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Tan grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, moved to the Philippines at 14, and came to the US alone at 18 to study at UC San Diego before transferring to UCLA, her dream school. After 12 years abroad, she shares what actually helped her survive her first year as an international student, and what she'd tell anyone about to make the move.

She talks honestly about crying and calling her mom in the first days, feeling like the only international student in her dorm suite, and doubting her English. Then she breaks down what made the difference.

In this episode:

• What to do before you move to the US: savings for hidden costs, setting up your bank account and phone, and time with family
• Why saying yes to every invite and joining clubs changed her first year
• Why you shouldn't only make friends from your home country
• Culture shock in America: free food lines, secret menus, and dating
• What her Asian upbringing gave her at work, and what she admires about speaking up in the US
• Her funniest first mistake: getting chased down the street for not tipping

Chapters:
0:00 First year as an international student: how she made friends
5:40 Tips before and after moving to the US
11:01 Culture shock in America: food, dating, and more
18:48 Advice for international students after 12 years abroad
27:04 Tipping culture in the US: her funny first mistake

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0i-qlZk14ZQ

Listen next: Why International Students Feel So Alone, and What Actually Helps, with a therapist from Santa Monica College: https://youtu.be/8soXD1FMIVI?si=wdHrALwaNhNiv1eZ

If this episode helped you, a quick rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps other international students find the show.

The International Student Experience Podcast is by and for international students. Hosted by Hersh Gohil, who came to the US from a small village in India in 2013 as an international student.

Support the show

🎙 International Student Experience

We share real stories from international students who have lived this journey
before you — so your path can be easier.

Every guest opens up about what they wish someone had told them. The mistakes they made. The lessons they learned the hard way. The wisdom they gained from navigating life, education, careers, and identity in the United States.

If you are an international student or about to become one — these conversations exist to make your journey lighter, clearer, and a little less lonely.

You don't have to figure it all out alone. Learn from those who have
already walked this path.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@ISEPod

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio

Have a story to share or want to be a guest? Email us at
yourstory.oie@gmail.com

Follow us: Instagram: @ise.podcast TIKTOK : @ise.podcast

YouTube: International Student Experience Podcast

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If this episode helped you, share it with another international student who
needs to hear it. We are still not reaching enough International students, please help us reach to more people by reviewing the podcast and sharing with other International students.

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Please take a few seconds to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or Amazon Music, wherever you listen. . It's the best way to help other international students find these stories when they need them most. Thank you for being here.

A cashier once told Alejandra to go to another line because she couldn't understand her accent. That one comment stayed with her for a year.

In this episode, Alejandra opens up about the shame she carried over her accent and her English, and how it quietly shaped every part of her life. She talks about doubting whether she was "ready for corporate America," feeling like an outsider in group conversations, the emotional toll of feeling like she had two different personalities in two languages, and how it even affected her relationship. And she shares how she overcame it, the reframe that changed everything, the daily affirmations she still uses, choosing to create her content in English despite the fear, and surrounding herself with people who lifted her up instead of making her feel small.

If you've ever felt like your accent or your English made you "less than," this one is for you. You're not the only one, and it does get better.

Chapters
0:00 The Comment That Stayed With Me for a Year
2:53 How It Affected Me Professionally
9:43 How It Affected My Social Life: Feeling Like an Outsider
13:54 How It Affected Me Emotionally: Feeling Like Two People
16:33 How Sofia Vergara Inspired Her to Own Her Accent
25:32 How I Built Confidence: Affirmations and Self-Worth
34:25 Putting Myself Out There: Creating Content in English
49:00 Advice for International Students Struggling With English
52:55 How It Affects My Relationship: Language, Humor, and Love

New episodes every week. Subscribe and let's get into it, and if this moved you, share it with a girl who needs to hear it.

TikTok - @ISEPodcast
Instagram - @ise.podcast

Guest: Alejandra Tiktok & Instagram - @byalejamunoz

Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music :

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5yV9JNNRRF4fBvKw5QETNC?si=748189437f0d40dc

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-student-experience-podcast/id1848975904

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/651c6036-c2bb-4b72-81aa-3cdb5bbbf530/international-student-experience-podcast?ref=dm_sh_uP8jNQZVZvBRkNmQBWf1qwIp7

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-international-student-exp-302843551

Support the show

🎙 International Student Experience

We share real stories from international students who have lived this journey
before you — so your path can be easier.

Every guest opens up about what they wish someone had told them. The mistakes they made. The lessons they learned the hard way. The wisdom they gained from navigating life, education, careers, and identity in the United States.

If you are an international student or about to become one — these conversations exist to make your journey lighter, clearer, and a little less lonely.

You don't have to figure it all out alone. Learn from those who have
already walked this path.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@ISEPod

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio

Have a story to share or want to be a guest? Email us at
yourstory.oie@gmail.com

Follow us: Instagram: @ise.podcast TIKTOK : @ise.podcast

YouTube: International Student Experience Podcast

Subscribe for new episodes every week

If this episode helped you, share it with another international student who
needs to hear it. We are still not reaching enough International students, please help us reach to more people by reviewing the podcast and sharing with other International students.

Y...

Send us Fan Mail

Every year, thousands dream of coming to the US for film school and a shot at Hollywood. But is it actually worth it?

In this episode, three filmmakers talk it through honestly. Your host came to the US from India for filmmaking over a decade ago. Kanishka came from India more recently as a film student and director. And Savvas, who grew up in Maryland and studied film in North Carolina, has worked as a production manager in Hollywood for over ten years.

Together they compare growing up in India versus America, why they didn't all just rush to LA, how they chose their film schools, making films while still students, and the real cost, competition, and effort of building a film career here. They give honest, sometimes tough advice for anyone thinking about making the move, including why you should come with financial backing or a scholarship.

Whether you're dreaming of film school in the US or a career in Hollywood, this is the honest conversation worth hearing before you decide.

Made by an international student, for international students, your practical and emotional guide to not just survive, but thrive.

⏱ Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:51 The Real Cost of Film School
3:56 Choosing a Film School and Getting Picked for Projects
7:28 Making Films While Still in School
9:03 The Career Path After Graduation
13:21 It's Not Impossible: Different Paths In
20:57 India vs America: Everyday Life and Culture Shock
27:35 The Long Road to Actually Getting Here
30:28 Is It Worth It? Their Honest Advice

New episodes every week. Subscribe and let's get into it, and if this moved you, share it with a girl who needs to hear it.

TikTok - @ISEPodcast
Instagram - @ise.podcast

Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music :

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HL4yhj9YbwmFA6hdrWymf?si=eec12965f74c48a3

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-india-to-la-a-filmmakers-story-of-visas/id1848975904?i=1000733740743

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/651c6036-c2bb-4b72-81aa-3cdb5bbbf530/episodes/5363565d-a6ac-48a3-a231-745c961435d3/international-student-experience-podcast-from-india-to-la-a-filmmaker's-story-of-visas-culture-career-international-student-story

IHeart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-international-student-exp-302843551/episode/from-india-to-la-a-filmmakers-story-of-visas-culture-career-international-student-story-302843640

#FilmSchool #Filmmaking #Hollywood #InternationalStudents #India #StudyInTheUSA #Podcast

Support the show

🎙 International Student Experience

We share real stories from international students who have lived this journey
before you — so your path can be easier.

Every guest opens up about what they wish someone had told them. The mistakes they made. The lessons they learned the hard way. The wisdom they gained from navigating life, education, careers, and identity in the United States.

If you are an international student or about to become one — these conversations exist to make your journey lighter, clearer, and a little less lonely.

You don't have to figure it all out alone. Learn from those who have
already walked this path.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@ISEPod

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio

Have a story to share or want to be a guest? Email us at
yourstory.oie@gmail.com

Follow us: Instagram: @ise.podcast TIKTOK : @ise.podcast

YouTube: International Student Experience Podcast

Subscribe for new episodes every week

If this episode helped you, share it with another international student who
needs to hear it. We are still not reaching enough International students, please help us reach to more people by reviewing the podcast and sharing with other International students.

Y...