72: Enlighten Me on Intercultural Relationships - Part 1

When two cultures collide, beautiful things can happen. Christina and Pai’s marriage is a picture of just that! A Black Zimbabwean and a white Tennessean don’t make up your ordinary couple - when Pai and Christina first got together, they felt that firsthand. Between their journeys of dating in a town where no one looked like them, direct experiences with racism, and joining families of two very different cultures together, this couple recognized that there was some community missing here. Now, they’re on a mission to help others navigate intercultural and interracial relationships. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: http://www.heartfelthippie.com (www.heartfelthippie.com) After I learned about Pai and Christina’s podcast and online work, I knew I had to talk to them. I especially wanted to get their perspective on what it’s like being in an interracial and intercultural marriage (and doing some parenting along the way!) while living in America. In Part 1 of our conversation, they’re sharing all the details of their story. We’re talking about how they met and the early years of their dating relationship, planning an intercultural wedding, and what some of the biggest lessons they have learned over the years have been that they like to share with others. To be honest, when I first sat down with this couple I didn’t expect to be able to relate to so many different parts of their story and the obstacles they have faced. I’m not in an intercultural or interracial marriage myself, so I wasn’t thinking that I would learn much from them that I could personally apply. Boy - was I wrong! There were so many times throughout our interview that I told Pai and Christina that the messages they were preaching were helpful for ANYONE in ANY kind of relationship - romantic or otherwise! So, enjoy this free counseling session you didn’t know you needed. Next week in Part 2, we’re diving further into the hard topics. We’ll be talking specifically about the racial climate in the United States over the past year and how it has affected Pai and Christina, and how it’s changed their outlook on parenting. This couple has a lot of wisdom to share and, get excited, because they have more of it coming on season 2 of their own podcast that they’re recording now! Make sure you check out the links below to learn more. Links from the show: Paper Culture: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1038478&u=2650427&m=26768&urllink=&afftrack=0 Connect with Mackenzie: Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/ (https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/) Website: http://www.heartfelthippie.com (www.heartfelthippie.com) Email: [e-mail] Connect with Christina and Pai: Instagram: @theculturetalkcollective Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theculturetalkcollective/ (https://www.facebook.com/theculturetalkcollective/)  Website: https://theculturetalkcollective.com/ (https://theculturetalkcollective.com/) Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-talk-collective/id1484431708 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-talk-collective/id1484431708)