Four Seas One Family

Four Seas One Family

James Thomas

Four Seas One Family focuses exclusively on adjustments to life overseas as an expat, immigrant or migrant. Learn from the insights our host and guests bring that will assist in constructing a clear understanding of how being a global citizen can help people from different backgrounds learn more about themselves and appreciate that we all have something to learn from each other.

How Content Creators Amplify Social Media Addiction

How Content Creators Amplify Social Media Addiction

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Jan 20, 2024 • 10:43

Is Critical Thinking a Forgotten Thought

Is Critical Thinking a Forgotten Thought

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Jan 20, 2024 • 7:32

Mob Mentality and Social Control

Mob Mentality and Social Control

#mob #mobmentaility #socialcontrol  The right to freely express opinions in democratic nations may unexpectedly become derailed and end up uniting those with related, and sometimes radical, views. Members of these groups may become evangelized and later begin propagating their beliefs or faith outside their sphere of influence.  Being a member or part of a community or group can amplify or exaggerate an individual's optimistic and pessimistic sense of security and pride. Is it possible that the

Jan 20, 2024 • 9:36

Self-Serving Bias in a Democracy (自利性偏差)

Self-Serving Bias in a Democracy (自利性偏差)

#selfservingbias #democracy #biased Observations and decisions promoted aggressively through corrupted one-way thinking and decision-making processes, which usually come from biased information networks, feed something called a self-serving bias. WHAT IS A SELF-SERVING BIAS? Self-Serving Bias: Definition and Examples https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-serving-bias.html What Is a Self-Serving Bias and What Are Some Examples of It? https://www.healthline.com/health/self-serving-bias Conspirator

Jan 20, 2024 • 8:31

Cognitive Dissonance in a Democracy

Cognitive Dissonance in a Democracy

#cognitivedissonance  #democracynow  #beliefsandsciences    Unfortunately, it takes some people an extremely long time to acknowledge that some of their beliefs, or ways of thinking, weren't carefully thought out or lacked objective reasoning. It may take a lot of honest self-reflection to rid themselves of beliefs that hold them back from seeing the world as it is instead of how they want it to be Cognitive dissonance: What to know https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326738#definition Dis

Jan 20, 2024 • 10:53

Religion꞉ Democratic Nations Achilles Heel

Religion꞉ Democratic Nations Achilles Heel

From Protestant Supremacy to Christian Slavery https://www.aaihs.org/from-protestant... 9 Devastating Actions White Enslavers Took to Convert Black People to Christianity https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/04/... https://earlyamericanists.com/2019/04... Underground Railroad https://www.history.com/topics/black-... Slave Bible Select Parts of the Holy Bible for the use of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands. https://www.npr.org/2018/12/09/674995... Does the Bible Condone Slavery? ht

Jan 20, 2024 • 12:21

The Implosion of the Democratic World Part 2

The Implosion of the Democratic World Part 2

Implosion of the Democratic World Part 2 民主世界毀滅 2 In this episode, I take a deep dive into how democratic nations are allowing themselves to blindly become subservient proxy elements of foreign governments that exploit their democratic liberties in their nation to create social and political disruption across the board that may easily lead to their democratic nation’s social, political and cultural implosion. This has been a warning! Note: Pay special attention to the graphic elements in this ep

Apr 12, 2021 • 12:10

First Warning: State-Sponsored Subversion - 104

First Warning: State-Sponsored Subversion - 104

@subversion @statesponsored @fakenews @4s1f This is a spotlight why democratic nations and their citizens must stay vigilant of how their rights and freedoms are being used against them by external forces that disrupt the core that holds their governments and national identities together. Please leave a comment if you have anything you would like to say or share concerning this topic. If you found what we have to offer of value, please click on the “subscribe” and “bell” buttons to help us sprea

Feb 22, 2021 • 7:43

African American Relationship with Africa vs. China – 4S1F103

African American Relationship with Africa vs. China – 4S1F103

Social mayhem affecting black communities in the United States appears to have reached a breaking point. Many African Americans are searching for the rights and freedoms they felt they never received in the United States and began looking towards their ancestors' lands for corrections and solitude. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! If you enjoyed this podcast please share it with your friends, family and co-workers by using the listed social media buttons. Please subscribe to the show on

Jan 8, 2021 • 16:21

Blaxit: African American Savior Complex - 4S1F101

Blaxit: African American Savior Complex - 4S1F101

#Blaxit #Blaxodus #AfricanAmerican #Saviorcomplex Part 1: Please give what I present some thought because I am sure my observations will upset a few of you. I would like to discuss if Blaxit is the only solution African Americans should embrace to solve their problems today in American and may later encounter in the future.

Dec 7, 2020 • 10:07

Comparing America's and China's Cultural Revolution - 4S1F102

Comparing America's and China's Cultural Revolution - 4S1F102

#blacklivesmatter #blm #culturalrevolution It seems like history always finds a way to repeat itself. However, the way it is repeating itself in America could lead to uncontrollable circumstances that could easily or eventually lead to its demise. America

Dec 7, 2020 • 12:02

Confucius Institute Subversion - 4S1F100

Confucius Institute Subversion - 4S1F100

China sought to use the name of its legendary philosopher to project the image of honesty and morality. However, let' take a look at how education has been used by the Chinese Communist Party as a dividing line to separate and control the thinking of freethinking societies. YouTube: https://youtu.be/msJlsJ7Ny7E FAIR USE NOTICE This video may contain copyrighted material; the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available for the pu

Nov 2, 2020 • 12:42

Living as a Black Person in Asia - 4S1F99

Living as a Black Person in Asia - 4S1F99

I am aware that this is a sensitive topic. So let me explain why I say being black in Asia isn't for the weak-minded and why we all have a part to play to make situations better for not only ourselves but for others as well. 4S1F Social Media Links Facebook: The Expats Roundtable Twitter: Follow @4seas1family Youtube: Four Seas One Family THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you for joining us here at Four Seas One Family. Please leave a comment if you have anything you would like to s

Jan 27, 2020 • 11:46

Foreign Nationals Adopting Cultural Blindness - 4S1F98

Foreign Nationals Adopting Cultural Blindness - 4S1F98

Recently, I’ve been taking deep dives into how certain events in the world are being reflected here on-line along with how some foreign nationals observe the events they see taking place around them in their host nation. Let’s take a look at how and why some foreign nationals adopt, and in some cases promote, the ideologies of their host nation that later trigger negative opinions and cause personal losses.

Dec 22, 2019 • 10:04

Update: We Have to Move and Will

Update: We Have to Move and Will

It looks like the landlord pulled a fast one on us and now we, along with other companies and occupants on our floor, have to move and find new locations to engage with our customers and continue our businesses. Over these past few weeks we were put in situations where we had to think fast and prioritize the things we needed to do to keep our business alive. Anyway, we were able to find a silver lining through this fog and keep moving in a positive direction which will also give us the opportuni

Apr 21, 2019 • 10:51

Perspectives 2: Sean Kaiteri - A Response to the Christchurch Shooting

Perspectives 2: Sean Kaiteri - A Response to the Christchurch Shooting

After the terrible event that took part in Christchurch, New Zealand, I have been getting messages from people from different parts of North America asking me questions about how safe it is to live in certain nations, particularly Taiwan. These messages are from people who are citizens in North America and who are thinking about moving abroad to pursue their aspirations. A few, and I’m not surprised, have admitted that they are hoping to do so because they feel uncertain about their security in

Mar 17, 2019 • 17:43

To Gain Experience You Have to be Quite Bold

To Gain Experience You Have to be Quite Bold

While engaged in this interview, I found myself having to mute my “American pride” because I soon discovered how important it is to listen carefully to a guest’s interpretation of their host nation because they may bring out logical view points and fair reasoning in ways never thought of. From the UK and now living in Hong, Kong, China, Jamie Cawley is a teacher and author of books that cover an extensive panorama of occurrences that lead to the building of several nation’s culture, wealth, gove

Feb 27, 2019 • 47:52

Be Open to Meeting People - 4S1F96

Be Open to Meeting People - 4S1F96

It can be challenging connecting with people located in different parts of the world and in different time zones, but to me and the fine people I’ve been lucky enough and, frankly, honored to speak with it’s more important that we share stories others can relate to. Giving a personal view into the lives of others who are seeing the world from a different “focal length” or mindset opens doors to better understandings of the differences as well as the commonalities we all share. Amy Brown is an Am

Feb 13, 2019 • 33:29

Just Be The Way You Want To Be Treated By Others - 4S1F95

Just Be The Way You Want To Be Treated By Others - 4S1F95

This episode we welcome, Charu Pathni, an Indian expat living and working for a major car manufacturer in Germany. Charu is a very focused and energetic lady who has not only persevered, but also surpassed traditional roles held for women from her home nation. Even though she hasn’t lived in every part of the world, Charu calls herself a world citizen because, in her words, “People are people and it doesn’t really matter where I come from or where my roots are from. Home is just where I can feel

Feb 6, 2019 • 29:32

The Hardest Thing is Taking The First Step - 4S1F94

The Hardest Thing is Taking The First Step - 4S1F94

In many ways, traveling anywhere alone can not only help a person build a clearer or more in-depth understanding of oneself, but also the world around them from a perspective that wouldn’t have been obtainable while in ones home nation. So traveling abroad with a life-long partner can offer the same elements, but on a level that has twice the impact, exploration and memories. This episode we sit down for chat with two British expats now living in the land of the Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s right

Jan 30, 2019 • 31:13

It’s Fine That I’m Not Perfect At This - 4S1F93

It’s Fine That I’m Not Perfect At This - 4S1F93

This episode we welcome, Nicole Palazzo. Nicole is an American expat living in Europe who is also an active podcaster. Nicole points out that from her location abroad it can sometimes be strange or even stressful for her to miss things from her home nation that she normally wouldn’t pay much attention to while living in her home nation. Her comment brings out a point that living outside ones home nation can in many ways bring a person closer to the things he or she once overlooked or took for gr

Jan 25, 2019 • 29:54

An ENFP’s Perspective: A Lot More Slow is Steady - 4S1F92

An ENFP’s Perspective: A Lot More Slow is Steady - 4S1F92

There are many different reasons why people of all ages and personality types take the plunge to explore living abroad. Their explorations may take them to places that are not only far from their home nation and the people they love , but also lead them to unforgettable and priceless experiences that they will cherish until the day they have to leave this pale blue dot in space. I am happy to welcome Dan Johnston to the podcast. Dan is a fellow podcaster and former entrepreneur turned freelance

Jan 19, 2019 • 47:30

Find The Little Things That Bring You Joy - 4S1F91

Find The Little Things That Bring You Joy - 4S1F91

Today we speak to a wonderful latina American binational who has extensive experience in media with particular expertise in creating content for the television market. Natalia Mejia, an American citizen born in México and a UCLA graduate, shares her story and unique perspective of not only what brought her to the United States , but also her personal relationships with her friends and family on both sides of the US-Mexican border. Take a glimpse into how her background has given her the ability

Jan 12, 2019 • 23:54

Perspectives: Taiwan Radio and a Trip Down Memory Lane with Rick Monday - 4S1FP2

Perspectives: Taiwan Radio and a Trip Down Memory Lane with Rick Monday - 4S1FP2

No one has a total grip on events in their life that will direct them to the goals they forecast and hope to later achieve. Sometimes, being at the right place at the right time can be a blind gift that points a person in directions he or she may have never dreamt of. This episode I am happy to sit down in the Taipei studio with someone who was originally based in Korea and trained as a US military linguist who eventually followed his broadcasting aspirations at ICRT, a popular radio station in

Dec 27, 2018 • 40:00

Manifesting Your Overseas Experience - 4S1F90

Manifesting Your Overseas Experience - 4S1F90

While living outside of your home nation, regardless of the reason why, you may one day find yourself looking for ways to remain functional, creative and useful. Because of this fact, and to get the most out of your overseas experience, it becomes of the upmost importance to prioritize the elements that make up your overseas life. Choices have to be found and then executed that will allow you to sift through elements that are weighing you down and preventing you from learning and enjoying your l

Dec 16, 2018 • 47:51

Learning Overseas Coping Methods - 4S1F89

Learning Overseas Coping Methods - 4S1F89

Before traveling or living overseas, many foreign nationals mindset carries a perception that their home nation encompasses all the best things and conveniences in life. Sometimes, however, this isn't the case. In some second and third world nations many foreign nationals quickly discover that their second or third world host nation, regardless of their social and political values, are doing some things that far exceeds the ways things are done in their home nation and today this episode we have

Nov 27, 2018 • 38:13

Perspectives: Taiwan to Canada with Peggy Lee - 4S1FP1

Perspectives: Taiwan to Canada with Peggy Lee - 4S1FP1

As an educator in Taiwan I get to interact with a lot of friends and students from different backgrounds. Many of them go abroad for business, to sightsee or continue their education. A few of them have even decided to permanently live abroad to start a new life chapter. They obtained, both positive and negative, real-time life experiences using their second or sometimes third language to build relationships and pursue their dreams or goals. I’m fortunate to have one of my former students, Peggy

Oct 7, 2018 • 30:44

The Empowerment of the Female Traveler - 4S1F88

The Empowerment of the Female Traveler - 4S1F88

We are happy to sit down for a chat with a German expat world traveler who is at the time of this episode residing in the United States. Katharina Von Knobloch, who has vast experience in the corporate world as a marketing and business development manager, spends time with us from Chicago, Illinois to talk about her travels around the world both alone and with her husband. When people see Katharina traveling alone, they often ask her why she is traveling without her partner. This type of questio

Sep 26, 2018 • 33:23

Living Abroad and Noticing The Differences - 4S1F87

Living Abroad and Noticing The Differences - 4S1F87

Get ready to join us for a ride as we listen to the journey of an expat / immigrant from Melbourne, Australia who is now living in Vienna, Austria. Hear how Carly Hulls, upon being offered a dream job overseas, as well as taking a chance after “meeting an Austrian boy”, decided to pack up all her stuff in one backpack to embark on a new life chapter. Carly shares with us her story of living abroad as a foreign national who is very aware of not only her own overseas status, but also the status of

Sep 19, 2018 • 38:59

Transition, Faith and Mental Illness - 4S1F86

Transition, Faith and Mental Illness - 4S1F86

Feeling intrigued about life overseas can be a catalyst for some people when deciding to pick up everything in their familiar environment to move on for a life abroad. This fact, combined with the need to find something meaningful in life, can point someone in a direction that previously wouldn’t have been a topic of consideration. This episode I sit down for chat with Holly Kooi. Holly is an American happily living overseas with her husband in Vienna, Austria. Tune in to learn how this wonderfu

Aug 29, 2018 • 42:48

Finding What Fits You Perfectly - 4S1F85

Finding What Fits You Perfectly - 4S1F85

This episode we welcome Jenna Davis, an incredible sustainable travel blogger and mom to be, on the show this episode. Originally from The Great White North, Toronto, Canada. Jenna has traveled to over 50 nations. She shares with us her overseas life story on an unseasonably hot summer’s day in Europe. Hear how Jenna adapted to unexpected occurrences while living overseas and how she learned to use these sudden occurrences to build a better understanding of her overseas environment and, in he en

Aug 9, 2018 • 31:38

Our Mistakes Teach Us The Most - 4S1F84

Our Mistakes Teach Us The Most - 4S1F84

This episode we have someone who honestly looks at the world from not only a realistic, but also a spiritual point of view that in many ways exemplifies basic human characteristics and values. Peter Fogtdal, a humorous Danish author, writer and lecturer, shares with us his unique view of life while living as an immigrant and working in the United States. Tune in to hear this proud Dane’s observations of how he relates and compares his life overseas in his host nation to life and events in his ho

Aug 2, 2018 • 45:33

Daily Human Connections Make the Difference - 4S1F83

Daily Human Connections Make the Difference - 4S1F83

No one can really ever predict with absolute accuracy the road life will take them. Desires, wishes and dreams may at first just seam to be passing thoughts with no reason to take action to see to completion. This episode we catch up with someone who had a simple desire to one day live abroad. Luckily, in this case, a decision that was made by our guest did in fact lead to her current life overseas. Today we talk to a self proclaimed city girl with a country soul. Joining us from her secret hide

Jul 18, 2018 • 25:02

Expat, Immigrant, Stress and Anxiety - 4S1F82

Expat, Immigrant, Stress and Anxiety - 4S1F82

No matter where we are in life there will always be challenges and some of them will bring wonderful surprises along with disappointments. Expats, immigrants and migrants will face these facts regardless of where they are. The question at this point is what happens when an overseas experience isn’t going well? What occurs when a foreign national is overwhelmed with an inability to adjust to living in their host nation that may later lead to stress and anxiety? What can a foreign national do to d

Jun 26, 2018 • 24:17

Living Abroad is a Mindset-4S1F81

Living Abroad is a Mindset-4S1F81

There are many reasons why expats, immigrants and migrants choose to live a life abroad. Some have decided to look abroad to find a missing part of themselves or just to get away from situations that they felt were obstacles or factors limiting their physical, psychological, financial and, in some cases, spiritual or creative development. Many have simply decided to look and journey abroad to quench their thirst for adventure. In this episode, I converse with American expat traveller and cook, D

Jun 11, 2018 • 27:51

Podcast Update May 5th 2018

Podcast Update May 5th 2018

Just to let you know that we are still here and will be back soon. We are gathering guests for future podcasts and we are looking forward to bringing you interesting stories from interesting storytellers all over the world. And thank you very much for being a Four Seas One Family listener.

May 24, 2018 • 0:29

Keep it in perspective By Seeing The Value n Where You Are - 4S1F80

Keep it in perspective By Seeing The Value n Where You Are - 4S1F80

Anyone who has lived overseas for an extended period of time has looked back at least once on their experience and wondered how they managed to overcome the cultural issues they faced while abroad. This may sound ridiculous but it never ceases to amaze how bits and peaces of cultural unawareness and bewilderment can later lead to an even deeper understanding and appreciation. Most of what was stated above is encapsulated in the words of our guest this episode, Mr. Will Brooks. Will is an active

May 9, 2018 • 57:44

Feeling Yourself Through The World - 4S1F79

Feeling Yourself Through The World - 4S1F79

There are many doors that we have to open and close to reach our life goals. Some doors are slammed in our faces and sometimes we have to slam the doors ourselves in order to preserve the little time we have. And because of this, it isn’t often that we come across people that have developed the ability to without hesitation unconditionally accept all the ups and downs life has to offer without regrets. On this podcast episode, we are lucky to have someone who is a true living and functional exam

May 3, 2018 • 44:45

Don't Try to Recreate What You Had at Home - 4S1F78

Don't Try to Recreate What You Had at Home - 4S1F78

Meg and Rob, along with their fur baby, Jack, had what many people would call a dream life. However, it wasn't bring the type of satifaction they desired, so in 2016, they decided it was time to pack it all up and leave the "rat race"of their home nation to search for a lighter and more fulfilling life abroad. They became more determined to get quality out of their lives. In order to do so, they got their priorities straight and one major step they took was to declutter their living space. Meg a

Apr 25, 2018 • 45:03

There is no one size that fits all - 4S1F77

There is no one size that fits all - 4S1F77

Foreign nationals explore and come from all over the world and they all bring their own personal unique branding to their overseas experience. Both foreign nationals and local citizens alike can benefit vastly by interacting with each other. By doing so, not only can stereotypes be debunked, but also deep understandings built. We are honored to have Errol Manuel on the show. Errol is a foreign national from India living in the windy tech capital of Taiwan, Hsinchu. Hear why Errol says he and his

Apr 18, 2018 • 28:14

Be Bold and Ask For Help - 4S1F76

Be Bold and Ask For Help - 4S1F76

It’s rare that we come across people who have explosive and bubbling personalities that makes us want to smile and keep smiling. We are happy,…, no ecstatic to have American expat Jacqueline Bruce as a guest. It’s hard to not be influenced by her positive energy. It’s easy to hear and feel this radiating from her voice and warm smile. Jacqueline is a professional opera singer living in Berlin, Germany. Listen to her story of how she, at a very early age, became interested in singing and studying

Apr 12, 2018 • 37:17

Look Forward to Not Being Scammed - 4S1F75

Look Forward to Not Being Scammed - 4S1F75

While overseas, a negative encounter may leave a bitter taste in the mouth of a traveler. Stories of being cheated or scammed by members of a local population can be heard from travelers of every nation. However, many of these observations, although unfortunate, are not only one-sided, but also unfair. Some travelers have reported that they had been overcharged and or underserved by local store owners and service providers which left them with a negative impression of the local or indigenous pop

Apr 4, 2018 • 32:20

Change is Never Easy - 4S1F74

Change is Never Easy - 4S1F74

Welcome to a roller coaster of an episode. We have American travel writers Joshua Samuel Brown and Stephanie Huffman as our guests this episode. Joshua and Stephanie are travel writers with a new book coming out soon (May 2018) that centers on traveling in Taiwan. Joshua and Stephanie are a couple that always seem to have a limitless supply of unpredictable energy and creativity. Joshua has written many articles from many countries for popular magazines which includes The Lonely Planet travel gu

Mar 28, 2018 • 58:22

Be Open At the Very First Moment - 4S1F73

Be Open At the Very First Moment - 4S1F73

We are happy to have Mr. Mark Korondi as our guest this episode. He is one of the most energetic and mindful people to have been interviewed on this podcast. Mark has had his eye on his host nation for a while and was lucky to be offered a job to take him there! He explains why it is extremely important to invest time in learning about the local culture and language of the nation you reside in as it greatly lowers communication barriers. Mark also passionately explains how he has become captivat

Mar 25, 2018 • 38:55

Don't be Afraid to Make a Change in Your Life - 4S1F72

Don't be Afraid to Make a Change in Your Life - 4S1F72

Learning a new language is often the deal breaker when deciding whether or not to go to, and more so, live in a different nation. Learning a new language may also be the ignitor that causes someone to focus on the nation where the language is commonly spoken. We sit down for a chat with UK expat and blogger, Henissi. Henissi shares her story of why she chose to go to Valencia, Spain and why she hopes of one day making it her new home. Hear some of the highlights and comparisons she makes of her

Jan 31, 2018 • 32:05

Learn to Become More Tolerant - 4S1F71

Learn to Become More Tolerant - 4S1F71

It is impossible to know when or where your life will take a sudden turn. Sometimes the turns leads to a path that is not only unpredictable, but also impossible to prepare for. Our guest this episode shows that the key to finding and implementing successful adjustments is to maintain a positive attitude and the willingness to remain flexible. This episode we welcome American immigrant Michael Harling to the show. Michael isn’t afraid of facing and overcoming challenges. After coming off a long

Dec 30, 2017 • 42:08

Privilege and the Expatriate vs. Immigrant Status - 4S1F70

Privilege and the Expatriate vs. Immigrant Status - 4S1F70

The ways foreigners are described or classified have a direct link to how they are treated or accommodated in a host country. The terms used to describe foreigners have a direct impact on not only how fellow foreigners see themselves, but also how local populations interact with foreign nationals living amongst them. How should people who aren’t “natives” of a particular country be classified? This question has taken on more of a forefront position in the collective thinking of many nations that

Dec 23, 2017 • 22:49

Take The Time To Reflect- 4S1F69

Take The Time To Reflect- 4S1F69

It's amazing how learning about an overseas location can excite a person's curiosity. Learning about the intricate components of a nation and its history can be the impetus for someone to want to place themselves within the environment they are learning about. In this episode we sit down for chat with McKenzie Dow. McKenzie is an American expat currently living in Dublin, Ireland. She became interested in Ireland after taking courses about the nation. Overtime, she became inseparable from her ad

Nov 22, 2017 • 29:24

IPD: Podcasting in the Asian Region - 4S1F68

IPD: Podcasting in the Asian Region - 4S1F68

Here is a bonus episode recorded on October 1st 2017 for International Podcasts Day. I was the second remote speaker and I spoke about Podcasting in the Asian Region. I am honored to have been chosen to take part in this celebration of podcasting. Youtube: James Thomas: Podcasting in the Asian Region Youtube: International Podcast Day (Full Broadcast) Facebook Page: International Podcast Day Twitter: @International Podcast Day THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS Bonus SODE! Thank you very much for t

Oct 18, 2017 • 40:55

Update: Return from 2017 LA Podfest

Update: Return from 2017 LA Podfest

Hello Four Seas One Family listeners. We are still here. It's been a busy few weeks and we just got back from the 2017 LA Podfest! It was great meeting other podcasters to share thoughts on the current state of podcasting. Podcasting has become a major force in getting and sharing information listeners need without barriers. We have a few things lined up for future podcasts and we can't wait to get back in action to give our expat and future expat listeners the information they need to make thei

Oct 15, 2017 • 2:02

Expat Overseas Homecoming - 4S1F67

Expat Overseas Homecoming - 4S1F67

Occasionally long-term expats get the urge to revisit places that were or remind them of their first overseas experience. This gives the expat a type of overseas homecoming which causes him or her to reflect on their overseas experience. Many expats who have had the opportunity to revisit their old "stomping grounds" reminisce about the times when things were fresh, raw, new, unfamiliar or just simply confusing. These reflections causes an expat to see how much of their overseas experience allow

Sep 20, 2017 • 40:05

Learning to be Genuine with People - 4S1F66

Learning to be Genuine with People - 4S1F66

It shouldn't be a surprise to find out that the education we were constantly taught during our childhoods about the world was filtered through trends, politics and, in some cases, the dominant religion of our home nation. As a result, many of us start off with a worldview that was designed to uphold the values of our home nation. In some nations, this created a veil over the eyes of its population that may later lead to a fear of people and cultures that differ from their own. When expats ventur

Sep 12, 2017 • 41:19

Embrace The Positive About Everyplace You Live - 4S1F65

Embrace The Positive About Everyplace You Live - 4S1F65

What is the mindset that should be embraced when having to constantly relocate and adjust to life all over the world? Are there any positive pointers that can help make our overseas experiences more beneficial to not only ourselves, but also to those who we interact with during our journeys? Surely, there isn't only one solution to solve all the problems or unforeseen situations we encounter while living abroad but there may be a mindset that we can live by to help us overcome and cope with obst

Sep 8, 2017 • 37:38

More Opportunities For Understandings - 4S1F64

More Opportunities For Understandings - 4S1F64

American expat, Jason Hunter, in Southern Taiwan joins us on the podcast. As a result of his observations working in his profession, Jason is able to explain how businesses are more interconnected than ever. He points out that modern-day businesses simply can't and maybe shouldn’t do everything on their own. The reason is that international cooperations don't only benefit businesses, but also consumers in the long run. He also demonstrates why it’s important for not only businesses to cooperate

Aug 19, 2017 • 49:58

Charlottesville (Excerpt) - 4S1F64

Charlottesville (Excerpt) - 4S1F64

This is an excerpt of episode 64 of Four Seas One Family: As the host of this expat focused podcasts, I've been lucky to have had the opportunity to chat with fellow expats located in different parts of the world to share their experiences of how they overcame living in different cultures that are far different from the cultures they were born in. These fellow expats have shared with me their issues with learning a local language and adapting to the culture of their host nations. The majority of

Aug 16, 2017 • 9:47

Cultural Etiquette Tips - 4S1F63

Cultural Etiquette Tips - 4S1F63

When living overseas as an expat you are sure to make cultural mistakes. However you have to take every mistake that you make as a learning experience to help you comprehend the culture you’re living in. To help ease and improve an expat overseas experience it is of the greatest importance to learn about the customs and habits of the host nation and it's local community. . When expats interact with the local community, it’s not only an opportunity for an expat to learn about their host nation, b

Jul 28, 2017 • 41:58

Update: We'll Be Right Back

Update: We'll Be Right Back

Just a quick checkin to let everyone know that I am still here. Sometimes he can be quite difficult arranging interview times with expats located in different parts of the world. Over the next few episodes, because of time zone differences, I will focus on interviewing expats closer to my region. Once again thank you for listening to Four Seas One Family. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for taking the time to share this podcast. Click HERE if you would like to load o

Jul 3, 2017 • 4:26

Making Relationships - 4S1F62

Making Relationships - 4S1F62

This episode we sit down for a chat with another American expat who is also living in Asia, Mrs. Tara White. Tara has been living abroad since 2008 working as both an English teacher and a teacher trainer. Tara has experienced living in many locations in Asia. She has lived in Cambodia, Korea, Malaysia, and Australia and is currently residing with her husband just outside the fast paced city of Tokyo, Japan. The most interesting thing is she’s living her expat life as a minimalist. Tara is also

Jun 16, 2017 • 25:24

Don't Rely On Living Your Life Like It Was Back Home - 4S1F61

Don't Rely On Living Your Life Like It Was Back Home - 4S1F61

An expat may not always agree with how things are done in their host nation and this shouldn't be a surprise. By keeping an open mind and heart a lot can be learned from an overseas experience. These experiences may not always be good but they may help an expat further understand him or her self and the other people who are also citizens of this planet. With this in mind, expats should allow themselves to see more of the benefits of life within their host nation without prejudice. By doing so, t

Jun 8, 2017 • 25:24

Finding Cultural Bridges - 4S1F60

Finding Cultural Bridges - 4S1F60

James sits down for a chat with his old friend and Cortland State University alumni, Mr. Todd Friends, whom he hasn’t seen in years. Todd is currently an assistant professor at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Listen to how Todd is using his expat experience, along with his extensive business and management background, to impress on his students the importance of developing cross cultural exchanges and understandings at a local level. Also, Todd explains why in some places cultural u

May 28, 2017 • 24:30

Embrace - The Expat - Community - 4S1F59

Embrace - The Expat - Community - 4S1F59

Our guest this episode is American expat Hallie Bradley. Hallie has been living in Seoul, Korea for over ten years and she is loving it. Hallie shares with us her very first impressions of her overseas home. Listen to how this expat from a small American town overcame language barriers and learnt to build long-lasting relationships with the local residents. Hallie also gives us a peek into how she met her Korean husband and how they are today raising a young daughter. Hallie is doing all of this

May 12, 2017 • 41:41

You Have to Make an Effort - 4S1F58

You Have to Make an Effort - 4S1F58

Mike Wester is a 17-year American expat resident of Beijing and a veteran of five years of expatriate living in Taipei as well. In 2001 he co-founded True Run Media, which provides information and services to the internationally-minded communities in China’s largest cities. TRM operates three brands – the Beijinger and beijingkids (English) and JingKids (Chinese), producing print and digital media as well as large-scale live events for each. • the Beijinger (thebeijinger.com) is the capital's to

May 3, 2017 • 29:46

Respectfully Not Caring What People Say - 4S1F57

Respectfully Not Caring What People Say - 4S1F57

Everyone living outside his or her home nation as a story to tell that explains why they made the choice to travel and then live abroad. In today’s episode we have a guest that fits this description without exception. Currently living in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Anthony Rigogliosi shares with us what brought him to the realization of why he had to change is life situation in his home nation and move abroad. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Facebook (Personal): Anthony Rigogliosi Facebook Group: Podcast N

Apr 27, 2017 • 34:44

April 2017 TER Announcement

April 2017 TER Announcement

From overseas, expats can offer unique perspectives that may not be easily observed by international media outlets. With all the cultural and political uprising taking place in the world today, now is the time for expats, who have had the opportunity to interact and live amongst different cultures, to make their points of views heard and work to breakdown cultural misunderstandings that have developed through suspicions, hate and fear. James Thomas, the host of Four Seas One Family, is working w

Apr 2, 2017 • 7:29

Barbarian At The Gate - 4S1F56

Barbarian At The Gate - 4S1F56

There are a few expats who have totally immersed themselves in the culture and lifestyle of their host nation. They later discover that their relationship with their adopted home has become strong and, in some cases, inseparable. Because of this type of unexplainable connection, a few expats have made the decision to give up the passport of their nation of birth to become a citizen of the nation of their adopted home. This transformation for many isn’t an easy one and, in some cases, irreversibl

Mar 25, 2017 • 48:32

Be Prepared To See A Side Of Yourself You've Never Seen Before - 4S1F55

Be Prepared To See A Side Of Yourself You've Never Seen Before - 4S1F55

It is often hard or almost impossible to predict where your life journey may ultimately take you. An expat’s journey leads to different pathways for self-discovery. My guest this episode is American expat Carlo JaMelle. He proves in a unique way that it is very possible to become an accidental expat and, in the end, enjoy and learn from the path taken. Carlo talks about how he ended up going to Taiwan after graduating from college. Without any in-depth knowledge of his future overseas home, he s

Mar 8, 2017 • 32:24

The Black Sheep TCK - 4S1F54

The Black Sheep TCK - 4S1F54

We sit down for chat with a 24 year old American TCK (Third Culture Kid), Mr. Brandon O’Neal. Brandon takes us for walk in his TCK world and allows us to have a peek inside his sphere of growing up as an African American third culture kid in Taiwan. He shares amusing stories of becoming part of the local Taiwanese community as well as the struggles he faced while being educated in local Taiwanese schools. Brandon points out the importance of learning about the culture you are living in and devel

Feb 20, 2017 • 24:20

Don't Belong Anywhere, But Comfortable Everywhere - 4S1F53

Don't Belong Anywhere, But Comfortable Everywhere - 4S1F53

It is quite common for expat women traveling abroad, and especially raising a family, to feel lost and lose a sense of purpose. It is easy to feel overwhelmed in an unfamiliar overseas environment. I’m lucky this episode to chat with Ms. Rita Golstein-Galperin a career makeover strategists who focuses on helping expat women abroad find or recalibrate a their life direction. Rita works with women all over the world and offers an online service that helps women focus and stay targeted on their lif

Feb 16, 2017 • 25:55

Commentary January 2017

Commentary January 2017

I started this website and podcast, Four Seas One Family, to explain some of my personal insights to family members and friends back home about life overseas. I also wanted to expand the podcast to where people could easily observe that we have a lot more in common than we think. In this format, people would be able to listen in on examples that prove that we are fundamentally the same regardless of skin color, religion, politics or other beliefs. We all have basic concerns that include security

Jan 28, 2017 • 9:39

Don't Let The First Three Months Dictate Your Experience - 4S1F52

Don't Let The First Three Months Dictate Your Experience - 4S1F52

Living as an expat can sometimes be like riding a rollercoaster in a thunderstorm. Sometimes things appear like they are going for a positive up swing an sometimes the swing runs out of inertia and head straight to the bottom. The same thing can be said for life in one’s home nation. However, riding the cultural wave as an expat takes a very different approach to facing fears, filtering doubts and finding of positive conclusion. Our guest this episode is Ms. Jasliyn Albert. Jasliyn is an America

Jan 25, 2017 • 29:53

About Russia Without the BS - 4S1F51

About Russia Without the BS - 4S1F51

In this episode, American expat Jim Kovpak joins us from Moscow, Russia. Jim has been living in Moscow for over ten years and goes into how he became attracted to Russia at an early age. Today Jim is a very active expat journalist who has covered stories for many international news agencies. While living and working in Russia, Jim and a friend noticed the false reality presented in the media about Russia and the lives of its people. Because of this, Jim and his friend created the website Russia

Jan 19, 2017 • 1:02:18

Expat Visits: Resetting Relationships - 4S1F50

Expat Visits: Resetting Relationships - 4S1F50

People choose to go and live overseas for many different reasons. In the beginning, some people may have gone overseas to further their education, search for financial opportunities, seek romance or to simply search for adventure. The desire to travel overseas can come from variety of different sources. The desire to travel abroad may come from someone we admire, a book we may have read or even a movie we may have seen. So as you see, the reasons are countless and sometimes can be left to the im

Jan 2, 2017 • 14:41

Does an Expat Have The Right to Take Part In Local Protests? - 4S1F49

Does an Expat Have The Right to Take Part In Local Protests? - 4S1F49

An expat may never be fully intergraded or accepted into all parts of a host nation. There will always be a far side of a host nation that an expat may never be allowed to reach and this is something that may just have to be accepted. The reasons for this may frankly be the way an expat converses with citizens, habits displayed or simply the way a particular expat looks. Local citizens aren’t under any obligation to completely accept an expat as one of their own. The only thing an expat can do,

Dec 15, 2016 • 25:01

Expat Mom From The City of Lights Raising Children Abroad - 4S1F48

Expat Mom From The City of Lights Raising Children Abroad - 4S1F48

In this episode we are having a wonderful chat with Pakistani expat Shehar Bano Rizvi (A name that James easily mispronounces.) who, at the time of this interview, has been living in Doha, Qatar for 13 years. Shehar is raising three children in her adopted home and shares how her little ones are adapting to a life that is constantly being in a mix of different languages, faces and cultures. Learn why Shehar sees this fact as a strong asset to her children’s personal development. She goes into wh

Dec 4, 2016 • 49:33

You Regret The Things That You Don't Do More Than The Things That You Do - 4S1F47

You Regret The Things That You Don't Do More Than The Things That You Do - 4S1F47

In this episode, we chat in the Marilyn Monroe suite with Angela Carson. Angela is an American expat from Southern California who has travelled all over the globe to over 33 different countries looking for adventure (I said "adventure" not trouble! [smile]). Angela has not only managed to travel the world and commit to an exciting career as an accomplished travel blogger (Boy! Am I jealous! [wink!]), but also raise, as a single parent I may add, a wonderful daughter. Find out what Angela's daugh

Nov 20, 2016 • 41:43

To Be Smarter Than I was Yesterday - 4S1F46

To Be Smarter Than I was Yesterday - 4S1F46

In this episode, we have American-expat Drey Gibson who is, at the time of this episode, living in Germany. He is also an expat guest with a military background. Drey is from a place in the U.S. where people from his small town, at the time of his service in the U.S. military, had limited access to information regarding traveling and living overseas. Drey is an engaging speaker who goes into how he coped with life overseas while in the military. It is easy to hear that his clear and positive sta

Nov 5, 2016 • 0:57

Embrace things and teach your kids to do that too - 4S1F45

Embrace things and teach your kids to do that too - 4S1F45

In our efforts to further understand the expat experience while raising children abroad, we are lucky this episode to gain further insights into the topic with our guest and fellow podcaster, Ms. Jennifer Langkjaer. Jennifer is an American expat currently living in Switzerland near Zurich. Jennifer briefly talks about how her children kept up with pop-culture in the US and the type of education her children are getting in Switzerland as opposed to what they may need upon returning to the United

Oct 31, 2016 • 36:17

People Need to be Treated as People - 4S1F44

People Need to be Treated as People - 4S1F44

I have been receiving email from listeners across Facebook and Twitter about covering the topic of parenting overseas. So over the next few weeks, I will be trying to deliver more information about the nuances of parenting as an expat abroad. I will also try to gather information from a variety of expats located in different parts of the world and focus on the commonalities of trying to raise children outside of their passport nation. So beginning in this episode we sit down for a chat with an A

Oct 23, 2016 • 33:26

People are still people no matter how different the cultures - 4S1F43

People are still people no matter how different the cultures - 4S1F43

In this episode, James is talking to American expat, part-time musician with a voice that any radio announcer would dream of having, Mr. Jim Santos. Jim is a retired network engineer from the DC area someplace near Chesapeake Bay and is connecting to us from Ecuador. I found Jim from one of his articles posted on the Wall Street Journal website. From his overseas vantage point, Jim uses a direct and, at times, strategic humorous point of view to highlight the events currently going on in the US.

Oct 7, 2016 • 37:41

Fear: The Main Ingredient in Cultural Intolerance - 4S1F42

Fear: The Main Ingredient in Cultural Intolerance - 4S1F42

I truly believe every single person on Earth has the ability to show compassion towards their fellow human beings regardless of the many countless obstacles. In my podcast, Four Seas One Family, I frantically try to construct cultural bridges to shorten the distance between common beliefs and mutual concerns. Global events displayed daily on our televisions, read in newspapers and on-line causes us to develop a pessimistic view of the world. The large numbers of innocent people suffering and dyi

Sep 28, 2016 • 15:12

You Should Live Where You're Treated Well - 4S1F41

You Should Live Where You're Treated Well - 4S1F41

In this episode we have a fellow podcaster from Kansas City who is now living as an expat in Belize on the island of Caye Caulker. A person of action, Robert Harper, explains how he has changed his philosophy about life and managed to arrange a lifestyle that allows him to work remotely and experience living abroad with his extended family which includes two wonderful young grandchildren. Robert shares why he feels supplying his grandchildren with supplementary remote educational resources will

Sep 21, 2016 • 37:59

What has become normal is fascinating again - 4S1F40

What has become normal is fascinating again - 4S1F40

Many people find their life path at unexpected times and in bewildering situations. Sometimes, people find themselves “evacuating” a certain life situation to search for another purpose. In this episode we are happy to sit down for a chat with American expat Andrea Whitaker. Andrea is very energetic so she doesn’t just sit around waiting for adventure to somehow find her. She bravely goes out on her scooter and not only looks for adventure, but hunts for it. Andrea has left over 25 years in the

Sep 11, 2016 • 31:19

Lower your expectations so that you can get the results that you want - 4S1F39

Lower your expectations so that you can get the results that you want - 4S1F39

Join us this episode as our host, James Thomas, sits down for a chat with Zambian-Canadian expat-entrepreneur Mr. Rico Ngoma. Tune in and listen to what lead Mr. Ngoma to learn more about China and what gave him the spark to finally move to China and start a business in the southern ever-moving Chinese city of Guangzhou. As Rico’s parents are also deeply involved in business, it maybe fair to say that doing business is in Rico’s DNA. Rico followed the road many expats take while living abroad an

Aug 31, 2016 • 47:09

4S1F38 Accept In Your Mind That You Can Do It

4S1F38 Accept In Your Mind That You Can Do It

Today, I am happy to have new dad, podcaster and entrepreneur Mr. Michael Michelini on the show. Michael is not only a new dad of two wonderful children; he is also a podcaster with two shows to look after! A top of all of this, Michael is also a business consultant for overseas companies looking to manufacture products in China. Michael’s consulting business, along with its website and other businesses, specializes in helping individuals and overseas companies understand how to do business in C

Aug 24, 2016 • 29:49

4S1F37 Taking a Leap of Faith

4S1F37 Taking a Leap of Faith

It is no secret that taking a leap of faith of any kind can lead to many important transitions in anyone’s life, which can help a person further develop him or herself as a part of the human race. In this episode, James is joined in his downtown office studio in Taipei with Mr. Johnny Fountain who currently works for a major global computer manufacturer with offices in Asia. Johnny is now based in Taipei, Taiwan and he joins us in this episode to talk about his experiences that lead to his life

Aug 17, 2016 • 37:52

4S1F36 Make People Understand That They are Heard and Understood

4S1F36 Make People Understand That They are Heard and Understood

Teaching is a tool to help make this world a better place for everyone and today I am very lucky to have Mr. Barry Mernin on the show this episode. Mr. Mernin is a lifelong elementary educator. Before teaching overseas, Mr. Mernin spent 12 years teaching in the US. Now, at the time of this episode, Mr. Mernin has spent the past fifteen years teaching in Singapore, Japan, Jordan and Hong Kong. He is currently a teaching administrator at Hokkaido International School- Niseko, Japan. Mr. Mernin’s p

Aug 5, 2016 • 45:54

4S1F35 The Expat's Approach to Assimilation and Humility in Learning about a Ho

4S1F35 The Expat's Approach to Assimilation and Humility in Learning about a Ho

In this episode James and Jon Dunning sit down for a chat about the different types of expats that adventure beyond their nations borders to experience life and for what reasons. Expats view their overseas life experience in many ways and in this podcast learn about the make up of a few of them. The expat's approach to assimilation and humility in learning about a host country's culture, balancing birth/host country cultures, are we conquerors, escapees or explorers? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: C

Jul 20, 2016 • 41:38

4S1F34 Ian Mote: From Chicken Feet to Crystal Baths

4S1F34 Ian Mote: From Chicken Feet to Crystal Baths

We have expat author Ian Mote on the show to share his expat experience and how and why he decided to write a memoir of his life in China in his comically titled book "From Chicken Feet to Crystal Baths". As a youngster from London and while traveling from country to country with his parents, Ian may have picked up an expat gene along the way. As of this podcast, Ian has lived as a expat for over 14 years. He has lived 4 years in Hong Kong, 3 years in Dubai and over 7 years in Shanghai, China. I

Jul 14, 2016 • 39:17

4S1F33 Amanda Bate: The Black Expat Identity

4S1F33 Amanda Bate: The Black Expat Identity

I’m very happy to have Ms. Amanda Bate as my guest on the podcast. Amanda was born in the US to Cameroonian parents and grew up in Africa. Amanda is also the founder of The Black Expat website.  The Black Expat website spotlights collected black expat experiences that are directly related to a black expat’s survival while living abroad. Also, parts of the website talks about issues that relate to raising children abroad and, in particular issues related to what Third Culture Kids (TCKs) face whi

Jul 2, 2016 • 49:53

4S1F32 Give an expats point of view a fair listen

4S1F32 Give an expats point of view a fair listen

EPISODE OVERVIEW: In this episode, I go into a direction that has been on my mind ever since I decided to live permanently outside my nation of birth. I often find it hard to explain to friends and family back in the South Bronx the reasons why I chose to live abroad and face the challenges of living away from familiar faces, places and customs. I didn’t want to fall into the same, and often limited, life style most African-Americans with little or no financial backing often find themselves beco

May 29, 2016 • 21:13

4S1F31 Tom Heberlein: More Choices and The Myth of Paying High Swedish Taxes.

4S1F31 Tom Heberlein: More Choices and The Myth of Paying High Swedish Taxes.

In this episode, we do some myth busting about the value of paying collective taxes. We see how an American expat learnt to appreciate something about his host nation that would raise eyebrows and receive loads of criticism back home. It is often veryhard for an expat to communicate the way other people in differentparts of the world are living and how the particular system theylive under would be of some good use elsewhere. ABOUT GUEST:  Tom Heberlein is a retired environmental sociologist prof

May 2, 2016 • 36:18

4S1F30 Expat Dilemmas

4S1F30 Expat Dilemmas

Recently I’ve come across loads of articles stating the “Top #” of places to live as an expat. After a while, I’ve found these lists on the edge of becoming misleading and sometimes down right biased. These “ Top #” lists point out the best nations to:  Retire  / Start a new business  /  Work or Do business /  Get health care / Find a partner Study or Do research  / Learn a new skill / Find romance /  Start a family /  Etc,…… I am finding that these oversimplified statements are lacking fully de

Apr 14, 2016 • 12:47

4S1F29 Jamar Whaley: Overcoming Socioeconomic Barriers to Help Promote Educational Exchanges Abroad

4S1F29 Jamar Whaley: Overcoming Socioeconomic Barriers to Help Promote Educational Exchanges Abroad

In this info-packed episode, James sits down for a chat with fellow New Yorker, Jamar Whaley. Jamar shares his expat experience and talks about his observance on how people from low-socioeconomic classes are not offered or simply blocked from opportunities to study abroad and why this needs to be changed. Jamar often gives an emotional inter-personal perspective on his life abroad.

Apr 7, 2016 • 49:36

4S1F28 There’s a Whole New World Out There

4S1F28 There’s a Whole New World Out There

In this episode, we chat with Ms. Clara Wiggins, a prolific blogger, writer and mother of two wonderful girls from the UK and now living in South Africa. Clara is a TCK (Third Culture Kid) and shares her expat experiences with us and offers up some tips for living life abroad. Clara talks about the challenges of raising and educating children in an environment unlike the one they come from. Also, she taps into issues accompanying spouses of different types face while trying to maintain their rel

Mar 31, 2016 • 41:24

4S1F27: Be brave and bold. Step out your comfort zone.

4S1F27: Be brave and bold. Step out your comfort zone.

Time really flies and people change. Hopefully people change in good ways and appreciate the things they have and the people around them. Sara Hong is a former student of mine. I first met Sara when she was a forth grader and now she’s working in the legal field in a country that is very unlike her own. Sara is in the city that never sleeps. Join us while we take a walk with Sara through events in her life abroad that at first confused and later amused her. Sara does all this while, at the same

Mar 15, 2016 • 35:00

4S1F26: The Ups and Downs of a  Long-Distance Relationship

4S1F26: The Ups and Downs of a Long-Distance Relationship

On this Valentines Day, James chats about the few steps couples can take to help their relationship apart stay afloat. It's not a secret that long-distance relationships can cause a lot of stress to partners and require that both partners be patient and  trust one another throughout. The following are five tips to deal with the ups and downs of a long-distance relationship. 1. Have mutual positive feelings 2. Strong commitment 3. Have faith and trust 4. Communication 5. Be Mature

Feb 14, 2016 • 13:33

4S1F25 Jon Dunning: Consciously contribute

4S1F25 Jon Dunning: Consciously contribute

We often hear of or meet people who sacrifice many things for the betterment of others. In this episode, we sit down for a heart warming chat with Mr. Jon Dunning, originally from London, England, now living in Auckland, New Zealand. Listen to how he and his wife looked abroad to make a better future for their family. Jon wholeheartedly shares his story about how his situation back in London, along with the contacts he made while working overseas, gave him the idea to look beyond borders for a n

Feb 8, 2016 • 59:42

4S1F 24 Saul Fleischman : See the world. Visit it.

4S1F 24 Saul Fleischman : See the world. Visit it.

Busy Philadelphia native and Penn State graduate, Mr. Saul Fleischman, connects to us from Osaka, Japan to share his expat experiences. Saul is a long-term expat in Japan, with over 22 plus years living there, and shares his story of how he ended up in the place he now calls home. Saul is a straight-talker and walks us through how he followed the typical road many expats take while searching for a purpose in their adopted environment. He describes how Japan left an impression on him during his e

Jan 19, 2016 • 52:52

4S1F 23 Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar: Expat Dilemmas

4S1F 23 Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar: Expat Dilemmas

At the end of 2015, I had the opportunity to interview Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, a South Asian American Expat, now living and working in Doha. Mohana is a wonderful speaker and writer who gets to the point. She talks about how she and her two young children adapted to their host nation. Also, she sheds some light on the intricate interactions of the expat community where she lives. Besides being a wonderful writer, speaker and parent, Mohana is also a podcaster! This is why in the interview I cal

Jan 13, 2016 • 56:33

4S1F22 Jonathan Rollins: Keep an Open Mind

4S1F22 Jonathan Rollins: Keep an Open Mind

We are glad to have American expat Mr. Jonathan Rollins as a guest on the show. Now, living and working in Sweden, Jonathan is also married to a wonderful Swedish lady and they have a young little (1.5 year old) boy bouncing around the house. I learnt about Jonathan through a blog post he wrote about gun control in the US. His viewpoint of his home from abroad prompted me to track him down for a chat. As it turns out, Jonathan has an interesting story about how he ended up in Sweden and to top t

Dec 22, 2015 • 43:14

4S1F21 Avalon Owens: Spend time in a place where you are a minority

4S1F21 Avalon Owens: Spend time in a place where you are a minority

An American expat from Harvard University studying Entomology in Taiwan, Avalon Owens (姜安蓉), joins us in a chat about how she ended up in Taiwan. Avalon has also spent time in Beijing and she explains the non-typical way she learned Mandarin Chinese. Avalon is full of energy and always delightful. Come hear what she has to say. I guarantee she’ll put a smile on your face.

Dec 15, 2015 • 49:35

4S1F20 Anton Botes: If people want to make a change.

4S1F20 Anton Botes: If people want to make a change.

We are very happy to have South African music designer Anton Botes on the show to share his experiences living abroad. He talks about why he decided to make the change from his established occupation in South Africa to a new life overseas. He also offers some special insight to his lifestyle abroad.  Mentioned: Show Reel: http://www.antonbotes.com The Lab Space: https://www.facebook.com/labspacetw   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for taking the time to share this po

Dec 8, 2015 • 47:44

4S1F19 Things you should know before accepting employment overseas.

4S1F19 Things you should know before accepting employment overseas.

Over the past few weeks, listeners have been writing to me asking about employment opportunities and conditions abroad and I found myself repeating the same advice over and over again. It looks like many people are to shy to leave a message on the website so I decided to create a podcast on the topic. Much like looking for employment in your home nation, there are basic questions that should be asked and be concerned about. However, simply because of the location and distances involved in overse

Dec 4, 2015 • 24:24

There’s a grain of truth in a lot of what some people (say) who criticise - 4S1F8

There’s a grain of truth in a lot of what some people (say) who criticise - 4S1F8

Mark Goding, a fifteen plus year Australian expat living in Taiwan, chats with James about his early travels before ending up in the place he now calls home. A class A optimist, Mark is well known for his endless energy and outspokenness and he always has an antidote for any situation or cause.  He keeps active and also runs his own business selling sausages to local business.  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for taking the time to share this podcast. Click HERE if y

Dec 1, 2015 • 1:01:45

You have to be Brave - 4S1F7

You have to be Brave - 4S1F7

In this short episode we sit down for a late night chat with Kathy Wang, a Taiwanese expat living in Brisbane, Australia. Kathy started off her Australian journey on a working holiday. Now, two and a half years later, Kathy is pursuing her master’s degree and, at the same time, working in a local Australian company. Kathy talks about how she prepared to deal with language and cultural issues. She also points out the importance of getting out and mixing in your local community.  THANK YOU FOR LIS

Nov 24, 2015 • 32:05

Taking opportunities to learn - 4S1F16

Taking opportunities to learn - 4S1F16

Colombian Expatriate William Cruz Molina is in the Taipei studio to chat about how he ended up coming to Taiwan to study in university. William also talks about how important it is to get outside your protective shell and mix with an overseas environment. He explains the situations he encountered while learning the local language and culture. In the end, he points out how his experience as an expat helped him further develop his view of his life and world.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISO

Nov 17, 2015 • 31:25

We’re really not that all different. Kindness is universal - 4S1F15

We’re really not that all different. Kindness is universal - 4S1F15

Today we sit down for a chat with Brent Smith. Brent is a Canadian expat residing in Taiwan for 15 years! He shares his views of how his overseas experience helped him widen his view of the world. He notes during the interview that people are generally the same and kindness really is universal. Brent has lived in a few places in Taiwan and is well qualified to compare and contrast both the positive and negative aspects of being a long-term overseas expat.   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISOD

Nov 10, 2015 • 39:51

Working overseas as a Female Expat - 4S1F14

Working overseas as a Female Expat - 4S1F14

Today we interview Ms. Christine Chang, a Taiwanese expat working in Hong Kong. Ms. Chang, in her first Internet interview, shares with James Thomas her experiences working and living abroad. Christine talks about some of the issues she’s faced working in a “male dominated” industry and how it seems that more women at put in hi-level management positions in many Hong Kong companies. She also points out what was her drive to look overseas for an employment challenge and the value of an overseas w

Nov 4, 2015 • 39:07

Challenges Women Expatriates Face While Climbing Up the Ladder of Success - 4S1F13

Challenges Women Expatriates Face While Climbing Up the Ladder of Success - 4S1F13

What are some of the issues female expatriates have to face while living and working abroad? What are the unique situations they encounter as a result of their assignments, locations and especially gender? Today, female expats say that they feel the need to take on international assignments or rotations to further their career goals and prove self-worth. They note that one of the prerequisites for a top-level executive position is having an international overseas experience….. Women, under the m

Oct 29, 2015 • 12:32

Homesickness - 4S1F12

Homesickness - 4S1F12

We often hear people from all cultures living away from their home or in an unfamiliar environment talk about their feelings of being homesick and the reasons why they feel the way they do. Now, hold on for a minute! What does homesick or homesickness really mean? What are the elements that form these feelings? Is being homesick really about how a person feels about their “home”? What really does “homesick” mean and what are the underlining symptoms that show up as a result? THANK YOU FOR LISTEN

Oct 9, 2015 • 20:45

Things to Pay Attention to While Traveling Abroad - 4S1F11

Things to Pay Attention to While Traveling Abroad - 4S1F11

Going abroad can help a traveler widen his or her viewpoint of the world by giving the person a personal relationship with the location and the people encountered. However, when planning to travel overseas there are steps that need to be taken to ensure the traveler’s safety and wellbeing. In this podcast I offer a few tips to assist anyone from anywhere in their preparations before and during a journey abroad. Many of the points I raise can be called common sense. No matter where you plan to tr

Oct 4, 2015 • 26:58

Learn about expat life in Finland with Steve, Ken and Guillermo of techxpatspodcast.com - 4S1F10

Learn about expat life in Finland with Steve, Ken and Guillermo of techxpatspodcast.com - 4S1F10

When people talk about Finland, most of the time they describe a place flanked with historical architecture, monuments and fields of grass. Within this background three expats from Britain, America and Spain now call Finland their home. Steve, Ken and Guillermo, the three host of the podcast “techxpatspodcast.com”, sit down for a chat with our host, James Thomas, and share their connections and reasons for calling Finland home.  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for ta

Sep 25, 2015 • 1:04:37

Interview with American expat language Consultant Erik Lahdekorpi - 4S1F9

Interview with American expat language Consultant Erik Lahdekorpi - 4S1F9

Tune in and join us as we interview American expat Erik Lahdakorpi. Erik has been all over the world experiencing life overseas. He has interesting stories and antidotes to share about his times living abroad. Erik is not only an adventurer, but also a well established English language consultant. His service has helped many professionals get a secure foothold on the English language.   Erik Lahdekorpi Professional English Services:    http://www.eng.coach A few years ago a friend of Erik had an

Sep 22, 2015 • 47:56

Leaving an EFL Job Gracefully After You’ve Been Screwed Over - 4S1F8

Leaving an EFL Job Gracefully After You’ve Been Screwed Over - 4S1F8

A longtime friend on Facebook sent me a link from a blog (http://anamericanintaipei.com) that had the flashing title “Leaving an EFL Job Gracefully After You’ve Been Screwed Over”. I found this to be an interesting title as well as a topic of interest to many expats employed abroad. Leaving an EFL Job Gracefully After You’ve Been Screwed Over”. I found this to be an interesting title as well as a topic of interest to many expats employed abroad. I contacted the Webmaster and author of the mentio

Sep 20, 2015 • 54:50

Views of an expat's home country from abroad - 4S1F7

Views of an expat's home country from abroad - 4S1F7

Views of an expat's home country from abroad After watch the GOP debate the need for a more true international understanding is needed. This is why I created this podcast. We are all the same, but different. This really makes ALL our lives more colorful and meaningful.  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for taking the time to share this podcast. Click HERE if you would like to load our Four Seas One Family Website RSS Feed. Please help us make this show better by filli

Sep 20, 2015 • 11:06

Are you suitable for living abroad? - 4S1F6

Are you suitable for living abroad? - 4S1F6

For a variety of different reasons, many people think about moving or living long-term in another country. Of course, people thinking like this should know that they might need time to adapt. Learning to co-exist in a country with people of different cultural characteristics, language, cuisines, religions, moral values, ethics and others on a daily basis may not be a skill some of us can obtain. If you are steadfast and determined to living a life abroad, be prepared to make a checklist of why y

Sep 6, 2015 • 15:38

Americans Trends in Studying Abroad - 4S1F5

Americans Trends in Studying Abroad - 4S1F5

This isn’t new news. In fact, maybe it’s a trend.  More and more students are leaving the US to study abroad. Nothing new about this fact, but the point to mention is less than 10% of American students today choose to study abroad and there are several reasons why this is so. This low rate of increase is far behind the rates of students seeking an overseas learning experience in the US from other countries... Institute of International Education (IIE): Demand for Study Overseas by American Stud

Aug 29, 2015 • 32:27

Interview with US Expat and radio personality Stevie G - 4S1F4

Interview with US Expat and radio personality Stevie G - 4S1F4

Join James in a studio interview with local radio and TV personality Stevie G. Listen to the road this US expat took to find his way in his new home. Stevie has some funny encounters and anecdotes to share during his time in Taiwan. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for taking the time to share this podcast. Click HERE if you would like to load our Four Seas One Family Website RSS Feed. Please help us make this show better by filling in this Expat Life Expat Life Surve

Aug 22, 2015 • 46:48

Work Permit and the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) - 4S1F3

Work Permit and the Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) - 4S1F3

This episode was quickly patched together while in the middle of Super Typhoon Soudelor (8/8/2015). I wanted to get this episode out before the heavy part of the storm hit the island and as a result a lot of tongue twisting occurred.  In this episode I present a very brief overview of getting a Taiwan work permit and an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC). I would also like to make a correction. I referred to the Taiwan National Immigration Agency (NIA) as the National Immigration Associ

Aug 7, 2015 • 14:07

Coming to Taiwan and the Alien Resident Certificate - 4S1F2

Coming to Taiwan and the Alien Resident Certificate - 4S1F2

First off, please excuse my “Ahhh”, “Humms” and twisted tongue in this episode. Here is some fast paced information for people planning to come to Taiwan. Here, I’ll quickly talk about what is needed to apply for a visit or a stay. Most of the information I present here in this episode can be found at the Taiwan Nation Immigration Agency (NIA) website at these links: Visa-exempt entry: http://www.immigration.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1090149&ctNode=30085&mp=2 Applying for an Alien Resident Certificat

Jul 31, 2015 • 17:30

Podcast Introduction - 4S1F1

Podcast Introduction - 4S1F1

Have you ever wondered how your life would be if you suddenly had to travel or live abroad? How would you adapt? How would you communicate? How would you make friends? This is the podcast to learn about living overseas as an expatriate. Tune in and learn about the ups and downs to cultural and social adaptation when living abroad.  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE! Thank you very much for taking the time to share this podcast. Click HERE if you would like to load our Four Seas One Family

Jul 25, 2015 • 9:37

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