When you move to a new country, sticking close to people from your home culture is a natural instinct. But is it a vital safety net or a barrier to your growth? In this episode, Michael Doan sits down with Kim (Trinh Kim Nguyen) and Mia (Nguyen Tran Mai Anh) - both are Vietnamese students pursuing their Masters degrees at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Kim is from the province of Binh Duong, while Mia is from the province of Nghe An. This is their first time living outside of Vietnam.

Together, they unpack the reality of the "compatriot bubble." From hilarious language barriers and academic culture shocks to late-night surfing trips and learning local slang like Àimèi (曖昧), this episode is an honest look at what it truly means to integrate without losing your roots.

Michael Doan is a graduate student at the International Master's Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) at National Chengchi University (NCCU).

“Speak Up” is a podcast program by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Season 1 features student work from the class, “Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts” in Spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.

Music credit: Piano Intro (Piano Intro Logo) by Tolset Music, In a dream by Johnny The Ripper, and Saltines by Podington Bear on Free Music Archive dot org. With additional original music by Nguyên nghiền Ballad.

When you move to a new country, sticking close to people from your home culture is a natural instinct. But is it a vital safety net or a barrier to your growth?&nbsp;In this episode, Michael Doan sits down with Kim (Trinh Kim Nguyen) and Mia (Nguyen Tran Mai Anh) - both are Vietnamese students pursuing their Masters degrees at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Kim is from the province of Binh Duong, while Mia is from the province of Nghe An. This is their first time living outside of Vietnam.
Together, they unpack the reality of the "compatriot bubble." From hilarious language barriers and academic culture shocks to late-night surfing trips and learning local slang like &Agrave;im&egrave;i (曖昧), this episode is an honest look at what it truly means to integrate without losing your roots.
Michael Doan is a graduate student at the International Master's Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) at National Chengchi University (NCCU).
&ldquo;Speak Up&rdquo; is a podcast program by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Season 1 features student work from the class, &ldquo;Podcasting: Audio Journalism &amp; Branded Podcasts&rdquo; in Spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.
Music credit:&nbsp;<a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/tolsetmusic/audio-logo/piano-intro-piano-intro-logo/">Piano Intro (Piano Intro Logo)</a> by Tolset Music,&nbsp;<a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/johnny_ripper/soundtrack_for_a_film_that_doesnt_exist/johnny_ripper_-_soundtrack_for_a_film_that_doesnt_exist_-_25_in_a_dream_1835/">In a dream</a> by Johnny The Ripper, and&nbsp;<a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Piano_I/Saltines/">Saltines</a> by Podington Bear&nbsp;on Free Music Archive dot org. With additional original music by Nguy&ecirc;n nghiền Ballad.
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Episodes in this program are made by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei, Taiwan. Students here are in the undergraduate program at the Department of Radio and Television, or the graduate program at IMICS (International Master's Program in International Communication Studies).

Season 1 includes student work from the class “Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts” at NCCU in spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu. 

Thank you to the following people and centers for their support: Dean of College of Communication, Dr. Hsiu-Hui Sun (政大傳播學院院長孫秀蕙); Chair of the Department of Radio & TV, Dr. Stanley Chun-Ming Huang (廣播與電視學系主任黃俊銘); Director of IMICS, Dr. I-Huei Cheng (國際傳播英語碩士學位學程主任鄭怡卉); Voice of NCCU radio station (VNCCU, 政大之聲電台), and the Audio and Video Lab (影音實驗室).

本節目為台灣國立政治大學傳播學院之廣播與電視學系及國際傳播英語碩士學位學程學生作品。第一季為114學年度課程「Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts」（英文教學）之作品，指導老師為兼任教師吳怡慈。政大傳播學院成立於1989年，為台灣歷史最悠久、最具指標性之新聞傳播教育學府。

Episodes in this program are made by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei, Taiwan. Students here are in the undergraduate program at the Department of Radio and Television, or the graduate program at IMICS (International Master's Program in International Communication Studies).
Season 1 includes student work from the class &ldquo;Podcasting: Audio Journalism &amp; Branded Podcasts&rdquo; at NCCU in spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.&nbsp;
Thank you to the following people and centers for their support: Dean of College of Communication, Dr. Hsiu-Hui Sun (政大傳播學院院長孫秀蕙); Chair of the Department of Radio &amp; TV, Dr. Stanley Chun-Ming Huang (廣播與電視學系主任黃俊銘); Director of IMICS, Dr. I-Huei Cheng (國際傳播英語碩士學位學程主任鄭怡卉); Voice of NCCU radio station (VNCCU, 政大之聲電台), and the Audio and Video Lab (影音實驗室).
本節目為台灣國立政治大學傳播學院之廣播與電視學系及國際傳播英語碩士學位學程學生作品。第一季為114學年度課程「Podcasting: Audio Journalism &amp; Branded Podcasts」（英文教學）之作品，指導老師為兼任教師吳怡慈。政大傳播學院成立於1989年，為台灣歷史最悠久、最具指標性之新聞傳播教育學府。