# 19. Here's What To Do To Feel Empowered (Expat Woman & Cultural Differences)

Your origin story is not something to hide—it's the very thing that makes you powerful.

Whether you're struggling to adapt in a new country or wondering if you'll ever feel like you belong, this episode will challenge your thinking and uplift your heart. 

In this episode you'll discover:

•  Your story, your origin is not a weight holding you down. It is a superpower that sets you apart. 
• A mindset shift that turns homesickness and difference into empathy, courage, and strength
•  Why your accent, your story, your journey, none of it needs to be erased

Press play now to reframe your story and unlock the hidden strength in being he different one

To share your own story email  [e-mail] 

This compelling podcast dives into Expat and immigrant women (and men) stories. Those who immigrate to the USA, tackling the struggles of homesickness, identity crisis, and culture shock in the USA while adjusting to expat life and navigating cultural differences. Through conversations on starting over, reinventing yourself, and finding purpose, it highlights success stories of women's tenacity, and the resilience of expats in the USA. It offers insights into bicultural identity, language barriers, and the challenges of living overseas. The podcast emphasizes the importance of a strong support system and wellbeing for women in pursuit of the American dream.

https://www.instagram.com/theplaces_wecallhome

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
we're diving deep into why yourorigin story isn't a limitation.
It's your superpower.
Welcome to starting over in theUSA, the Expat Woman's Guide to
overcoming Homesickness,embracing cultural Differences,
and creating a new home awayfrom home.

(00:21):
On this podcast, we talk aboutleaving behind the familiar, the
pangs of homesickness andculture shock to the journeys of
reinventing yourself.
I'm Yolanda Reshemah.
After relocating six times, Iknow firsthand what it's like to
start from scratch feeling likeboth a foreign child and an
adult in a new world.

(00:42):
In today's episode, I'm going toshare with you three powerful
takeaways that I have learnedthe hard way.
The first is that beingdifferent is your doorway to
connection.
That your accent, your story,your journey, none of it needs
to be erased the third is thatyou are equipped in ways right

(01:04):
now, for the challenges aheadthat you can't always see.
Today my friend, I feel the needto get a little bit personal and
it's really around ourdifferences.
I really feel strongly that ourdifferences are rooted in our
history and that our origin andour culture might be challenged

(01:28):
a little bit right now, but I amwholly convinced from my heart
that these differences werecreated for good, to magnify the
range and depth of beauty thatexists.
We don't need to be limited inour appearance neither are we
limited in the depth of ourcourage.

(01:49):
I see, and I really hope thatyou do too.
I'm sure you do.
That differences are notburdens, but strength.
When you and I arrive in asituation, our accent and our
shades and our paleness willindicate something about the
places that we are originallyfrom.

(02:10):
They indicate the, thechallenges conquered by the
individuals from whom we'vedescended.
So when I think about my originthis way, I'm really encouraged.
It only takes a few seconds forme to run through in my head
accomplishments of the peoplewho've gone before me and that
gives me resilience, and itgives me courage, and it gives

(02:32):
me tenacity because I see theircourage and resilience in
tenacity.
And Why buck that trend?
I don't think that I should beless, I don't believe that I
really ought to be ashamed of myorigin.
And so when there's a situationin which I feel othered, I truly

(02:54):
understand that it's oftencaused by a lack of
understanding.
Sometimes fear, sometimesresentment, and in the right
circumstances, I know, and I'veexperienced this before, I can
actually help put things right.
My guest from episode 17, RobinJeisman, an Australian woman

(03:16):
found that every bit of heraccent, and every chapter of her
origin story became a bridge toconnect with those who needed
her experience, her vision, andher passion, her story teaches
what once felt like dislocationcan transform into a powerful
source of empathy andleadership.

(03:38):
I'm thinking of the words of oneof my previous guests, she said
something that just speaks to myheart to this day.
She said, if you feel like afish out of water in America,
change your pond.
Not change you just change thepond And for her, that meant

(04:02):
leaving the town that she livedin in Texas.
And she moved to California tofind her people, mind and
perspectives that understoodher.
But it takes incredible braveryto acknowledge that sometimes
the only way forward is tochange that path.
Whether that means movingstates, finding a new social

(04:24):
group, or extending yourcommunity in unexpected ways.
But Robin's words from episode17 still echoes in my mind also.
And she said, I know what itfeels like to be othered.
That's why I can stand in thegap for these kids.

(04:45):
She's talking about the youngpeople, who, are homeless and
who've been trafficked forRobynne, being different with a
particular accent, a uniquecultural reference or lived in
experience was not a handicapBut an amazing place of
information, courage, sheer gutsand discernment, just stirred

(05:10):
her empathy and that poweredwith her conviction and mission
helped her to connect withmarginalized, youths.
These very same youths who feeljust as misunderstood as she
once did.
And isn't that something thatresonates with so many of us?
We sometimes wonder, ah, who amI to lead when I don't look or

(05:35):
sound or think like the rest?
But here is the raw truth.
It's precisely because you comefrom somewhere else, that you
offer something rare andirreplaceable.
A soul to be connected with andenjoyed just as you are for your
mind, for your excellence andfor your origin.

(05:58):
These experiences are notsupposed to break us, but they
are tools for advocacy andleadership tools for equipping
you naturally to speak up, tomentor and support others who
feel misunderstood orunderestimated or unseen.

(06:21):
Let's distill the threetakeaways I mentioned before.
The first being different isyour doorway to connection, so
become content with the factthat you don't need to fit a
mold.
What makes you unique, makesothers curious in a good way.
And it also invites authenticconnections with souls who

(06:42):
breathe a sigh of relief whenthey meet you, because they may
also feel out of place.
You give them permission to justbe Ah, okay.
It's not quite working at themoment.
What can I do to change thatwithout remolding myself?

(07:02):
The second takeaway, youraccent, your story, your
journey, none of it needs to beerase.
Authenticity is your greatestinfluence.
Every cultural reference andevery nuance of the lilt in your
voice, that's a gift.
As long as we are able tocommunicate precisely what we

(07:26):
want to convey in the way inwhich we want it to be
understood.
The last takeaway is that youare equipped in ways that you
can't always see.
I look back at myself now when Imoved to the US so many years
ago, and when I was goingthrough the challenging time of,

(07:47):
you know, just trying tounderstand the culture it was
tough.
It's definitely made me very,very happy to be who I am.
I'm happy about the culture, thetraining, the upbringing that I
have received that helped me toget through it.
Every challenge you faceprepares you for what's ahead.

(08:11):
Adapt and know that yourexperiences empower you.
Your relentless willingness topush through with your unique
experiences intact arefoundations for something that
is going to sustain you.
That's it from me today, myfriend.

(08:31):
I hope that you will embraceyour origin, that you will be
completely proud of who you areand where you are from.
And always remember who and whatyou represent.
Not just yourself, but thepeople who have gone before you.
The people who have worked sohard with you and on you to

(08:52):
shape you, to keep you safe, toeducate you, and to give you the
courage to move.
Your story is not a weightholding you down.
It is a superpower that sets youapart.
And your unique experiences havearmed you with empathy and
resilience.

(09:12):
You can be a leader in whateverway you choose.
Don't run, don't hide.
don't feel diminished.
Don't feel that you need tocamouflage who you truly are.
Thank you for coming back andlistening to another episode.
I appreciate your time I inviteyou to press play on episode 12

(09:36):
and we'll continue thisdiscussion in our next meetup.
Have a lovely day.