Big and White: Life as a Foreigner in Nepal (Big and White Productions, Expats living in Nepal)

Traveling to remote areas is quite the cultural experience! In this episode, your hosts Big and White tell some more stories from their recent escapades in the rural areas of Nepal. They discuss some of their favorite and not-so-favorite aspects of going to the village, including an exciting encounter with Panty the goat.

Happy 2020! In this episode, in the spirit of New Years Resolutions, your hosts Big and White talk about some of the things that they had to relearn when they moved to Nepal. Moving to a new country often means relearning how to be an adult, and sometimes in surprising ways!

Also, you should definitely read Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazon by Daniel L. Everett

http://thelanguagenerds.com/piraha-language-the-linguistic-anomaly/

Big and White, a podcast about living in Nepal, is coming soon!

In this 2-part episode, your hosts Big and White remember the border closures in 2015 and talk about the shortages experienced in Nepal at that time, as compared with the lockdowns now. They also discuss that one time a Turkish airplane crashed and blocked the only international landing strip in the whole country, what a wild time.

At the time of publishing Kathmandu and the rest of the country are on full lockdown, but never fear, Big is staying at White’s house and they are bravely bringing the podcast to you!

This episode brought to you by Five Legged Elephant.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about going to the movies in Nepal! It’s surprisingly different than the experience in Western countries, with exciting features like early morning showtimes, enhanced security, delicious food, and weird commercials. There is only one English movie out at a time, and no subtitles to be found anywhere. But they love it! They also discuss Bohemian Rhapsody (because, obviously) and the linguistics guy Eric Singer. Plus their favorite festival, Tihar!

Have you ever had a package delivered on a scooter? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the joys and woes of online shopping in Nepal. They discuss the online shopping options, how to give directions when you don’t have an address, and more!

Ethical shopping in Nepal: Purnaa, Kolpa, White Yak, Local Project, Meecha, Woven

International Resources: Good On You App, Better World App, Done Good, Fashion & Compassion, Wonderful Things, Buy Me Once

Ethical Brands: Girlfriend Collective, Pact, Prana, Adidas, Patagonia, Madetrade, Everlane

For more information about local and ethical shopping resources, please visit our Instagram and website.

Do you honk at dogs but not cows? Do you pay rent with stacks and stacks of cash? Have your shoe needs changed drastically? In this episode, your hosts Big and White discuss just a few of the things that have changed for them since moving to Nepal.

And of course be sure to check out our (fake) sponsor: https://www.facebook.com/Fiberblankets/

What do you do when not normal has become, well, normal? In this first of a two-part episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some of their experiences transitioning back to their passport countries. “Re-entry” can have many side-effects, such as incompetence, impatience, and overstimulation. But it can also have its good sides, such as highlighting the great things to appreciate about your “home”!

And don’t forget to keep using the Word of the Season: Apricity!

As you might have guessed, homes in Nepal are different from the West! In this episode, your hosts Big and White (with guest host Indy!) talk about the layout of buildings, what to look for when moving to a new flat, concepts of public versus private space, and more! And many thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Consonant Clusters Cereal, the most nutritious part of your pronunciation today.

In this (penultimate!) episode, your hosts Big and White discuss how living overseas builds skills like extreme patience, being used to being uncomfortable, and knowing how to live without things! They’ve both benefited from living cross-culturally, and they hope that you’ll benefit from listening to this episode!

Although the podcast is ending, Big and White are still available via instagram, facebook, and email!

In this episode, your hosts Big and White reunite with an old friend who lived in Nepal four years ago. They talk about her experience coming back now that so much has changed, and all the things that she missed about Nepal (including amazing Indian food!) Her husband also joins the conversation and describes his traumatic experiences brushing his teeth with Perrier, sleeping on a hard bed, and trying to embrace ambiguity (not easy for a software developer). Big and White also wax poetic about two of their favorite things: Jazzmandu and Newari food!

In this episode, your hosts Big and White welcome Ujjwal Rai, a trekking guide and all around adventurous man! Ujjwal tells his story and inspires us with how much he loves his job, and teaches us some amazing, highly applicable, Nepali proverbs!

Find Ujjwal at: lostinthehimalaya.com
Instagram: @lostinthehimalaya

Happy Podiversary! In this episode, your hosts Big and White sit down for an informal international chat to celebrate their one year anniversary of podcasting! They discuss the international travel life, get an update on all the big news in Nepal (including construction, weather, and vegetable status updates). Join them for a relaxed discussion of this ever-shrinking world we live in.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk with their guest Macaw about his experience immigrating to the US and then repatriating to his home country of Honduras. He explains what it’s like being bilingual, discusses cultural adjustments (including missing Honduran food), and tells us what he loved about his new home (mostly AC). We also learn that Honduras has the same kind of vegetable sellers as Nepal!

Be sure to try cooking anafres, a delicious Honduran fondue.

This week our segment is about habit formation! White explains how our brains function on routine, and reminds us that living in lockdown is a big disruption of our usual habits.

Every once in a while, it’s good to step away and debrief your life. In this episode, your hosts Big and White, during their transition to living in the States for a while, talk about their time in Nepal, their plans moving forward, and their success and/or failure with New Year's resolutions!

Looking for some good reads? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some unexpected books that have helped them in their lives overseas. As astronaut Chris Hadfield says, “It’s mostly a matter of changing your perspective.”

Books on our list:
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

Nepal never fails to defy expectations! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about a few unexpected things about Nepal. Most people think when you move to Nepali you’ll either become a yogi on top of a mountain or live in a village with a goat. (Hint: that isn’t Big or White’s experience)

Did you think that there would be amazing coffee in Nepal, that Western toilets are really common, or that the internet would be amazing? And most importantly, that Nepal is unlike any other country in Asia, including India? Listen to learn even more!

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! After a brief hiatus, your hosts Big and White are back with an exciting and silly new episode. Have you watched those videos where they have celebrities answer the autofill questions on Google? Well, in this episode Big and White attempt to do the same thing. Get ready for a wild ride.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about everything you HAVE to do when (not if) you travel to Nepal! Of course they discuss common things like trekking and visiting the jungle, but they also mention motorcycle rides, Tibetan tea, water sports, and a host of other exciting things to do in this tiny yet diverse country.

Adjusting to a new culture is hard! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the ups and down of culture shock. Spoiler alert: you can’t avoid it! The ladies talk about what culture shock is, tips for dealing with it, and how they cope (the good, the bad, and the ugly). They also talk about one of White’s favorite things in the Nepali language: rhyming words!

How would you define a language? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about language boundaries. You might think of languages as similar to countries - having a nice border or boundary between them. And once you cross that boundary, you're in a different language. With languages that are not closely related to each other, that's true. But in fact, languages are on a continuum. So when going from one language to another related language, you have to ask, where does one language end and the next begin? Or where does one dialect end and the other begin? How different do they need to be to qualify as different languages?

Here are the language clips from the episode (no cheating!) https://youtu.be/PwuLTCiSpts
https://youtu.be/Tw6xV0Dl-mI
https://youtu.be/AIZgw09CG9E?t=38
https://youtu.be/FQ4MWia6xmA
https://youtu.be/km98JBqS3ug

In this episode, your hosts Big and White reminisce about some of their experiences on planes and in international airports. They give tips for what to pack, what to wear, and how to not cry (just kidding, that’s impossible). They also talk about White’s celebrity crush and Big’s recent trip out of Asia!

How would you shop if you didn’t have access to Amazon? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about all the weird random things that they bring back to Nepal with them. Being an expat can turn you into a hoarder of very specific items! In case you’re wondering: peanut butter isn’t one of them, but cheese, dental floss, candles, and shoes are definitely on the list. Big and White are pretty lucky to have access to so many types of products in the various countries they visit, and they and their friends definitely make the most of it!

What could we have done better? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some ways that they feel they could have improved their transition to living in a new culture and context. Of course language and culture learning comes up, along with relationships, investing, and… buying a couch? Really to be honest this is an episode chock full of advice for people about to move overseas.

This episode brought you by... Couch(™).

How do I adjust back to my home culture smoothly? (Hint: you don’t, and that’s okay!) In this second of a two-part episode, your hosts Big and White give some tips from their own experience and the sage advice of others in ways to deal with re-entry into your home culture. While the transition period may be frustrating and somewhat bumpy, we promise that you can survive it and even get back to a point of thriving! (We’ll let you know when we get there too!)

In this 2-part episode, your hosts Big and White talk about how COVID-19/Corona virus is affecting Nepal, along with the wider issues of shortages and how to live without toilet paper.

At the time of publishing Kathmandu and the rest of the country are on full lockdown, but never fear, Big is staying at White’s house and they are bravely bringing the podcast to you!

This episode brought to you by ManClamp™ (fake sponsor)

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about their tips for being healthy when moving overseas, and just being healthy in general! They remind you to check your idealism, eat healthy (but also eat dirt), have a hobby or artistic outlet, get into green spaces, and accept who you are. They also discuss traveling salesmen, personality types, and the dream of the (pre)1890s.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about what it’s like to celebrate holidays as an expat. Being away from family can be difficult, but it’s also an exciting chance to make your own traditions such as eating meals on rooftops, making orange rolls from scratch (sorry Pillsbury, these are better), and forcing your friends to open Christmas stockings.

What is life like as a foreigner in your own country? This week your hosts Big and White chat with Moon about her recent time in America. Was it horrible, wonderful, or a weird mix of both? Listen to find out!

In this especially awkward episode, your hosts Big and White discuss the effects of reverse culture shock - it’s like normal culture shock, only in reverse? Big is in the USA right now and she is experiencing some repatriation challenges. However, she also talks about how after so many culture adjustments, she’s getting more and more adept at just going with the flow, man.

Link to James Shrestha video - amazing example of code switching! https://youtu.be/lYdNh7GbosE?t=641

Not sure how to navigate arriving in Nepal for the first time? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about how to not only survive, but thrive as you fly into Nepal! They explain how to navigate the airport, get a tourist visa (pro tip: it’s easy), get to your hotel, get around the city, and more!

They also discuss and attempt to explain Shivaratri, an important but somewhat confusing Hindu holiday.

Don’t forget to check out our (fake) sponsor: My Clear Bag! Use code bigandwhite at checkout for a 2 rupee discount.

“You live overseas? Your life must be sooo exotic!” In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about how living overseas feels surprisingly… normal. They debunk about all the things they’ve heard (or thought) about living overseas. Spoiler alert: They aren’t fluent in Nepali, they don’t (really) travel all the time, and they aren’t inspiring.

They also talk about how language affects the way you think, and vice versa!

What does it mean to have a growth mindset? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about growth and fixed mindset, with a special focus on how it affects people who move to a new culture. Spoiler: growth mindset is the one you want! What did Big fail at over and over to learn a growth mindset? How did one terrible track meet affect White’s life for years after? Listen to find out!

This week Big and White also answer a listener question about some tricky aspects of Nepali that they wished they had learned sooner.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White explain a little of the work they actually do. It’s mostly boring office work, but sometimes they travel to the village, which is great fodder for glamorous instagram posts! They share stories of crossing rivers, adorable animals, interviewing old ladies, and the struggles of being an introvert in a communal setting. This week Big’s listener mail question for you is: what unnecessary (but amazing) things should the ladies add to their packing list?

We have a Canadian guest! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk with Maple about moving to a bigish city after her upbringing on a farm, the types of cultural adjustments she had to make (especially regarding morality vs culture), and the cycle of making new friends over and over for 7 years. Maple just got back from a year in Canada, so she also tells us about some reverse culture adjustment calamities (like just wanting a hug from old friends)!

Big also describes her experiences over the years watching the Super Bowl overseas; full of highs and lows and morning indigestion.

Have you ever tried carrying a yoga ball on your bicycle? In this episode, your hosts Big and White, with returning guest Moon, tell some of their funniest and craziest experiences of being an expat in Nepal! Much silliness ensues, of course.

This episode brought to you by: YAK

In this episode, your hosts Big and White continue their discussion of how to stay healthy when moving overseas. While sometimes life is all unicorn farts and Mel Brooks movies, it is often also full of being vulnerable, becoming jaded, and humbling yourself to ask for help (gasp!). Join Big and White as they give advice from their own experience on how to deal with the difficulties of life in both healthy and unhealthy ways.

Have you been wondering why you feel so tired and cranky all the time? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about all the similarities between culture shock and the constantly changing situation created by COVID.

Many thanks to our (fake) sponsor: FLATHARDBED

Resources:
https://tinyurl.com/y3ev9om9
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

What happens when you’re not technically an expat anymore? In this episode, your hosts Big and White discuss the experience of going “home,” whether for a short or a long period of time. It’s a challenge to be a person who lives in many countries, as your identity is always changing. Big and White’s big advice to handle the transition well? Try not to be a jerk!

Don’t forget to check out the Khas Kura podcast, hosted by two Nepalis who have moved to America. (our opposite twins!)

We’ve ventured out of Nepal! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about their experience in Cambodia, including warm beaches, amazing history, vegan restaurants, and exciting shopping! They tell of their experiences at Angkor Wat, what they learned about Cambodia’s history, and how they experienced Cambodia’s current state of development. They highly recommend visiting, and hope for some ideas to add to their list for next time.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about maintaining relationships with people back “home,” and in other places as well. Any time you move it can be a challenge to stay in touch, but moving to a new culture makes the gap seem even wider. They talk about some ideas for staying connected, whether you are homeside or awayside! They also are super stoked for their upcoming, much-needed vacation in Cambodia! Stay tuned for season 2 of Big and White in 2019.

Pillars and Bricks article

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about what it’s like to visit your home country for the first time after moving overseas. They discuss preparing to travel, crazy American food trends, how not to cope with jet lag, hanging out with people you’ve known forever, unappealing fashion trends, experiencing reverse culture shock, wide open spaces, going to the DMV, what Koreans and hip Portlanders have in common, and much more.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White say a huge THANK YOU to their patrons and listeners by doing a bonus episode. The topic? ASK US ANYTHING. And you really asked us... all the things?!?

What's it like to travel to somewhere less, well, foreign? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about being a tourist in counties very similar to your own, and how different it feels from traveling to a country that is much less like your home country. White recently visited England, and Big recently visited Canada, so if you want to hear about those places probably listen to this episode?

Also, they talk about how writing systems affect dialect and language boundaries. Because they love linguistics.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about what makes shopping in Nepal different from anywhere else they’ve lived. They discuss how many times a week one should grocery shop (hint: it’s more than one), how one might find random items such as kale and good cheese, the large variation in prices, and how long it took them to figure out these things. They lament that shopping for a big and white body in Asia is difficult, but that other amazing things such as fair trade goods are abundant. White also expresses her desire to grow long, beautiful, Nepali locks, while Big goes through all 5 stages of grief.

We’re celebrating our 25th episode with some cocktails and a bonus ep! In this episode, your hosts Big and White answer 73ish questions about themselves, rather honestly. You’ll learn more than you every really needed to know about both of the ladies, and hopefully you’ll laugh with them, not at them, as they bare their souls.

Music: Champagne Corolla by Justin Townes Earl

What does a normal day look like for an expat in Kathmandu? In this episode, your hosts Big and White discuss what a typical day looks like for them, including an 8 minute commute, potentially leaving work to wash their hair, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and of course all of the bad habits that they plan to change. Eventually.

Be sure to check out Alpine Start coffee, they are totally not official sponsors but dang their coffee is delicious and sustainable and all that good stuff.

Thanks for your patience with the audio quality as we continue to record episodes while traveling!

Support us on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/bigwhitepodcast

In this episode, I hope you’re feeling hungry, because your hosts Big and White talk all about Nepali food! They discuss such mysteries as the food-snack continuum, weird eating customs, and what category dried yak cheese belongs in. They also talk about momos, chowmein, thukpa, Newari food, all the parts of the national dish (dal bhat, literally: lentil rice), and snacks forever. All the snacks. They also talk about how Big is doing actual linguistics and White has actual friends!

In this episode, Big and White host their first guest, Picnic, a schoolteacher from the US. They ask her about her impressions of Nepal, and she gushes about how nice everyone is, how much she loved adventuring out of the city, and how she isn’t actually big (just white). There is also a lot of discussion about toilets, unsurprisingly.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about what it's like moving overseas unattached. There are many freedoms and opportunities that come with being single, but there are many difficulties as well. They also try to give some advice about being healthy as a single person, drawn directly from their experiences, both successes and failures.

Hiking, tramping, backpacking, ...bushwhacking? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about trekking in Nepal! What to expect, what to pack, and where to go are just some of the topics they cover. If you like being out in the mountains, or even if you don’t and you want to stay in the hills, trekking in Nepal is an amazing experience!

Will moving overseas change your life? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about all the things that don’t change when you move, like your anger issues and your inability to make new friends. It’s not all sad things though - moving overseas can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life! And! It’s book club time! Here is the list of books about Nepal that Big and White recommend, as promised. Book recommendations: Massacre in the Palace Kathmandu Thamel The Living Goddess Fatalism and Development Finding God in Kathmandu The Gurkha’s Daughter While the Gods Were Sleeping These fine lines And the article about host country blaming: http://www.thecultureblend.com/stop-blaming-your-host-country-for-all-of-your-issues/

Living overseas always guarantees new experiences (and new ways to eat cheese?). In this episode, your hosts Big and White welcome guest Seagull to the pod! She talks about her time doing research in Costa Rica, her current job in a research lab studying language learning genes (with cute birds!), and her dreams of moving to Germany.

This episode brought to you by your friendly neighborhood vegetable seller (not a real sponsor).

For more on FOXP2 research, listen to The Scientist Speaks: Birds on the Brain.

In this UNEDITED episode, your hosts Big and White talk about some things that are one hundred percent normal in Nepal that would be one hundred percent strange/unacceptable/confusing in a Western context. They also talk about how the smile with a single tear is the emoji you never realized you needed until it came.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White each ask each other 5 surprise questions (for a total of 10!) to help listeners get to know them and Nepal a little better. From Nepali snacks to American accents to Nepali networking skills to spiritual questioning to the delights of urban sheep, they cover it all.

Have you ever worried about a yak interrupting your sleep? In this episode, your hosts Big and White reminisce about some of the wild and wacky places they’ve slept. Listen now to hear about balancing on planks, strange decor, mouse attacks, and more!

For tips on sleeping in airports: https://www.sleepinginairports.net/

Why do we talk the way we do?!? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about sociolinguistics, which is the study of the choices that people make while using language. They also have an announcement about the future of the podcast.

Check out: Nicole Holliday on Ologies podcast; Perceived Benefit Model; Tyson Moktan’s youtube channel

Have you ever tried… bleisure?!?!? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the fact that more millenials are traveling and living abroad than the generations before them. Why would they do that? Is it even a good idea? Why the heck did Big and White decide to live overseas?

They also answer a listener question about getting mail in Nepal, which is surprisingly complicated? This description is all questions???

How often do you use Google and Amazon? In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the difference between technology use in Nepal and the US. Use of apps for finances and online shopping aren’t as prevalent, but technology use is increasing quickly and Nepal has its own cultural style of dealing with increasing technology use.

Big and White also review a censored scene from Wonderwoman… are you as disturbed as they are?

Are you as tired of talking about COVID-19 as we are?!? In this BONUS episode, your hosts Big and White enjoy a whiskey together while they have a casual chat about random topics that you asked for!

Sponsored by Posthumous Podcasting(™) and Lil’ Trash Pile (album dropping soon)

The first episode of Big and White! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about why they want to do a podcast, how much they love Nepal, and accepting their identities as expats. They answer such burning questions as where Nepal is, how cookies can help with culture shock, what it’s like to navigate a city without Google maps, why Nepalis are anti-diaper, and when it’s okay to talk about the consistency of your poop but not about your feelings.

Traveling within Nepal isn’t simple! In this episode, your hosts Big and White give some tips for traveling outside of Kathmandu and share some of their transit adventures. Busses, jeeps, taxis, planes… Nepal has it all (except trains)! They also teach you some useful phrases for basic interactions in Nepali.

Afraid to take your first flight across an ocean? Never fear, in this episode, your hosts Big and White talk more about traveling from continent to continent via the magic of aeroplanes! They tell you how to stay hydrated, stay entertained, and most importantly, stay sane. You need no longer fear the unknown - Big and While give you all the deets you need to know.

Links:
https://www.sleepinginairports.net/
https://www.facebook.com/HimalayaRoadies/
Big Boyz Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuPdGbX0YE0Cl2leHwAnsQ

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about Dashain, the biggest Hindu holiday of them all! They talk about the fun and not-so-fun parts of the festival, from flying kites and giant swings to goats being sacrificed to a goddess who defeated evil demons. They talk about their outsider perspective of such an important (one might say auspicious!) time, and conclude that the best part of any holiday is getting to spend time with family and friends. Finally, they discuss their plans honor an important American holiday by drinking blood-themed cocktails and eating spooky cheese… because that’s what Halloween is all about?

Monsoon is here! In this episode, your hosts Big and White discuss the weather in Kathmandu, Nepal. Seasons here don’t follow the cycle we think of in the West, and you might be surprised!

Don’t forget to use our coupon code bigandwhite at Nepal Umbrella Emporium!

This may come as a surprise, but humans need other people! In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the importance of building community when you move overseas (or to any new place), and try to give some tips on how to make friends in a new environment and culture.

They also discuss Zoom fatigue, and the pros and cons of this new online world we are all engaging in.

It’s the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one! In this episode, your hosts Big and White have a chat about some of their favorite memories of Nepal, what they learned from doing this podcast, and say a big fat THANK YOU to all the listeners and supporters who have shown them so much love!

You can still reach Big and White by email, Instagram, and Facebook. Don’t hesitate to say hello :)

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about fun and different things to do in Kathmandu! Traveling in a new place means doing touristy things (like looking at temples and eating local food), but it also should be accompanied by everyday things like buying a newspaper and walking down narrow streets. They hope that this episode inspires you to visit Nepal! Your hosts also talk about their Enneagram types, only the best personality test ever.

In this episode, your hosts Big and White talk about the hazards and joys of traffic in Nepal. It took them both some adjustment, but now they love weaving through traffic, avoiding street cows, and holding other people’s stuff in their laps on the bus. They also discuss sidewalk jail and crazy mountain roads, and give advice for how to search for anything online. Okay, not anything anything, but almost anything.

Have you ever wanted to watch a movie that was a romantic comedy and an action film and a drama, all at once? Well do we have a treat for you! In this episode, your hosts Big and White try to explain Chhakka Panja, the most famousest Nepali movie. It’s full of love affairs, punching, musical numbers, sound effects, and mustache toupees: the hallmarks of any good film. They also talk about their exciting weekends, how to avoid muddy feet, and weird Nepali phone etiquette.