The Non-Immigrant Student

Hi guys!!! How are you doing? How have you been? I hope you're thriving & in good health! I'm back with yet another new episode and this time, I came back with a three-time guest; one of my best girls, Busayo! In this episode, we dive into the details of our first big fight and how it almost cost us our 11-year long friendship! It all started with a Galentine brunch, a shopping spree and a night over that went south very quickly! We reflected on how we handled the conflict and why we chose to repair our friendship before it was too late. I'm reminded that friendships are like gardens, requiring patient tending, honest conversations, and the willingness to grow together. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording! With love from NY/NJ, Toolz x Bussy B Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hey guys, Season 4 is finally here!!! And I'm back with a surprise for you....I'm on a new mic!💃🏾 Definitely feeling excited, elated, exhilarated about the new year but at the same time - anxious, worried and tippy-toed! My hope is to capture all of these feelings in this new season, and share how I will be embracing and navigating the perceived changes in this new year. I'm all set, are you? Let's go! 🚀 See you in the airwaves, Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Happy New Year my fellow NISs! Wow it’s been 3 years doing podcasting. Started in 2021 just after I moved to the US and now we’re here. Season 3 was a good run - I learnt to navigate adulthood, living in New York City, and survived corporate America. I definitely feel like I learnt a lot about myself! This season will be all about 'Embracing Change'. The plan is to welcome any curve ball life throws at me; to fully embrace it, navigate it and adapt gracefully. This will also be my fourth year in the US as a non-immigrant (foreign national living/working in the US on a non-immigrant visa), and I can’t wait to see what this new season holds. Some changes I’m kinda looking forward to this year - change in job levels/a promotion, change in relationship status, change in spiritual levels (higher calling), change in work location, residential address changes, changes in friendships, changes in lifestyle choices (health & fitness-wise), changes in my emotional health, overcoming fears (driving, skydiving)....and THE LIST GOES ON! If you’re also anticipating some changes in your life this year then this season/podcast is for you. I hope you stick with me for the time being, and enjoy the ride. Tell a friend to tell a friend, your girl's beeeeckkkkkkk!!! See you in the next episode(s), Tolu O. Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

This podcast was originally recorded for Youtube and can be viewed here. Our conversation ventures beyond the professional, diving into the essence of what it means to be healthy in every aspect of life. We navigate the murky waters of emotional and financial stability, touching on the lessons learned from our Nigerian roots to the challenges faced abroad. Discover the role of spirituality in our lives, both as a source of strength and as a guiding compass through adversity. Tune in to hear how we grapple with the delicate balance of body image, the intricacies of social interaction as introverts and extroverts, and the discipline it takes to pursue holistic well-being. Happy Listening! Tolu x Lade P.S - Some additional links from the YT video: “On My Trip to New York, from Boston" Omolade's podcast @grow.with.lade Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Helllllllooo people, It’s almost time to bid farewell to 2023, and usher in a new year! Grateful for the many of you that are still here and hoping for a bigger and better next year for all of us! I hope this episode also inspires you to look back on the beautiful year you’ve had, what could have gone better and lessons you might have learned about life and yourself. Sending you warm hugs from NYC, and wishing you a very wonderful new year ahead! Happy Listening :) Much much love x Respect, Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Recently, I had a very crazy idea to voice log a day in my weekend life in NYC! It took a lot to put it together but I’m so happy to see it worked out! I had such a cool & cozy Saturday ft. laundry, a visit to the nail saloon, plant mum duties, cooking a typical Nigerian breakfast and hosting a friend! My friend came over to spend the whole day and we had a lot to catch up on and chat about - from societal expectations of women to age-old gender roles, to the sometimes unequal division of household chores in marriage. Also, about possible low levels of Vitamin D in Black people, cultural ignorance and offensive assumptions/stereotypes about Nigerians...yeah, it was a whole LOT. I hope you enjoy listening, and getting to know me a little better as this is nothing like I’ve ever done before. Today is also Nov. 23, 2023! Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving if you’re in the US and reading this today! I also hope you enjoy(ed) the holiday/weekend. Till next time...with love from NYC, Tolu (& Funto) Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Heyyyy y'all! I'm baaaack, and this time I'm back with a familiar guest - Bussy B! As Detty December approaches, Busayo and I sit down to reminisce our experience(s) of going back to Nigeria during Christmas (for me) and Summer (for her). I went back home in December 2022 to see my family and attend my sister's wedding while she went back in July 2023 to obtain her H-1B/American work visa, and also spend time with her family. We share some tips to prepare for the sweet (and somewhat sour) experience of going back home, and air some dirty laundry about what it's like living with your parents again, haha! It's all love, laughter and banter and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording! 'IJGB' hugs from NYC, Tolu & Bussy Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hi guys! Coming to you all the way from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, please say hello to my friends and fellow Corp baddies - Pearl Abue, Daniella Mafe & Blessing 'Bibichukwu' Akonure. I've never had more than two guests per time on a recorded episode so I was a bit nervous about the outcome BUT we had so much fun doing it! (and the episode chapters say it all!) I hope you learn a thing or two from our work/visa struggles, and enjoy hearing from adults in their late twenties/early thirties, about their love, dating & "marriage" experience(s), haha! Also, for visual updates of my trip to Mexico - please see my Mexico 🇲🇽 highlights on Instagram (Part I & II), and join the rest of The Non-Immigrant Student Community on my Instagram channel for more life updates! Okay then, let me leave you to it. Happy Listening and please do let me know what you think! Thank you! Con Amor desde Mexico, TPDB P.S. - If you're interested in a branded NIS T-shirt, kindly sign-up here for one :) Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Sneaking this in again - Podcast feedback form :) Have a lovely rest of your week! Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

My AI co-host's description for this episode: Ever wondered how it feels to step out of your comfort zone, face your fears, and conquer new territories? Well, this episode is a testament to that! As your host, Tolulope 'Esther' Olukanmi , I take you through a captivating journey. I discuss my life's voyage, from growing up in Nigeria to making my mark in the American corporate world. Be prepared to share in my joys, hardships, and amusing anecdotes - like becoming a proud plant mom and an entrepreneur selling T-shirts. I delve into my enriching experiences at the Woman Evolve conference, highlighting the diversity, strength, and beauty of black women and also share an unusual Amazon order gaffe. In the concluding segment, I reflect on some of the most impactful aspects of my life. I talk about health, a necessary doctor's visit and time-off work to recover from burnout, travel, and my adventurous exploration of alternative ways to commute around the bustling city of New York. I also share my exhilarating experience of selling my first batch of NIS T-shirts and how it has influenced my finances. As we wrap up, I delve into the healing power of love, art, exploring how understanding the context behind an artist's work can transform our perception of it. It's an episode filled with raw emotions, candid discussions, and uplifting narratives. You wouldn't want to miss it! vs. My description for this episode: What my AI Cohost said! Looool, she be doing tewww much tho' but for the most part, she told no lies! Also, I came across the trailer I used to introduce Season 1 of this podcast back in 2021 and decided to use it as the intro for this episode. And maybe going forward as well? We'd see! Anyway, as always, I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording! (Sneaking this in too, haha - Podcast feedback form). Restful hugs, Esther O. P.S. - I also have a visual recap of the Woman Evolve 2023 conference here - 1 , 2 , 3, Bonus. Enjoy! P.P.S. - Welcome to Fall 2023, officially! I'm also still wondering if to go for Adekunle Gold's concert next week or not, lol (insert hot tears!)... arrghh. Yeah. Okay, bye! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hi guys! I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording! As promised: T-Shirt interest formFeedback form Love, Dating, Marriage The Morning ShowPainkillerDancing with The DevilGoing back to Cornell Till next time ✌🏾, Tolu O. Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hey guys! I'm back one more time before July wraps-up, and this time I'm back with a guest! Yay! So I caught up with an old friend over brunch up about two weeks ago and decided that we needed to continue the conversation over a podcast episode. We had so much fun recounting how we met (during NYSC) and sharing how we've been full-blown thrust into Adulthood since then! This guest is none other than Ibukun Joyce Aiyemo - Former Marketing Lead at Burger King, Nigeria & current MBA student at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. She is also popularly dubbed as The Ibk Global on Instagram. She reminisces on building a successful marketing career with juggernauts like Domino's Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, Pinkberry and Burger King back in Lagos, Nigeria. Also, her decision to uproot her life and chase an MBA dream in the United States, and how she navigates her way through the challenges of business school. From tough academic requirements to adapting to a foreign culture, then financial planning for an MBA, the harsh realities of job interviews, and the importance of creating relationships that matter. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording! With love from Lagos, New York City & Toronto, Tolu & Ibk P.S: I mighty forgot to introduce myself to our new listeners at the beginning of the episode. Frankly speaking, I'm the coolest person you'd ever meet and you can watch me prove that right (or wrong, haha) here. I hope you come back for another episode too. Enjoy! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Subscriber-only episode Happy Listening :) With love from NYC, Tolu Ps: Here’s the link to subscribe to my friend’s YouTube channel while we anticipate her ‘Naira to Pounds’ interview with me. Thank you! Please rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Subscriber-only episode Can you believe it's already been a year since I joined Google? Time flies when you're learning, growing, and embracing new experiences! In this special episode, I take a moment to express my gratitude to God, the friends who have supported me throughout my incredible journey, and share some of the invaluable lessons I've picked up along the way. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on these insights that could make a massive difference in your own career. Ever felt held back by assumptions about age or experience? Well, it's time to shatter those limitations! We delve into the often-overlooked issue of ageism in the workplace, discussing how to break free from preconceived notions and truly respect one another, regardless of age. Plus, discover the importance of speaking up for yourself, gathering information, and building relationships to propel your career forward. But it's not all about work, right? We also explore the significance of having hobbies, maintaining a sense of gratitude, and nurturing the connections we make in our professional lives. So, tune in and get ready to find that perfect balance between life, work, and everything in between! You'll walk away feeling inspired and empowered to take control of your career and personal well-being. Happy 1-year Googleversary to me! AI-powered titles, descriptions & hugs, Tolu O. Please rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hellllloooo!!!! I know, I missed you too! This time I came back with a guest, yay! She's none other than Ivy F. Ochieng and she's without a doubt, one of my favorite people! Some of you might remember her as Ivy from this reel OR as my Kenyan sister/roommate from that reel but she's one of the very first friends I made when I moved to the US and was also my very first roommate in the US...so yes we go way beck! We forgot to mention but she also invited me to join her executive board as VP, Programming while she was President of @jabsatcornell, the African Students MBA club! And sure, I accepted! We served together 2021 - 2022 whilst being roommates (and held all the parties at our apartment, lol) On a random day after work, I just thought to stop by at Ivy's apartment, order-in dinner and chat/rant about life lately with her. Then I also thought, what if we recorded our conversation, that would be fun, and here we are! It was definitely a much-needed girl time and it reminded me of the good old days in Ithaca as roommates. As I approach my 1-year anniversary of graduating from Cornell/getting into Google, I'm reminded of the journey that led me here and the people I've come along with on this journey. Thanks for being a solid friend, Ivy and I'm so happy to be doing life in NYC with you! This was very much a hair let-down, feet-up , wine-in hand kinda episode...and I think you'd actually enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording, haha! With love from New York City, Tolu & Ivy P.S: We talk about how/where we first met and it was right here! November 12, 2020 - where the Black Girl Magic all began! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Subscriber-only episode Hi guys! It's been half-a-minute! Another much awaited episode on the travails of going back home to renew your F-1 visa is here! But not to worry, I gat you! In this episode, I share my own experience of going back home (to Nigeria) to renew my F-1 visa (aka student visa) and I did say a lot in the episode. So ICYM any details, kindly follow this link to a blog post where I try to give detailed steps on how to go about renewing your own student visa too. I tailored it to all international students in the US, including those from Nigeria, and those who go/went to Cornell. Also, I feel like the 'Disclaimer' I gave at the beginning of the blogpost is longer than the post itself, haha, because it is a very much needed disclaimer! As I emphasized in the episode, before making the decision to travel to renew your visa - PLEASE TALK TO YOUR D.S.O, no matter the circumstance! Even if you think you are "out of status" still talk to them. It's in their best interest to help you! Okayyyy, *flips hair to the back*, now that's out of the way...don't forget to again, check out this blog post for more details :) Nowwww can we talk about me turning 27 for a hot sauna second?! T.N.I.S is now in her late twenties! C'mon now! Anyway, the whole gist of how I spent my birthday this year is in this episode too. You can also catch the video highlights here! As always, I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording! Sunny NYC Hugs, 27 y/o Tolu Peperempe Please rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Subscriber-only episode Another much awaited episode! This episode details my experience working in Big Tech these past nine months and more! I also reminisce on my previous work experience in Nigeria as an Oil & Gas Engineer and how I’m able to make the best of this new experience in a new field/industry. Happy Listening and see you in Episode 4! Tech Money Hugs 🤲🏾🙏🏾 , Tolu Please rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

I know, I didn’t see this change of plan coming too but I think it’s an episode we all need. Just incase you need to sit in/sit with your feelings this week, I’m here for and with you. Happy Listening! Anyway, I hope your week is off to a great start and hope that you’re keeping HOPE alive regarding the 2023 Nigerian Elections… #fingerscrossed #NewNigeria #OBIdient. Sending you lots of peace, respite and love, Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

The Non-Immigrant Student podcast is 2-years old today! As I said in the Season 3 Trailer,''Your girl is beck''...and for good this time! In this episode, I bring you up to speed on everything that has been happening with me since I graduated from Cornell in May 2022. From the updates I also share, I hope you'd understand why the hiatus took that long, and realize how adjusting to a new life can be very tough! (I'd say wicked in-fact but we international students don't talk about it enough - see Lesson 3 from August 2022). Anyway, Welcome again! It's still a long year ahead of us but the plan is to be in your podcast playlists, live, at least twice a month for the rest of the year; so help me God. I'm pretty pumped to be back and so happy to be doing this again! On becoming two years old, Happy Anniversary to us all...and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording, Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Happy New Year my fellow NISs! Welcome back, as you join me on this journey of self-rediscovery, self-altruism and more! Yes, I’m back for good this time! In Season 3, I’m going to be sharing my everyday life experiences as I navigate Adulthood (Faith, Money, Lifestyle & Relationships) and Corporate America as a Non-Immigrant! Season 3 will be all about the TEA! I’ve really missed doing this and I’ve missed talking to you! So see you in the next episode(s)? Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)