It's the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one! In this episode, your hosts Big and White have a chat about some of their favorite memories of Nepal, what they learned from doing this podcast, and say a big fat THANK YOU to all the listeners and supporters who have shown them so much love! You can still reach Big and White by email, Instagram, and Facebook. Don't hesitate to say hello :)
In this (penultimate!) episode, your hosts Big and White discuss how living overseas builds skills like extreme patience, being used to being uncomfortable, and knowing how to live without things! They've both benefited from living cross-culturally, and they hope that you'll benefit from listening to this episode! Although the podcast is ending, Big and White are still available via instagram, facebook, and email!
Have you ever worried about a yak interrupting your sleep? In this episode, your hosts Big and White reminisce about some of the wild and wacky places they've slept. Listen now to hear about balancing on planks, strange decor, mouse attacks, and more! For tips on sleeping in airports: https://www.sleepinginairports.net/
How do I adjust back to my home culture smoothly? (Hint: you don't, and that's okay!) In this second of a two-part episode, your hosts Big and White give some tips from their own experience and the sage advice of others in ways to deal with re-entry into your home culture. While the transition period may be frustrating and somewhat bumpy, we promise that you can survive it and even get back to a point of thriving! (We'll let you know when we get there too!)
What do you do when not normal has become, well, normal? In this first of a two-part episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some of their experiences transitioning back to their passport countries. "Re-entry" can have many side-effects, such as incompetence, impatience, and overstimulation. But it can also have its good sides, such as highlighting the great things to appreciate about your "home"! And don't forget to keep using the Word of the Season: Apricity!
Every once in a while, it's good to step away and debrief your life. In this episode, your hosts Big and White, during their transition to living in the States for a while, talk about their time in Nepal, their plans moving forward, and their success and/or failure with New Year's resolutions!
Have you ever tried carrying a yoga ball on your bicycle? In this episode, your hosts Big and White, with returning guest Moon, tell some of their funniest and craziest experiences of being an expat in Nepal! Much silliness ensues, of course. This episode brought to you by: YAK
In this UNEDITED episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some things that are one hundred percent normal in Nepal that would be one hundred percent strange/unacceptable/confusing in a Western context. They also talk about how the smile with a single tear is the emoji you never realized you needed until it came.
Why do we talk the way we do?!? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about sociolinguistics, which is the study of the choices that people make while using language. They also have an announcement about the future of the podcast. Check out: Nicole Holliday on Ologies podcast; Perceived Benefit Model; Tyson Moktan's youtube channel
"You live overseas? Your life must be sooo exotic!" In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about how living overseas feels surprisingly… normal. They debunk about all the things they've heard (or thought) about living overseas. Spoiler alert: They aren't fluent in Nepali, they don't (really) travel all the time, and they aren't inspiring. They also talk about how language affects the way you think, and vice versa!
Have you been wondering why you feel so tired and cranky all the time? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about all the similarities between culture shock and the constantly changing situation created by COVID. Many thanks to our (fake) sponsor: FLATHARDBED Resources: https://tinyurl.com/y3ev9om9 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman...
This may come as a surprise, but humans need other people! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the importance of building community when you move overseas (or to any new place), and try to give some tips on how to make friends in a new environment and culture. They also discuss Zoom fatigue, and the pros and cons of this new online world we are all engaging in.
In this episode, your hosts Big and White welcome Ujjwal Rai, a trekking guide and all around adventurous man! Ujjwal tells his story and inspires us with how much he loves his job, and teaches us some amazing, highly applicable, Nepali proverbs! Find Ujjwal at: lostinthehimalaya.com Instagram: @lostinthehimalaya
Looking for some good reads? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some unexpected books that have helped them in their lives overseas. As astronaut Chris Hadfield says, "It's mostly a matter of changing your perspective." Books on our list: In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris...
Have you ever had a package delivered on a scooter? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the joys and woes of online shopping in Nepal. They discuss the online shopping options, how to give directions when you don't have an address, and more! Ethical shopping in Nepal: Purnaa, Kolpa, White Yak, Local Project, Meecha, Woven International Resources: Good On You App, Better World App, Done Good, Fashion & Compassion, Wonderful Things, Buy Me Once Ethical Brands: Girlfriend Colle...
What does it mean to have a growth mindset? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about growth and fixed mindset, with a special focus on how it affects people who move to a new culture. Spoiler: growth mindset is the one you want! What did Big fail at over and over to learn a growth mindset? How did one terrible track meet affect White's life for years after? Listen to find out! This week Big and White also answer a listener question about some tricky aspects of Nepali that they wished...
In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk with their guest Macaw about his experience immigrating to the US and then repatriating to his home country of Honduras. He explains what it's like being bilingual, discusses cultural adjustments (including missing Honduran food), and tells us what he loved about his new home (mostly AC). We also learn that Honduras has the same kind of vegetable sellers as Nepal! Be sure to try cooking anafres, a delicious Honduran fondue. This week our segment is ...
In this 2-part episode, your hosts Big and White remember the border closures in 2015 and talk about the shortages experienced in Nepal at that time, as compared with the lockdowns now. They also discuss that one time a Turkish airplane crashed and blocked the only international landing strip in the whole country, what a wild time. At the time of publishing Kathmandu and the rest of the country are on full lockdown, but never fear, Big is staying at White's house and they are bravely bringing th...
In this 2-part episode, your hosts Big and White talk about how COVID-19/Corona virus is affecting Nepal, along with the wider issues of shortages and how to live without toilet paper. At the time of publishing Kathmandu and the rest of the country are on full lockdown, but never fear, Big is staying at White's house and they are bravely bringing the podcast to you! This episode brought to you by ManClamp™ (fake sponsor)
Are you as tired of talking about COVID-19 as we are?!? In this BONUS episode, your hosts Big and White enjoy a whiskey together while they have a casual chat about random topics that you asked for! Sponsored by Posthumous Podcasting(™) and Lil' Trash Pile (album dropping soon)
What could we have done better? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some ways that they feel they could have improved their transition to living in a new culture and context. Of course language and culture learning comes up, along with relationships, investing, and… buying a couch? Really to be honest this is an episode chock full of advice for people about to move overseas. This episode brought you by... Couch(™).
In this episode, your hosts Big and White say a huge THANK YOU to their patrons and listeners by doing a bonus episode. The topic? ASK US ANYTHING. And you really asked us... all the things?!?
Not sure how to navigate arriving in Nepal for the first time? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about how to not only survive, but thrive as you fly into Nepal! They explain how to navigate the airport, get a tourist visa (pro tip: it's easy), get to your hotel, get around the city, and more! They also discuss and attempt to explain Shivaratri, an important but somewhat confusing Hindu holiday. Don't forget to check out our (fake) sponsor: My Clear Bag! Use code bigandwhite at chec...
Living overseas always guarantees new experiences (and new ways to eat cheese?). In this episode, your hosts Big and White welcome guest Seagull to the pod! She talks about her time doing research in Costa Rica, her current job in a research lab studying language learning genes (with cute birds!), and her dreams of moving to Germany. This episode brought to you by your friendly neighborhood vegetable seller (not a real sponsor). For more on FOXP2 research, listen to The Scientist Speaks: Birds o...
Afraid to take your first flight across an ocean? Never fear, in this episode, your hosts Big and White talk more about traveling from continent to continent via the magic of aeroplanes! They tell you how to stay hydrated, stay entertained, and most importantly, stay sane. You need no longer fear the unknown - Big and While give you all the deets you need to know. Links: https://www.sleepinginairports.net/ https://www.facebook.com/HimalayaRoadies/ Big Boyz Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel...
What does a normal day look like for an expat in Kathmandu? In this episode, your hosts Big and White discuss what a typical day looks like for them, including an 8 minute commute, potentially leaving work to wash their hair, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and of course all of the bad habits that they plan to change. Eventually. Be sure to check out Alpine Start coffee, they are totally not official sponsors but dang their coffee is delicious and sustainable and all that good stuff. Thanks ...
Happy 2020! In this episode, in the spirit of New Years Resolutions, your hosts Big and White talk about some of the things that they had to relearn when they moved to Nepal. Moving to a new country often means relearning how to be an adult, and sometimes in surprising ways! Also, you should definitely read Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazon by Daniel L. Everett http://thelanguagenerds.com/piraha-language-the-linguistic-anomaly/...
Have you ever tried… bleisure?!?!? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the fact that more millenials are traveling and living abroad than the generations before them. Why would they do that? Is it even a good idea? Why the heck did Big and White decide to live overseas? They also answer a listener question about getting mail in Nepal, which is surprisingly complicated? This description is all questions???
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! After a brief hiatus, your hosts Big and White are back with an exciting and silly new episode. Have you watched those videos where they have celebrities answer the autofill questions on Google? Well, in this episode Big and White attempt to do the same thing. Get ready for a wild ride.
Do you honk at dogs but not cows? Do you pay rent with stacks and stacks of cash? Have your shoe needs changed drastically? In this episode, your hosts Big and White discuss just a few of the things that have changed for them since moving to Nepal. And of course be sure to check out our (fake) sponsor: https://www.facebook.com/Fiberblankets/
