• Wayfinders: new country immersions

  • By: Sacha Cody
  • Podcast

Wayfinders: new country immersions

By: Sacha Cody
  • Summary

  • Inspiring stories about ordinary people who left their home to live in a new country. Come and listen to their stories, and hear about their inspirations, motivations, and journeys, from idea to immersion.

    © 2024 Wayfinders: new country immersions
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Episodes
  • #4 Matt Barton: Melbourne, Australia to Amsterdam, the Netherlands
    Jul 31 2024

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    In this episode, meet Matt Barton!

    Matt shares his journey of moving from Melbourne, Australia to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Matt and I dive deep into what it means to live a "big life."

    Matt's story begins with an unexpected source of inspiration: the Beatles documentary. Watching it (three times, all 18 hours!) sparked a realization that he wanted more out of life, prompting him to reassess his path and pursue new adventures.

    We explore the intricacies of planning and justifying such a move, both to oneself and to others. Matt shares insights into the emotional and practical aspects of uprooting one's life for a new experience.

    Matt's definition of wayfinding resonates throughout our conversation: "People who are kind of like going after it, exploring the world."

    A key theme that emerges is the importance of disruption and discontinuity in personal and professional growth. We discuss how stepping out of one's comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities and self-discovery. Matt's move from Melbourne to Amsterdam serves as a prime example of embracing change and seeking new horizons.

    Throughout the episode, we touch on:

    • The process of decision-making for major life changes
    • Balancing the desire for new experiences with practical considerations
    • The role of inspiration in motivating life-altering decisions
    • Strategies for justifying unconventional choices to oneself and others
    • The value of disruption in personal development


    Thank you for listening to this episode of Wayfinders! If you find Matt's story inspiring, please share it with others who might be contemplating their own big moves. And remember, as Matt's journey shows us, sometimes the most rewarding paths are the ones that lead us out of our comfort zones.

    And...if you know someone with a fascinating wayfinding story (or if you have one yourself!), please let me know – I'm always eager to hear more tales of adventure and personal growth.

    Until next time,
    Sacha.

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    32 mins
  • #3 Ed Gawne: London, UK to Shanghai, China, then to the Chinese countryside
    Jul 23 2024

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    In this episode, meet Edward Gawne!

    Ed shares his journey of moving from London, the United Kingdom, to Shanghai, China and then to the countryside to open a heritage hotel. He discusses his motivations: on the one hand, the role of ‘anti role models’ (and a person called ‘John’, who we’ll meet). On the other hand, his quest for an “interesting life.”

    Ed first came to China as part of a corporate exchange program called Passport Abroad. For five months, he lived and worked in Shanghai. As he put it, he came to “like his life in China more than his life in London.” He then came back to live and work permanently in Shanghai.

    But then, again as Ed puts it, “No one dreams of a career in market research”, and he took his life in a completely different direction, transitioning from a market research office in Shanghai to buying his first hotel in Jiangxi, China. This was a significant leap, to say the least! His wife, Selina, played a pivotal role in this journey. Ed first took a year out to learn Chinese full time and ‘scout the area.’ How did they find their hotel? What is ownership like in the countryside? We’ll cover all of this, and more, in this episode.

    Ed and I also dissect the Chinese countryside a bit in this episode: what is the fascination Chinese have with the countryside? Why do they visit? Are their expectations met, or not? We also chat about the Chinese consumer psyche.

    Ed and Selina have two hotels, as below. Please pay them a visit!

    Wuyuan Skywells: https://wuyuanskywells.com/

    Victoria House: https://wuyuanskywells.com/victoria-house/

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    Thank you for listening to this episode of Wayfinders! If you find this interesting, please share. If you know someone suitable to be a guest (yourself included!), please let me know – very grateful.

    See you next time,
    Sacha.

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    39 mins
  • #2 Monica Le: mainland China to Hong Kong to Australia
    Jul 13 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    In this episode, met Monica Le!

    Monica shares her journey of moving from China (first Ningbo, then Shanghai) to Hong Kong and then to Melbourne, Australia. She discusses the motivations behind each move, including job opportunities and a desire to explore the world.

    How much planning did Monica do? As it turns out, not too much... Key here, however, is what it means to be "an interesting person" as well as how to "be in the world." It sounds deep, but Monica explains these things effortlessly for us.

    I loved her reflection on the differences between the Chinese and Western education systems, highlighting the importance of hard work and never giving up in the Chinese system, while valuing critical thinking and teamwork in the Western system. And her emphasis on the need for bravery and the willingness to try new things at any age is part of what makes her moves so successful.

    Having lived in China throughout the booming 2000s, I was keen to understand why leave she left Shanghai when the city was, quite frankly, 'the place to be'? Her reasons might surprise you...

    And lastly, after some decent (mostly positive) research by yours truly about Melbourne - where I am from after all - I was keen to understand what the challenges are. Is Australia such a great place to live? We got into a great discussion of how to go about making international work experience relevant in a very 'domestic' market like Australia.

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    Thank you for listening to this episode of Wayfinders! If you find this interesting, please share. If you know someone suitable to be a guest (yourself included!), please let me know – very grateful.

    See you next time,
    Sacha.

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    The book I mentioned about education in China is called “Governing Educational Desire: culture, politics, and schooling in China” by Andrew B. Kipnis, published in 2011 by University of Chicago Press.

    See here: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/G/bo10549225.html

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    33 mins

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