Dr. Yang Ai and Ms. Hongshan Shao join this episode to share their journey as Chinese international students to the US and how it impacted their research agenda. Dr. Ai is currently a tenure track Assistant Professor at the University of the Redlands and Ms. Shao is a doctoral candidate at Penn State University. Both are counselor educators with a focus on career development; both study the experience of Asian international students attending schools in Western countries. Hongshan Shao is the author of the lead article in the September 2021 issue of the Asia Pacific Career Development Journal titled “Career Considerations When Working with Chinese International Students. The conversation touches on the following topics:

• Yang and Hongshan’s personal journeys as international students to the University of Missouri - St. Louis (5:30)
• Initial Culture Shock including talking on the telephone for the first time (10:30)
• How to Get Better at Supporting International Students in Transition (15:15)
• Mental Health and Wellness of Chinese students in transition (23:00)
• What is the biggest kindness each guest received in their transition (26:50)
• Post graduation career decisions for Chinese international students (29:30)