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 09, 2018•32 min•Ep. 85
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 02, 2018•46 min•Ep. 84
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 min•Ep. 83
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 min•Ep. 82
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•28 min•Ep. 81
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 09, 2018•58 min•Ep. 80
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 03, 2018•45 min•Ep. 79
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 ...
Apr 25, 2018•45 min•Ep. 78
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 hi...
Apr 18, 2018•28 min•Ep. 77
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 min•Ep. 76
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 04, 2018•32 min•Ep. 75
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 min•Ep. 74
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•39 min•Ep. 73
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 min•Ep. 72
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 min•Ep. 71
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•23 min•Ep. 70
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 min•Ep. 69
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•41 min•Ep. 68
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 min
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 min•Ep. 67
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 min•Ep. 66
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 08, 2017•38 min•Ep. 65
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•50 min•Ep. 64
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•10 min
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•42 min•Ep. 63
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 03, 2017•4 min
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 min•Ep. 62
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 08, 2017•25 min•Ep. 61
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•25 min•Ep. 60
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•42 min•Ep. 59
