Flourish In The Foreign | Black Women Living & Thriving Abroad

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Meka Walters shares her extraordinary journey of living and working across various countries, from Japan to Burkina Faso to Bhutan. She discusses significant challenges such as losing her job and contracting malaria. She delves into her teaching experiences, spiritual growth through yoga, and her current work with the Bhutan Wine Company.This Episode Covers:Early Adventures Abroad: Japan and KoreaExploring Vietnam and AfricaSabbatical and Return to VietnamJourney to BhutanIdentity and Experiences as a Black Woman AbroadTrans-Siberian Railway AdventureLiving in BhutanWorking in the Wine Industry To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Niana returns to share her thoughts on "Aging Abroad". Niana's first episode of the show was the very first episode of Flourish in the Foreign. This episode is being released on the 6th anniversary of the show. Celebrate and show your support through Buy Me A Coffee or by becoming a paid Substack subscriber. Niana has been living in the Netherlands for eight years (abroad 13 total). She shares what she has been up to since the last time she appeared on the show: buying a car and a house, moving to a rural village, and becoming a mother of two. She explains Dutch prenatal care centered on midwives, options like home birth, and a hospital-adjacent birth house. Niana reflects on raising tri-racial Dutch children while intentionally passing on Black American culture, navigating Dutch emotional norms, career growth, aging abroad, wellness benefits of living abroad, and ongoing pride and longing for Chicago.This Episode Covers:Catching Up on the Past 6 YearsAging AbroadCareer GrowthPregnancy AbroadRaising Tri-Racial KidsPassing Down CultureWellness AbroadRepresenting America Abroad To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Roxana Bangura shares her extensive experiences navigating Black identity through her life and travels. Growing up in the Bronx to West African immigrants, Roxana reflects on her family’s immigrant journey, her education in journalism and international relations, and her travels across Europe, West Africa, and Mexico. She explores the complexities of Blackness in different cultural contexts and the generational trauma of colonialism.This Episode Covers:Family Background and Immigrant JourneyExperiences in LondonChallenges in Ghana and Family DynamicsPlanning a New Life in MexicoDiscovering Afro-Mexican HistoryLiving Abroad and Preserving WellnessBlackness and Erasure in Latin AmericaAging Gracefully AbroadTo learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Candace Smith returns to the show to share what she’s been up to since our last conversation. Seeking a calmer environment, Candace strategically relocated from Istanbul to Málaga, where the favorable weather, peaceful atmosphere, and accessibility to resources for her daughter provided the stability they needed. Candace reflects on the importance of self-care, community support, and adaptation in foreign environments, highlighting her experiences of world schooling her daughter, managing her own health conditions, and embracing her evolving identity as she ages.This Episode Covers:Moving to MálagaParenting and World SchoolingHealthcare AbroadCommunity Support Managing Chronic IllnessComparing Healthcare Systems: Spain vs. TurkeyAging Abroad To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Reva Watson shares her experiences of living abroad, from studying in China to settling in Trinidad. Reva discusses the unexpected obstacles she faced as a new mother in a new country, her academic journey, and how her professional and personal life evolved over 10 years.This Episode Covers:Living and Studying in ChinaTransition to Life in TrinidadFirst Year in Trinidad: Challenges and AdaptationsProfessional Evolution and Work-Life BalanceReflections on Relationships and Family DynamicsCultural Observations and IdentityPassport Privilege and Global Mobility To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Candace Stephens, a 35-year-old Black American who has lived in Denmark for over eight years, shares her journey from growing up in Rancho Cucamonga, California, to studying abroad in Newcastle, Australia, for six months and au pairing outside Paris for over a year. Candace discusses navigating early adjustment in Denmark, learning Danish amid widespread English fluency, and building confidence through her academic strengths and community. This Episode Covers: First Months in DenmarkBuilding a Home AbroadLearning DanishPregnancy in DenmarkRaising a Multicultural ChildSurvivor’s Guilt After Leaving the U.S. To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

Support for today’s episode comes from the Center for US Voters Abroad Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic engagement organization that helps Americans living outside the U.S. vote via absentee ballot. Request your absentee ballot today using their tool here: https://usvotersabroad.org/podcastIn this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Ayoka B. delves into her experiences of moving to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. She recounts her upbringing in a Black activist household, her professional and academic journey, the emotional and logistical difficulties of transitioning to a new country, and the profound sense of freedom and safety she has found in Costa Rica.This Episode Covers:Planning the Move to Costa RicaAdjusting to Life in Costa RicaReflections on Identity and Well-beingRediscovering Writing and CreativityReflections on Aging and Wellness To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at https://www.flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

Support for today’s episode comes from the Center for US Voters Abroad Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic engagement organization that helps Americans living outside the U.S. vote via absentee ballot. Request your absentee ballot today using their tool here: https://usvotersabroad.org/podcastIn this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Dione Peart reflects on her journey to living in Mozambique. She shares how her childhood in New York ultimately led her to join the Peace Corps and what led her to extend her service. Dione also reflects on how migration has affected her identity, raising a multicultural child, navigating bias while building a business abroad, and how her wellness practices have been influenced by her life abroad.This Episode Covers:Growing Up in a Jamaican HouseholdJoining the Peace CorpsAdapting to Life in MozambiqueNavigating Identity and Privilege Abroad Intercultural Relationships and Family DynamicsRaising a Multicultural Child Balancing Work and Wellness To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode, Keki Mwaba, based in Amsterdam, shares her inspiring journey from South Africa to the Netherlands. She discusses her academic background, career in HR and recruitment, and the challenges and successes she faced while transitioning between cultures and countries. Keki dives into her experiences working for major companies like Disney and Uber, and her own entrepreneurial venture, Expat Career Development. She also touches on themes such as belonging, personal growth, and the importance of community and wellness.This Episode Covers:Growing Up in South AfricaUniversity Life in Cape Town Studying Abroad in the USChoosing the Netherlands for Higher EducationStarting a Career in the NetherlandsWorking for American Tech Companies Blackness and Womanhood in the NetherlandsAdapting to Life in the NetherlandsBuilding a Diverse Social Circle Starting Expat Career DevelopmentNetworking and Job Search Tips To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

Season 7 of Flourish in the Foreign launches in 2026. Subscribe to Substack to listen early and ad-free. Flourish in the Foreign ResourcesPodcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com)Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign)Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits:Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & EditorZachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Ava LaTanya Hilton shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Detroit during the height of Motown to living in Valencia, Spain. She reflects on the challenges and triumphs of her childhood, pivotal experiences like her senior class trip abroad, her academic and professional accomplishments, and the profound impact of dance on her life. This Episode Covers: First International Experience University and Dance Journey Living Abroad: England and France Living Abroad: South Africa and Saudi Arabia Dance: A Lifelong Passion Defining Wellness and Final Thoughts To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign Resources Podcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com) Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign) Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits: Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & Editor Zachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Emily Rumble, a bibliotherapist and author of "Bibliotherapy in the Bronx," explores the concept of bibliotherapy, the history and role of literature in emotional healing, and provides book prescriptions for life abroad. Order Bibliotherapy in the Bronx here *: https://bookshop.org/p/books/bibliotherapy-in-the-bronx-emely-rumble-lcsw/26824052?aid=94836&ean=9781955905879&listref=books-to-flourish-in-the-foreign-f688a647-e9d3-4e75-9e74-05406e2bdce2&next=t This Episode Covers: Becoming a Bibliotherapist The Essence of Bibliotherapy Cultural Roots and Identity Literature as a Bridge to Home The Art of Bibliotherapy: Prescribing Books for Healing Hypothetical Book Prescriptions for Life Abroad To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign Resources Podcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com) Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign) Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits: Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & Editor Zachary Higgs-Theme Music

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Heather shares her story of living abroad for over six years in countries like Japan, Australia, and Ireland. She also explores themes of identity, wellness, and the difficulties of reintegrating into the U.S. after living abroad. This Episode Covers: Life in Japan: First Impressions and Experiences Returning to the U.S. and Transition to Art School Challenges and Decisions: From Chicago to Australia Graduate School in Australia Navigating Cultural Differences in Australia Moving to Japan: Teaching and Living Experiences Re-Entry Challenges: Returning to the States Living Abroad Again: Japan and Beyond Studying in Ireland: Challenges and Comparisons Redefining Wellness Through Migration To learn more about this guest, go to their show notes page at flourishintheforeign.com/episodes Flourish in the Foreign Resources Podcast Website (https://www.flourishintheforeign.com) Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/flourishforeign) Join the Substack (https://christinejob.substack.com/) Episode Credits: Christine Job-Creator, Host, Producer & Editor Zachary Higgs-Theme Music