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This episode begins with a mega sale of appliances at a factory in Hong Kong where Teresa found herself communing with fellow bargain hunters who were waiting in a VERY long line... about 30 years ago.

What unfolds is a conversation with her guest, Belina Raffy, about a time when smart phones didn't distract strangers from making conversation, how living abroad encourages adaptability in connecting with people from different backgrounds, and the scary situation Teresa found herself in as a result of NOT talking to a stranger in a New York subway.

Belina, who is a comedy teacher, international conference speaker, complexity coach, CEO and janitor, focuses her energy on making the world a better place in which to collaborate with delight, to navigate complexity in order to discover exciting possibilities, and to communicate difficult issues with more humanity, love, and laughter.

She shares about upcoming workshops she's running that blend comedy, complexity coaching, and compassion practices and you can learn more about them here: https://www.gigglingwithearth.com

#teresanorton #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth

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This episode kicks off with a newspaper column, written in December of 1994, that had Teresa Norton facing the realities of making a new home far from family and friends.

There's the fascination and fun of immersing oneself in a completely different culture and the feeling of helplessness when something scary happens to someone you love on the other side of the planet in what used to be your hometown.

What follows is a heartfelt conversation with 2CookInn shop owner Angela Yuen, that explores their shared experiences of moving from Hong Kong to new environments, the challenges and joys of adapting to different cultures, the importance of friendships both old and new, and how, when it comes to new cuisine, looks can be deceiving.

Angela shares her journey of opening her kitchenware shop in Lisbon and how despite her limited Portuguese, she has uncovered the universal language of friendship.

It's a warm and generous conversation that provides a hopeful portal into the new year ahead.

Learn more about Angela and her lovely shop here: https://2cookinn.com/about/

#teresanorton #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth

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In this episode host Teresa Norton (a confessed Barbie fan who still has her first and only Barbie doll ) is joined by her guest Melissa Chan as they dive into a nostalgic, affectionate and critical examination of the iconic doll.

Teresa's take in her 1990's newspaper column was that Barbie wasn't built to be a role model... she was a fashion model. Designed to get in and out of fabulous outfits. The column is funny... the conversation it opens up in the podcast is more serious.

They talk about the impact of Barbie on childhood and cultural perceptions of beauty, the evolution of representation in toys and media, and the complexities of identity and the importance of diverse role models for today's children.

Melissa shares her unique experience of wanting but not owning a Barbie, and why her parents said "no" to getting her one.

Lack of representation for girls of color during her upbringing in Malaysia and Singapore, contrasts with how her daughter, now 10, is growing up in an era where representation is the norm.

Teresa and Melissa remind us that while Barbie may have shaped their childhoods in different ways, the doll opens up important conversations for parents to have their children about the importance of not letting marketing executives set beauty standards for them.

Thanks to Melissa Chan for sharing her own Barbie story and... to Barbie for continuing to be a catalyst for controversy!

#teresanorton #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth