Family Time
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
2y ago
Yesterday was Christmas and while I’ve had plenty of them, this one was different in that it was beautifully mellow with a pinch of emptiness. I got to spend the day hanging with my wife and our dogs, opening presents, downing champagne, and eating strawberries while a watching a plethora of cheesy television. It was also the first Christmas I’ve spent in a while without snow, and more significantly, the first Christmas I’ve spent with both of my parents now gone. My parents loved the holidays and instilled in my brother and I early on of the importance in giving to others rather than receivi ..read more
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Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
2y ago
Recently, while scrolling through my Instagram account, I came across a picture of a surfer crashing hard above a wave, his body going one way, his board the other. The picture alone caught my eye, but it was the caption below the picture, “Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New”, that really caught my attention. I had heard that phrase before, but never really gave it much thought. Perhaps it was seeing the words in print combined with the picture, but this time something was different about reading that phrase. For whatever the reason, those eight words resonated in my head all day long ..read more
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BenThere S2 E13: 4th Generation TCK, International Businessman, Husband & Father, Tim Brantingham.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Tim Brantingham Tim Brantingham is a US passport holder but has lived most of his life in Asia, having been born in Taiwan, with 12 years at Taipei American School (TAS); and having worked the last 30 years in Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong and now Tokyo. Tim comes from a line of American missionaries and is the fourth generation of American to live and work in Asia—his kids are the fifth. Tim went to the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and has graduate degrees from the University of Hong Kong and Oxford University. He is a co-founder of Brantingham & Carroll International, which he ..read more
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BenThere S2 E 12: Mentor, Educator, Counselor & International Traveler, Merilyn Franz.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Merilyn Franz. Born in New Mexico, Merilyn Franz called Phoenix, Arizona home for 35 years prior to becoming an international educator. With her husband Derryl, Merilyn enjoyed three years at the International School of Bangkok, nine years at Taipei American School, and three years at the American School of Bucharest, Romania. Incredibly grateful for her years living overseas, and never one to slow down, Merilyn is currently retired living in Independence, Oregon and stays busy as a hospital volunteer while also helping at food banks. She has four adult sons, one adult stepdaughter, fifteen gr ..read more
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BenThere S2 E11: TCK, Award Winning Artist, Singer, Musician, Mom & Wife, Angela Soffe.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Angela Soffe Angela Soffe is an award-winning artist raised in Asia and now based in Washington state. Known for her intimate vocals and piercing lyrics, her songs are morsels of real life wrapped in honest Americana. Her recent album, “Second Wind” won the nomination for “Americana Album of the Year” by the Independent Music Awards 2019. Her new single, “Rocks” also won the Great American Songwriting Contest in 2019. Her work and story has been featured on independent films, commercials, and podcasts worldwide. She’s recording and releasing her next album in Nashville, TN in 2021.   Wat ..read more
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BenThere S2 E10: Global Citizen, Architect, Designer & Twin, Valeria Lie Alonso.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Valeria Lie Alonso Valeria Lie Alonso is co-founder of the international design studio Lie Alonso alongside her twin sister, where they create transcendental spaces and pieces in the realms of architecture, design, furniture and aviation. Daughters of the New World, born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, the twins’ ancestry stems from a Spanish father & Surinamese-born Hakka Chinese mother. Having lived in Brazil, United States, and now in the United Kingdom, she has developed international multimillion-dollar projects from concept through completion, managing affluent & Forbes 500 clie ..read more
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BenThere S2 E9: TCK, Global Citizen, International Admissions Director, Educator & Facilitator, Metta Dael.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Metta Dael Metta Dael currently serves as the Director of International Admission at Northfield Mount Hermon, a boarding school in Massachusetts. She returned to her alma mater after serving as the Director of Education programs at the Women’s Housing and Economic Development in the Bronx, NY. She spent most of her life in South East Asia – Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong before moving back to the United States. Her former jobs have included working in the NY theater scene, a production assistant in a number of movies, an extra on MTV Jams, research for Nickelodeon children’s shows ..read more
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BenThere S2 E8: TCK, Military Brat, Humanitarian, Historian, Traveler & Renaissance Man, Barry Barnes.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Barry Barnes Barry Barnes grew up both a Third Culture Kid (TCK) and Military Brat (MB) living predominantly on military bases in both the United States and the Philippines. Having lived in 41 houses by the time he was 19 years old, Barry is indeed a global citizen with a true understanding of people and culture. Professionally, Barry spent time as a behaviorist, high tech executive, entrepreneur, software industry spokesman, author and corporate consultant. Currently living in Reno, NV, with his wife, Liz, retirement hasn’t slowed Barry down at all as he continues to travel the world, is a wr ..read more
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BenThere S2 E7: Firefighter, Husband, Father, World Traveler & Story Teller, Chad Camp.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Chad Camp Chad Camp has worked in the EMS field for over twenty years in both Utah and Nevada while holding positions within Vivint Arena, Gold Cross Ambulance and New York, New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. He is currently a Firefighter-EMT, Sr. Engineer and Swift Water Technician for the Salt Lake City Fire Department. A world traveler, master story teller, and self-proclaimed international entertainer known for his impressive karaoke ballads and dance skills, Chad also has a passion for baseball and is a huge Disney fanatic. Chad and his wife Melissa reside in South Jordan, Utah, an ..read more
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BenThere S2 E6: TCK, International Speaker, Author, Podcaster, and Comedian, Christopher O’Shaughnessy.
BenThere.org
by Ben Voegele
3y ago
Chris O’Shaughnessy Christopher O’Shaughnessy is a passionate and versatile speaker, comedian, and author who uses a unique blend of story-telling, humor, and provocative insight to engage a wide array of people on topics ranging from Third Culture Kids and the effects of globalization to building community and increasing empathy.   Chris’ book, Arrivals, Departures and the Adventures In-Between, has received high praise from students, teachers, and other experts in the TCK and international community as a resource that is both enjoyable to read at a student level, and able to instill tru ..read more
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