🎄 A Christmas episode unlike any other.

In this special episode of Intercultural Surprises, I deliberately step away from cultural differences to talk to you about something even more universal: faith in humanity.

Through a personal anecdote from my very first Christmas spent away from my family, in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains in the United States, I share with you a formative encounter with Randa—a woman whose generosity, trust, and humanity profoundly shaped my journey and continue, to this day, to influence the way I am in the world.

✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:
• Why I chose not to address current events, but instead to talk about hope during the holiday season.
• The concept of pay it forward.
• A Christmas story experienced while traveling, made of unconditional hospitality, transmission, and bonds that transcend borders.
• The faces, first names, and simple gestures that nourish my faith in humanity—from Tunisia to India, from Colombia to Patagonia.
• A reflection on love for the Other, everyday generosity, and that light which exists even in a world marked by crises, violence, and doubt.

This episode is an invitation to choose to see the light, to remember that hope does not always come from major political or societal decisions, but very often from the human beings who cross our path—sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a lifetime.

🎧 An intimate, sensitive, and deeply human episode, to listen to quietly during the holiday season, to reconnect with what binds us together.

Whether you are an expat, a traveler, or simply curious about cultures and diversity, this podcast is for you!

Enjoy !

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Intercultural Surprises is the podcast that takes you on a journey and helps you better understand cultures around the world.

🎤 I’m Charlotte Courtois, an international speaker on cultural diversity and founder of the NGO Konstelacio, which raises children’s awareness of intercultural dialogue all around the world.

To learn more about who I am and what I do, for collaborations, or to contact me and share your own travel stories, visit:

👉 My website: www.charlotte-courtois.com👉 My NGO, Konstelacio: www.konstelacio.org👉 My LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chacourtois

In this second episode of my intercultural podcast, I take you with me to South Africa for one of the most surprising moments of my solo round-the-world journey.

While working in Khayelitsha, a township near Cape Town, I found myself alone on a bus, a bit nervous… until a simple question about Xhosa wedding traditions sparked a full-bus debate in Xhosa!

What began as a stressful ride quickly became a timeless moment of connection, laughter, and cultural discovery.

During this journey, I was collecting stories from children in seven countries—an adventure that led me to create my NGO, Konstelacio.

One of the themes I explored with them was “the wedding,” and it opened fascinating conversations about rituals, symbols, and traditions.

In this episode, I share what I learned about the two stages of Xhosa weddings, from the traditional ceremony and its beautiful attire to the “white wedding,” and even the tradition of pouring brandy around the house to welcome ancestors.

I also reflect on three key lessons I’ve learned while traveling: relying on locals to understand safety rules, asking open questions to create genuine connections, and remembering that culture is never homogeneous—every person has their own version of tradition.

If you’re curious about cultural diversity, storytelling, or solo travel, this episode is for you. I’d love to hear your reactions and your own travel stories on Instagram or LinkedIn. And stay tuned: in two weeks, I’ll take you with me to Tunisia for the next adventure!

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Intercultural Surprises is the podcast that takes you on a journey to better understand the world’s cultures.

🎤 I am Charlotte Courtois—speaker on cultural diversity and founder of the NGO Konstelacio, which helps children around the world learn about intercultural dialogue.

I am also a UNESCO Young Leader for Peace.

To learn more about who I am and what I do, to collaborate, or to share your own travel stories with me, visit:

👉 My website: ⁠www.charlotte-courtois.com⁠

👉 Konstelacio: ⁠www.konstelacio.org⁠

👉 My Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/charlottecourtois_off⁠

👉 My LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/chacourtois⁠

In this episode set in Cambodia, I share the story of the time I thought my tuk-tuk driver was messing with me!

Among the keys to discovering others—and to intercultural management as well—what if we explored our relationship with the word “No”? I’ll tell you what happened, what I learned from it, and how you can apply those lessons in your everyday life.

Whether you’re an expat, a traveler, or simply curious about cultures and diversity, this podcast is for you.

Enjoy the episode!

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Intercultural Surprises is the podcast that takes you on a journey to better understand the world’s cultures.

🎤 I am Charlotte Courtois—speaker on cultural diversity and founder of the NGO Konstelacio, which helps children around the world learn about intercultural dialogue.

To learn more about who I am and what I do, to collaborate, or to share your own travel stories with me, visit:

👉 My website: www.charlotte-courtois.com👉 Konstelacio: www.konstelacio.org👉 My Instagram: www.instagram.com/charlottecourtois_off👉 My LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chacourtois

Intercultural Surprises is the podcast that takes you on a journey to better understand the cultures of the world.

🎙️ I am Charlotte Courtois, speaker and expert in cultural diversity and intercultural management. I am also the founder of Konstelacio, a UNESCO-accredited NGO which educates children around the world on intercultural dialogue. Passionate about cultures—and stories in all their forms—I share my travel experiences to help decode and understand cultural differences.

🌎 Intercultural Surprises explores global travel, customs and traditions, and the discovery of others and ourselves. Whether you are a comfort traveler or a backpacker, an expatriate, an immigrant, an HR professional, or simply curious about international mobility, this podcast is for anyone interested in the world and its people.

🗝️ Each episode provides tips and advice for living and working abroad, as well as for traveling to other countries (or rediscovering our own) with a little less confusion.

✔️ By learning to understand one another, we all feel better in society and in our shared humanity. It also proves to be beneficial for cohesion, creativity, and performance—both in everyday life and in professional settings.

🕯️ It requires a healthy dose of curiosity and vulnerability, but the rewards are immense.

📅 Intercultural Surprises is a monthly podcast, complemented by occasional special episodes featuring interviews with other travelers and expatriates throughout the year.

🧭 I invite you to join me on a podcast round-the-world trip. Subscribe so you do not miss any episode, and share Intercultural Surprises with your friends and colleagues to take them on this journey with us.

For more information about my background and other activities:

• My website: https://www.charlotte-courtois.com/en/

• My NGO, Konstelacio: https://www.konstelacio.org

• My LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chacourtois