Journey Abroad

Welcome back to Journey Abroad, the show that highlights Africans studying and living abroad, their experiences, as well as tips and tricks on how to thrive in new environments.
In this first episode of season 2, Refilwe Mpai shares her thoughts, feelings, and hopes for the new school year. She also shares her experience transitioning from the master's program to the PhD program.
Podcast features:
STEMing from Africa: Ep 9: Exploring neuroscience and navigating new countries
The Vulnerable Scientist: 104 | Journey Abroad Podcast Host | Neuroscientist | Vulnerable Refilwe Mpai
Her Royal Science: 32 A Whole New World
Connect with Refilwe:
Twitter: @fee_mpai
Instagram: @freespirit_fee
LinkedIn: Refilwe Mpai
Podcast Twitter: @journeyabroad_
Podcast Instagram: @journeyabroad_podcast
Music by: John_Sib from Pixaba

In this week's episode, I chat with Stanford graduate and early childhood educator, Marothodi Ntseane. We chat about her adjustment to moving to Massachusetts, and later to California, in the United States. We also talk about the factors that led to her taking a gap year during her undergraduate degree and the steps she took to make it happen. Marothodi reminds us of the importance of choosing you and following your own path.
Marothodi was born in the United States to Batswana parents and raised in Botswana. She completed her high school at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and then pursued a bachelor's in psychology with a focus on health and development. She currently works as an early childhood educator in San Francisco Bay, California. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram: @marothodi_.
Journey Abroad on Twitter: @journeyabroad_
Journey Abroad on Instagram: @journeyabroad_podcast
Music by: John_Sib from Pixabay

In this week's episode, I chat with mechatronics and robotics student, Katlego Kgosibodiba. We chat about his adjustment to life in Russia, including how he went about learning the language. He also shares the things he has come to enjoy about the country, including its variety in landscapes, culture, and climate. We further talk about his interests outside school which include photography, running a YouTube page as The Soul Engineer, and hosting two podcasts, Engineered Thoughts and The Global Runway Podcast.
Katlego was born and raised in Botswana. He is currently doing his bachelor's in mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering at Southwest State University (formerly, Kursk State Technical University) in Kursk Russia. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram: @the_soul_engineer, Twitter: @thesoulengineer, and on his website: katlegokgosibodiba.com.
The Soul Engineer YouTube channel
Engineered Thoughts Podcast
The Global Runway
LinkedIn
Website: theglobalrunway.org
Podcast: The Global Runway
Journey Abroad on Twitter: @journeyabroad_
Journey Abroad on Instagram: @journeyabroad_podcast
Music by: John_Sib from Pixabay

In this week's episode, I chat with PhD student in chemistry, Sandile Mtetwa. She shares how she got into research, what lead to her decision to pursue graduate studies abroad, and what she is working on in her PhD. We also talk about the organizations she has helped create: Simuka-Arise which is a Zimbabwe-based organization that advocates for young women's empowerment academically, economically and socially, as well as Africans in STEM which highlights scientific contributions by Africans in STEM fields and provides avenues to connect, share ideas and collaborate
Africans in STEM is hosting a hybrid symposium on April 26th. Register here!
Sandile is from Zimbabwe. She completed a BSc in chemistry at the University of Zimbabwe. She then went on to complete an MPhil in chemistry and is currently a PhD in chemistry both at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Africans in STEM:
Website: africansinstem.co.uk
Facebook: Africans in STEMTwitter: @africansinstem
LinkedIn: Africans in STEM
Simuka-Arise Initiative
Instagram: @simuka-arise
Facebook: Simuka-Arise Initiative
Journey Abroad on Twitter: @journeyabroad_
Journey Abroad on Instagram: @journeyabroad_podcast
Music by: John_Sib from Pixabay

Curious about what it is like to pursue a PhD? In this week's episode, I chat with PhD candidate in molecular biology, Ibi Max-Harry. Ibi, a native of Nigeria, talks about her journey through undergrad which she pursued in Ghana, and how that led to her deciding to apply for PhD programs in the United States of America. She talks about the culture shock she experienced moving to Ohio, and what doing a PhD has been like for her.
Ibi completed a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering at the All Nations University College in Koforidua, Ghana. She is currently based in Athens, Ohio, doing her PhD in molecular biology at Ohio University. Outside school, she is passionate about outreach and communication, particularly science communication.
Connect with her on LinkedIn, Instagram: @mercy__max, Twitter: @Ibi_MaxHarry and check out her YouTube channel.
Journey Abroad on Twitter: @journeyabroad_
Journey Abroad on Instagram: @journeyabroad_podcast
Music by: John_Sib from Pixabay