Welcome to Episodes 9 (Chinese) and 10 (English)! I am deeply honored to host my friend, Niya. This also marks my first attempt at recording online. Although separated by the Pacific Ocean, our conversation still reached the depths of our hearts.
We met and became acquainted while doing volunteering at the Stanford International Center. Niya lived in California for a year as a Berkeley Visiting Scholar, while also being a Stanford Scholar's Family Member and actively participating in many Stanford campus activities. She returned to China this February and currently works in Beijing at an educational research institution, studying education finance and policy formulation.
I was thrilled to talk with Niya about her unique observations and interpretations of "abroad" and "home." In this episode, she shared her understanding of hometown, noting that it is separated into geographical and psychological aspects. She referenced the profound idea that “Hometown is where the heart finds peace”. She also sincerely discussed her psychological transformation, moving from the highly pressurized domestic state (known as "involution") to a more relaxed and self-enjoying state.
Niya also generously shared her experience of parenting abroad, detailing how her son, Phil, adapted to the relaxed educational environment of the American public school system, and her redefinition of family—focusing on her own nuclear family. We hope that through Niya's story, everyone can feel that open, free, and self-pleasing attitude toward life, and find spiritual belonging (a home for the soul).
P.S.: During the recording of this episode, I was so focused on being the host that I held back my emotions. However, when editing the program, I was moved a second time; I cried while editing and felt healed in the process. I sincerely hope this episode brings some emotional resonance to you on the other end of your phone.
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第九期，第十期我非常荣幸邀请到了我的朋友妮娅来做客。这也是我第一次尝试线上录音。虽然隔着太平洋，我们的交流却依然直达内心深处。
我们是在斯坦福国际中心一起做志愿者时认识并熟悉起来的。妮娅曾以伯克利访问学者的身份在加州生活了一年，同时也是斯坦福学者家属，积极参与了许多校园活动。她已于今年二月回国，目前在北京一家教育科研单位工作，研究教育财政和政策制定。
我非常开心能与妮娅聊聊她对他乡和故乡的独特观察和解读。在这一期节目里，她分享了自己对于故乡的理解，认为故乡有地理和心理之分，并提到“寻心安处是故乡”**。**她还真诚地谈到了自己的心理转变，从国内的紧张状态（所谓的“卷”）逐渐走向一种松弛且懂得享受生活的状态。
在节目中，妮娅还慷慨的分享了在异乡育儿的经历，她的儿子菲尔是如何适应美国公立学校宽松的教育环境的，以及她对家庭定义（以自己的小家庭为中心）的重新认识。希望大家能从妮娅的故事中，感受到那种开放、自由且懂得取悦自己的生活态度，找到心灵的归宿。
Ps:
这期节目我在录音的时候太专注做主持人，收着自己的情绪。结果剪辑节目的时候被二次感动，一边流泪一边剪，一边被疗愈。真诚希望这期节目能给手机另一端的你也带来一些心灵上的共振。
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