Interlocking Threads: Conversations with International Students: Recent Episodes
Interlocking Threads
Conversations with International Students This is a project we started to connect with international alumni through casual conversations grounded in our current situation and past shared experiences. Throughout this project we will chat with people from around the world who have studied in the United States, to create and refresh connections, and to check in with our guests about how they are doing during these strange and unusual times.
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This is Episode 11 of Interlocking Threads: Conversations with International Students! This conversation was recorded on October 25th, 2020 when we spoke with Malvika Dua from India, Sitashma Thapa from Nepal, and Srija Banerjee from India. The three of them graduated amidst the pandemic this spring and in our conversation shared their experience of adapting to changing plans, their relationship to the American Dream, and shared how domestic citizens can use their rights to support international students and immigrants. To hear more about who these three are, check out the episode introductions on our profile.
Malvika Dua is originally from India. She graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a degree in Neuroscience. She is currently a Research Associate for Flavell Lab at MIT.
Srija Banerjee is originally from India. She graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a degree in International Studies. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she is pursuing her Masters of Science in Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University.
Sitashma Thapa is originally from Nepal. She graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a double major in Environmental Sustainability and Sociology & Anthropology. Sitashma currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana where she is pursuing her Masters in Philanthropic Studies as a McKinney Fellow. The fellowship focuses on environmental conservation and environmental philanthropy allowing Sitashma to specialize in her field.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
Special thanks to Steve Schwartz who helps us with the editing and sound of our episodes. He has a music tech startup that makes special microphones for acoustic musical instruments, at YourHeavenAudio.com
This is Episode 11 of Interlocking Threads: Conversations with International Students! In this episode we spoke with Malvika Dua from India, Sitashma Thapa from Nepal, and Srija Bannerjee from India. In this introduction you will get to know them better and hear what they are up to now! Tune in again on Wednesday to hear their conversation, sharing their experience of adapting to changing plans, their relationship to the American Dream, and shared how domestic citizens can use their rights to support international students and immigrants.
Malvika Dua is originally from India. She graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a degree in Neuroscience. She is currently a Research Associate for Flavell Lab at MIT.
Srija Banerjee is originally from India. She graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a degree in International Studies. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she is pursuing her Masters of Science in Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University.
Sitashma Thapa is originally from Nepal. She graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a double major in Environmental Sustainability and Sociology & Anthropology. Sitashma currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana where she is pursuing her Masters in Philanthropic Studies as a McKinney Fellow. The fellowship focuses on environmental conservation and environmental philanthropy allowing Sitashma to specialize in her field.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
Special thanks to Steve Schwartz who helps us with the editing and sound of our episodes. He has a music tech startup that makes special microphones for acoustic musical instruments, at YourHeavenAudio.com
In this episode we spoke with Abhay Chaudhary from India, Karim Zagha from Palestine, and Saujan Kafle from Nepal - check their introductory episode out on our profiles to hear more about who they are! During our conversation our three guests shared their processes of withdrawing from the lives they formed in college and the time it takes to create the comfort of space and friendships when moving to a new place, the blight and blessings of lockdown, insights into the world-wide conservative leadership and the current information wars and their effects.
Abhay Chaudhary is originally from India. He graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a double major in Math and Chemistry. He currently lives in Oxford, Ohio where he is working on a Master's in Mathematics at Miami University.
Karim Zagha is originally from Palestine. He graduated from Earlham College in 2017 with a degree in Psychology. He currently resides in Bochum, Germany where he works as a Research Associate for the Ruhr-University Bochum’s Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Department. His project is called Improve Mental Health, which is an intervention program for refugees in Germany who experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Saujan Kafle is originally from Nepal. He graduated from Earlham College in 2018 with a major in Chemistry. He currently resides in Woburn, Massachusetts where he works as an Analytical Chemistry Scientist/Engineer II at Thermo Fisher Scientific, in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
Special thanks to Steve Schwartz who helps us with the editing and sound of our episodes. He has a music tech startup that makes special microphones for acoustic musical instruments, at YourHeavenAudio.com
In Episode 10 we talk to Abhay Chaudhary from India, Karim Zagha from Palestine, and Saujan Kafle from Nepal. In this introduction you will get to know them better and hear what they are up to now! Tune in again this weekend to hear their conversation, talking about their processes of withdrawing from the lives they formed in college and the time it takes to create the comfort of space and friendships when moving to a new place, the blight and blessings of lockdown, insights into the world-wide conservative leadership and the current information wars and their effects.
Abhay Chaudhary is originally from India. He graduated from Earlham College in 2020 with a double major in Math and Chemistry. He currently lives in Oxford, Ohio where he is working on a Master's in Mathematics at Miami University.
Karim Zagha is originally from Palestine. He graduated from Earlham College in 2017 with a degree in Psychology. He currently resides in Bochum, Germany where he works as a Research Associate for the Ruhr-University Bochum’s Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Department. His project is called Improve Mental Health, which is an intervention program for refugees in Germany who experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Saujan Kafle is originally from Nepal. He graduated from Earlham College in 2018 with a major in Chemistry. He currently resides in Woburn, Massachusetts where he works as an Analytical Chemistry Scientist/Engineer II at Thermo Fisher Scientific, in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
Special thanks to Steve Schwartz who helps us with the editing and sound of our episodes. He has a music tech startup that makes special microphones for acoustic musical instruments, at YourHeavenAudio.com
In this episode we spoke with Amirah Fadhlina from Indonesia and Moataz Noureddine from Lebanon who are both currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. Because of the length of our conversation we are publishing this episode in two parts. This is part two. In this part of the episode Amirah and Moataz discuss healthcare being politicized and its relation to social media, how the urban environment in Boston has been shaped by the pandemic and hope and direction for the future. This is Interlocking Threads: Conversations with International Students.
Amirah Fadhlina was born and raised in Indonesia until the age of fourteen when she moved abroad to Singapore where she began her academic career. Amirah graduated from Earlham College in 2017 with a double major in Human Development & Social Relations (HDSR) and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After Earlham she earned her Masters at Harvard University and this fall she started her first year of her PhD program at Boston University in the department of Sociocultural Anthropology.
Moataz Noureddine is originally from Lebanon. He graduated from Earlham College in 2019 with a double major in Biology and Physics. He is currently a Research Associate at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
Special thanks to Steve Schwartz who helps us with the editing and sound of our episodes. He has a music tech startup that makes special microphones for acoustic musical instruments, at YourHeavenAudio.com
In this episode we spoke with Amirah Fadhlina from Indonesia and Moataz Noureddine from Lebanon who are both currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. Because of the length of our conversation we will publish this conversation in two parts. In this first Part Amirah and Moataz discuss chosen families, their relationship to home while living abroad, being on a student visa, and the choice of prioritizing their education and career for their social life and families well being.
Amirah Fadhlina was born and raised in Indonesia until the age of fourteen when she moved abroad to Singapore where she began her academic career. Amirah graduated from Earlham College in 2017 with a double major in Human Development & Social Relations (HDSR) and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. After Earlham she earned her Masters at Harvard University and this fall she started her first year of her PhD program at Boston University in the department of Sociocultural Anthropology.
Moataz Noureddine is originally from Lebanon. He graduated from Earlham College in 2019 with a double major in Biology and Physics. He is currently a Research Associate at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
Special thanks to Steve Schwartz who helps us with the editing and sound of our episodes. He has a music tech startup that makes special microphones for acoustic musical instruments, at YourHeavenAudio.com
In this episode we spoke with Ximena Purita Banegas Zallio from Bolivia and Juan Pablo Rabanales Lau (known as JP) from Guatemala. This is again a two-part episode and this is part two. If you missed part one you can check it out now on your streaming platform. In the first part of this episode, we ended by talking about how Ximena and JP came to going abroad and the characteristics that are developed through such an experience. This second part will pick up with Ximena sharing about her studies of anthropology and dance (check out her recent dance project here: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.santana.9803/posts/10164004508870548) and how she keeps active in that area while working in a different field. JP then shares about his enjoyment of outdoor and travel activities before the conversation shifts to the political unrest in the US, how that relates to other places in the world, and what they hope for coming out of this time.
Juan Pablo Rabanales Lau, who we refer to as JP, is originally from Guatemala. He graduated from Earlham College in 2015 with a degree in International Studies. He currently lives in Costa Rica where he works as the Operations Manager and Costa Rica Country Director for Walking Tree Travel - check out his instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/jpistol_/) for amazing pictures of his travel experiences!
Ximena Purita Banegas Zallio is from Bolivia. She Graduated from Earlham College in 2015 with a degree in International Studies and Business & Non-Profit Management. After graduating Earlham she earned her Masters in Anthropology, focusing in ethnochoreology. She currently lives in London, where she works as a Campaigns Advisor for Plastics at Changing Markets Foundation.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
In this episode we spoke with Ximena Purita Banegas Zallio from Bolivia and Juan Pablo Rabanales Lau (known as JP) from Guatemala. This is again a two-part episode and this is part one (part two will be released this Wednesday). In this part Ximena and JP shared about their current work positions in environmental policy and tourism, how the NGO and tourism sector have been affected by the pandemic, the experience of living abroad and how the adaptability learned through those experiences helps at a time like this.
Juan Pablo Rabanales Lau, who we refer to as JP, is originally from Guatemala. He graduated from Earlham College in 2015 with a degree in International Studies. He currently lives in Costa Rica where he works as the Operations Manager and Costa Rica Country Director for Walking Tree Travel - check out his instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/jpistol_/) for amazing pictures of his travel experiences!
Ximena Purita Banegas Zallio is from Bolivia. She Graduated from Earlham College in 2015 with a degree in International Studies and Business & Non-Profit Management. After graduating Earlham she earned her Masters in Anthropology, focusing in ethnochoreology. She currently lives in London, where she works as a Campaigns Advisor for Plastics at Changing Markets Foundation.
Music Credit: Jordan Connor
In this episode we spoke with Alishba Zarmeen from Pakistan, Omar Al-Fotihi from Yemen and Juan Ibáñez from Panama. Because this conversation was two hours long, we decided to publish this episode in two parts, this is part two. If you missed part one you can check it out now on your streaming platform. In the first part of this episode, we ended by talking about how being an international student has prepared us for certain aspects of this pandemic. This is where this second part will pick up and lead us to new perspectives gained from the pandemic, what it means to speak out as immigrants in the US and Canada, and how all our connections to Lynn brought us here, together and individually.
Juan Ibáñez is originally from Panama. He graduated from Earlham College in 2010 with a degree in Economics. Juan is currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration at Columbia University. Tune in Friday to hear Juan talk about virtual school & NYC during the pandemic and how he has created human connection as an immigrant, living away from family.
Alishba Zarmeen is originally from Pakistan. She graduated from Earlham College in 2013 with a degree in Human Development and Social Relations. She currently lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Alishba is the owner of two photography studios, Dream Boudoir Photography, a Women's Luxury Portrait Studio in Toronto & Vancouver and Purple Canvas Photography in Toronto, Canada. Tune in Friday to hear Alishba reflect on growing up as a girl in a Muslim country and her journey of becoming a outspoken activist and female body photographer.
Omar Al-Fotihi is originally from Yemen. He graduated from Earlham College in 2014 with a degree in Political Science. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York where he is a Producer for Human Rights Watch. Tune in Friday to listen to Omar speak on recreating routine during a pandemic, becoming the best version of yourself, and the experience of living in a different culture than your family.
In this episode we spoke with Alishba Zarmeen from Pakistan, Omar Al-Fotihi from Yemen and Juan Ibáñez from Panama. Because this conversation was two hours long, we decided to publish this episode in two parts, this is part one. In this part of our conversation we got to know who these three alumni are and how they have been since the pandemic started. We talked about healthcare in the US, Canada, and their respective home countries as well as the loss of connection and, to quote Omar, “duality of being” that comes from living in a different country to your family.
To hear more from Alishba, Omar, and Juan, please tune in to the second part, which will be published tomorrow. There you can hear them share about new perspectives gained from the pandemic, what it means to speak out as immigrants in the US and Canada, and how all our connections to Lynn brought us here, together and individually.
Juan Ibáñez is originally from Panama. He graduated from Earlham College in 2010 with a degree in Economics. Juan is currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration at Columbia University. Tune in Friday to hear Juan talk about virtual school & NYC during the pandemic and how he has created human connection as an immigrant, living away from family.
Alishba Zarmeen is originally from Pakistan. She graduated from Earlham College in 2013 with a degree in Human Development and Social Relations. She currently lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Alishba is the owner of two photography studios, Dream Boudoir Photography, a Women's Luxury Portrait Studio in Toronto & Vancouver and Purple Canvas Photography in Toronto, Canada. Tune in Friday to hear Alishba reflect on growing up as a girl in a Muslim country and her journey of becoming a outspoken activist and female body photographer.
Omar Al-Fotihi is originally from Yemen. He graduated from Earlham College in 2014 with a degree in Political Science. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York where he is a Producer for Human Rights Watch. Tune in Friday to listen to Omar speak on recreating routine during a pandemic, becoming the best version of yourself, and the experience of living in a different culture than your family.
In this episode we spoke with Deema Kanbar Agha from Iraq and Bashaar Jarbawi from Palestine. Both Deema and Bashaar are now located in California and while they have been very differently affected by the pandemic in their daily lives, there were a lot of common threads in their reflections on it. In our conversation we talk about the emotional challenges of the pandemic, valuing the simple things, and finding comfort in commonality.
Deema Kanbar Agha is originally from Iraq, she graduated from Earlham College in 2012 with a degree in Psychology. In the Spring of 2020, Deema graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with her Masters of Art in Clinical Counseling.
Bashaar Jarbawi is originally from Palestine. He graduated from Earlham College in 2015 with a degree in Business and Non-Profit Management. He currently lives in San Francisco, California where he works as a Customer Service Representative for First Republic Bank.
In this episode we connected with Ranjit Jose from the USA, Angad Patheja from India, and Rudhi Putra from Indonesia. All three of them currently live outside of the United States so it was really interesting to hear their perspectives on the pandemic. In our conversation we spoke about essential and daily wage earners, managing the next pandemic, and living in the present.
Ranjit Jose is from the United States of America. He graduated from Earlham College in 2003 with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology. He is currently located in Jakarta, Indonesia where he is a Communications Specialist for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Tune in Friday to listen to Ranjit speak on social distancing and managing the next pandemic.
Angad Patheja is from India. He graduated form Earlham College in 2012 with a Major in Economics. He currently lives in Pune, India where he runs his own Social Impact Consultant company. Tune in Friday to hear from Angad speak on daily wage earners, managing the next pandemic, and the hairy problem of searching for a job during this time.
Rudhi Putra is originally from Indonesia. He graduated from Earlham College in 2015 with a degree in International Relations. He currently lives in Jakarta, Indonesia where he works as a Research Associate at the Economics Research institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Tune in Friday to hear from Rudhi speak about being present amidst a pandemic.
In this episode we spoke with Arrita Domi from Kosovo, Cyrus Buckman from Ghana, and Ananda Mishra from Nepal. These three international alum graduated together in 2018 and during our conversation with them they touched on topics that a lot of us have been reflecting on during this time - our emotional well-being during pandemic regulations, being away from family, how to support each other during this time, and the differences between individual and collective behavior.
Arrita Domi is originally from Kosovo, she graduated from Earlham in 2018 with a major in Mathematics and Psychology. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she works as an operations manager.
Cyrus Buckman is originally from Ghana, he graduated from Earlham in 2018 with a degree in Biochemistry. This Fall he will begin his first year as a medical student at Stanford University.
Ananda Mishra, originally from Nepal, majored in Biochemistry. He graduated in 2018 and is currently located in Boston, Massachusetts, where he works as a Research Associate at VL50 Inc., Flagship Pioneering.
In this episode we spoke with Deena Ismail (Palestine-USA), Anja Kresojevic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Nabil Parkar (United Kingdom). It was very interesting to hear from them about how their work has been impacted by the pandemic, leading the conversation to reinventing our current moment by learning to create our own experiences. They also shared about living with family during quarantine, cultural identity, and much more!
Anja Kresojevic, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, graduated in 2014 in Business and Non-profit management and International Studies. She currently lives in Mostar, where she work for Education USA as Program Manager and Education Advisor for the southern region. Tune in Monday to hear more from Anja about how her work has changed during the pandemic and the Balkan identity.
Deena Ismail, Palestinian-American, is the Supervisor of Programing for The Door, New York City’s largest social service agency. She graduated from Earlham College in 2009, where she majored in Peace and Global Studies. Tune in Monday to hear more from Deena about redesigning systems and reinventing the way we think about doing.
Nabil Parkar, from the UK, graduated in 2012 from Earlham College with a major in Business and Non-Profit Management. He is currently located in London where he is the Senior Marketing Program Manager for Expedia. Tune in Monday to hear from Nabil talk about the challenges and advantages of living with parents/family during quarantine and learning a new job during a pandemic.
In this episode we chat with Mafer Landin from Mexico and Andrey Borokhovich from Russia about how their plans have changed due to the pandemic, our common uncertainty of what’s next, and what to do in the meantime.
Mafer Landin, originally from Mexico, studied Psychology and Sociology & Anthropology at Earlham College. After graduating in 2019, she moved to Portland, Oregon to join the Quaker Voluntary Service where she worked as a Program Assistant at Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. In the Fall of 2020, she will be attending Earlham School of Religion to pursue her Masters Degree in Peace and Social Transformation.
Andrey Borokhovich, originally from Russia, studied International Studies and Business and Non-Profit Management at Earlham College. After graduating in 2019, he joined Masa Israel Journey where he worked as an intern at the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development.
Interlocking Threads: Conversations with International Students. This is a short introductory episode where we introduce our team and what this project is about and throughout the next weeks and maybe months we will be posting conversations with international alumni from around the world.
Link to the interviews of our previous work: http://ohla.info/international-stories-journeys-to-during-and-after-earlham/