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Welcome to Episode 2 of the Language Legacy Project Series, a 5-part community storytelling initiative capturing the powerful conversations between youth from Alabama and elders from immigrant and refugee communities.

In this second episode, Alex D., a young interviewer sits down with Jack Schniper, an elder whose journey began thousands of miles away, arriving in the United States in the 1950s without speaking English, navigating cultural differences in the Deep South, and slowly building a new definition of home.

What unfolds is more than a migration story. It’s a reflection on courage, identity, language loss and preservation, and the quiet sacrifices that shape future generations.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What it was like arriving in America with no English and how language barriers shaped everyday survival
• The emotional impact of feeling "different" while growing up in Alabama
• How cultural traditions were protected inside the home while adapting to life outside it
• The unseen trade-offs immigrant parents make to expand opportunity for their children
• Why asking elders intentional questions can uncover stories that might otherwise disappear
• How young interviewers are learning to see language as legacy, not limitation

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About the Language Legacy Community Project:

Language Legacy is a youth-and-elders interview series designed to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage through storytelling. Alabama teenagers interview elders from immigrant and refugee backgrounds to capture their language memories, idioms, childhood stories, and first-language expressions. These conversations are then shaped into short video stories and shared online to deepen intergenerational understanding and strengthen community connection.

If you’re inspired by stories of culture, identity, migration, and language, this episode is the perfect place to begin.

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ORGANIZATIONS mentioned:
- Alabama Holocaust Education Center: ahecinfo.org

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ABOUT THE PODCAST
Thoughtful conversations exploring cultures, languages, and connection. From Where to Here is hosted by Alexandra Lloyd and shares real stories that bridge cultural gaps and spark understanding.

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🔗 EXPLORE free resources & guides:
Visit my website for free resources that help turn curiosity about language and culture into real connection.
👉 https://fromwheretoherepod.com/5phrases

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📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.

📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

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Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.

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What happens when you learn a new language later in life, and have to rebuild identity, confidence, and belonging from scratch?

In this episode of From Where to Here, host Alexandra sits down with the Fernández family to talk about learning English as adults, navigating life with an accent, and building a sense of home far from where they started.

Rather than growing up bilingual, the Fernández family shares what it was like to:

- Learn English later in life and use it for survival, work, and connection
- Carry an accent and the assumptions that come with it
- Hold onto their first language while adapting to a new cultural reality
- Use food, family, and tradition as anchors during migration

This conversation reveals how language learning in adulthood is not just about communication; it’s about dignity, resilience, and redefining who you are in a new place.

Whether you’re an adult language learner, part of an immigrant family, or someone navigating life between cultures, this episode offers a deeply human look at what belonging really means.

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ORGANIZATIONS mentioned:
- Hot Stereo 93.5 – Colón, Panama: https://radios.com.pa/hot/
- St. Mark Latino Ministry: https://stmarkrc.org/latinoministry/

----------
🔗 EXPLORE free resources & guides:
Visit my website for free resources that help turn curiosity about language and culture into real connection.
👉 https://fromwheretoherepod.com/5phrases

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.

📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.

Send a text

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Language Legacy Project Series, a 5-part community storytelling initiative capturing the powerful conversations between youth from Alabama and elders from immigrant and refugee communities.

In this first episode, a young teen sits down with an elder who left Taiwan at 18, uncovering a deeply personal story about language, identity, family, and the journey of making a new place feel like home. Through guided storytelling and cultural exploration, they dive into memories of childhood in Taiwan, learning English in the U.S., navigating cultural misunderstandings, and the rich traditions passed down through the generations.

You’ll hear stories of:
✨ Growing up in a multigenerational Taiwanese household
✨ Facing the challenges of learning a new language and culture
✨ The emotional realities of immigrating as a teenager
✨ Why idioms, tones, and tiny language differences matter
✨ How Mandarin and cultural traditions are being passed on to her granddaughter
✨ The humor behind a Mandarin filler word that caused a major English misunderstanding
✨ The warmth of Chinese New Year celebrations, storytelling, food, and family rituals

About the Language Legacy Project:
Language Legacy is a youth-and-elders interview series designed to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage through storytelling. Alabama teenagers interview elders from immigrant and refugee backgrounds to capture their language memories, idioms, childhood stories, and first-language expressions. These conversations are then edited into short video stories and shared across online platforms to foster intergenerational understanding, cultural appreciation, and community connection.

Through this project, we hope to:
🌏 Bridge generational gaps through the power of storytelling
🌏 Elevate and preserve the lived experiences of elders
🌏 Celebrate the richness of languages and cultural identities
🌏 Empower youth as interviewers, listeners, and cultural documentarians

If you’re inspired by stories of culture, identity, migration, and language... This episode is the perfect place to begin.

🎧 Watch/Listen now and join us for Episode 1 of 5.
New stories from the Language Legacy Project are coming soon.

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.

📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.