Cross-cultural Stories
by Ray
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.
Episodes
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Episode 031 Nur's Story: Science, Tagore, and the Place She Now Calls Home
In this episode, I'm joined by Nur, a senior scientist at 10x Genomics and the Treasurer of CCIS, the nonprofit that supports international spouses and families here at Stanford. Originally from Bangladesh, Nur moved to the U.S. at 18 with one clear dream: to be at the forefront of genetics...
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Episode 030 "You Have to Put Yourself Out There": Kumud's Guide to Building a New Life in the US (English)
How do you find your footing in a completely new country? For Kumud, it started with a lonely moment at a party and ended with her finding a family at the Bechtel International Center. In this episode of Cross-Cultural Stories, I interviewed Kumud about her move from India to Stanford. We discuss...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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,...
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Episode 021 When My Roommate Became My Wife (English)
Ilor and Madina's story began in the shared kitchen of a university apartment in Israel. From roommates to lovers, from a cross-border marriage to building a life together in Silicon Valley, their relationship has been continually reshaped across cultures and continents. In this episode, Ilor...
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Episode 020 The Organized Life: How the Loan Closet Volunteer Ana Found Her Passion Abroad (English)
Welcome to Cross-cultural Stories! Today we are talking with Ana, a guest who embodies leadership and dedication. Ana came to Stanford as a spouse from Guadalajara, Mexico, and quickly transitioned from her previous role as a project manager to a key volunteer at the CCIS. She now helps lead the...
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Episode 019 Trust Yourself: A Story of Love, PhDs, and Pastry in a New Land (English)
What does it take to rebuild your life and career in a foreign country? Juan and Carolina share their cross-cultural story: from the traffic jams of Bogotá to the supportive halls of Stanford. Learn how they found balance between a demanding PhD and a creative pastry career, and why their final...
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Episode 018 Making His Hometown an Island of Hope: A Village Chief's Global Education (English)
This is Episode 18, the English version of Episode 17, which was originally recorded in Chinese. In this episode, you’ll hear the story of our guest, Alan, presented in a different way. The English audio was generated using AI tools based on the original transcript, so it offers another way to...
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Episode 017 A Rock 'n' Roll Village Chief: A "Tale of Two Cities" from a Hainan Fishing Village to Silicon Valley (Chinese)
Guest: Alan (Village Chief Tan) — Village Chief of Laoshi Village in Hainan, structural engineer, and guitarist in a Bay Area band. Alan is "Village Chief Tan" of Laoshi Village in Hainan, the guitarist for the Bay Area band "Wishes," and a family man accompanying his loved ones and child. Even...
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Episode 016 Global Roots: A Chinese Scientist's Search for Belonging (English)
In this special episode, the tables are turned as podcast host Ray, me, becomes the interviewee. Gently guided by Stanford volunteer Brad's insightful questions, I open up about my journey across three cultures: China, South Korea, and the United States. I share my upbringing in China's Henan...
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Episode 015 Cultural Close-Ups: Brad's Story of Volunteering at Stanford(English)
In this episode, our guest Brad shares his journey as a long-term volunteer at CCIS in Stanford’s Bechtel International Center. Together, we explored: Where does our sense of insecurity in a new environment come from? How is a genuine connection like a “dance for two”? And why can an open…
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Episode 014 From Temple Silence to Stanford Dreams(English)
This Episode is in English and generated from Episode 013 by an AI Tool. What happens when the formative six years of adolescence are spent in a temple- an atmosphere of spiritual reflection? Our guest, Yu'En, currently a Postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, experienced this unique journey. Join…
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Episode 013 Growth Defines Home: Yu'En’s Definition of Foreign Land(Chinese)
This episode features Yu'En, a scholar from Taiwan currently working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford. His life trajectory has involved multiple migrations, starting from Taipei to Central Taiwan and back to Taipei, and now includes his endeavors in the US Bay Area. Yu'En defines the concept…
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Episode 012 Redefining Homeland and Humanity in the Age of AI(English)
This Episode is in English and generated from Episode 011 by AI. I hope you find this episode interesting! In this episode of Cross-Cultural Stories, I’m joined by my first male guest, Brian, who, like me, is from Henan. His journey has taken him from Zhengzhou to Beijing, Shanghai, Texas, and…
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Episode 011 Pleasant Melancholy, and the Open Road: Why Nostalgia is Childhood, and Wandering is Exploration
In Episode 11, we have the very first male guest I've interviewed since starting the podcast, Brian! Brian is my fellow Hénán native. Although we haven't reached the point of "seeing a fellow villager in a foreign land brings tears to the eyes," meeting him still felt exceptionally warm. Brian…
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Episode 010 Hometown is Where the Heart Finds Peace(English)
Welcome to Episodes 9 (Chinese) and 10 (English)! I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya. This also marks my first attempt at recording online. Although separated by the Pacific Ocean, our conversation still reached the depths of our hearts.Where I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya....
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Episode 009 A Year Abroad, My Life Philosophy Changed (Chinese)
Welcome to Episodes 9 (Chinese) and 10 (English)! I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya. This also marks my first attempt at recording online. Although separated by the Pacific Ocean, our conversation still reached the depths of our hearts. We met and became acquainted while doing...
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Episode 008 The "Me" That Bloomed in a Foreign Land(Korean, Part2)
This Episode is in Korean. Welcome to Cross-cultural Stories, the podcast that shares tales of emotions, changes, confusion, and growth that we experience when living away from our hometowns. This podcast aims to offer comfort and a sense of shared understanding for listeners, and for me and…
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Episode 007 The "Me" That Bloomed in a Foreign Land(Korean, Part1)
This Episode is in Korean. Welcome to Cross-cultural Stories. In this special two-part series, we delve into a profound conversation with my friend of nearly ten years, Ara, who is currently a post doctoral researcher in Stanford. Ara's life has been a continuous journey through different…
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Episode 006 Life Tips Learned from Cross-Cultural Journeys (Korean, Part2)
This episode is in Korean. Soo’s story is one of crossing borders, cultures, and identities. Born in Korea, she studied abroad in the UK and now live in the U.S., where she continues her multicultural journey. From navigating student life overseas to adapting to California, Soo’s experiences...
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Episode 005 Life Tips Learned from Cross-Cultural Journeys (Korean, Part1)
The language of this episode is Korean. Soo’s story is one of crossing borders, cultures, and identities. Born in Korea, she studied abroad in the UK and now lives in the U.S., where she continues her multicultural journey. From navigating student life overseas to adapting to California, Soo’s...
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Episode 004 From Emergency Rooms to Classrooms: Suki’s Cross-Cultural Life (Chinese, Part 2)
From the Classroom to Everyday Life: Suki’s Cross-Cultural Life Notes (Part 2) In Part 1, we talked with Suki from Taiwan about her career transition, cultural adaptation upon arriving in the U.S., and an unforgettable emergency room experience. In this concluding episode, our conversation goes...
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Episode 003 From Emergency Rooms to Classrooms: Suki’s Cross-Cultural Life (Chinese, Part 1)
In this episode, I invited Suki, who originally from Taiwan, and is a nutritionist with years of professional experience. As the spouse of a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, she is an active and vibrant presence on campus—participating in various activities and dedicating herself…
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Episode002 Finding Yourself Among Cultures (English)
Episode 002 Finding Yourself Among Cultures — A Conversation with Kate Duration: ~35 min Welcome to Multi-Cultural Stories — a podcast where we explore identity, transformation, and belonging through cross-cultural experiences. In this very first English-language episode, I’m honored to sit down...
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Episode001 From Seoul to Silicon Valley: My Leap of Faith (Chinese)
In this very first episode of Cross-Cultural Stories, I share my personal journey of leaving behind a stable job at a major company in South Korea to start a new life in the United States. It’s a story of courage, confusion, culture shock — and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild from scratch…
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About this show
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.
Hosted by
Ray