim Mok shares why she started this podcast and her own story of growing up and building a career across cultures and boarders. Discover what it means to navigate identity, belonging, and ambition when your life stretches beyond one country