What makes someone leave behind a successful career, family, and everything they've built to start over in a country where they know no one?
In this episode, Alex and Romy sit down with Andrea Halal to explore her remarkable journey from growing up in Baguio, Philippines, to building a new life in New Zealand.
Andrea shares the experiences that shaped her - from losing her father at just 10 years old, to leaving a toxic workplace, winning an unexpected trip to New Zealand, and ultimately making the leap to follow a feeling she couldn't ignore.
Along the way, we also chat about Filipino food, coffee culture, marketing, taking calculated risks, and what it really means to build a life from scratch.
This is a conversation about courage, identity, resilience, and choosing the life you want - even when it doesn't make logical sense.
What is Banana Lab?
🎙️ Banana Lab is where Kiwi-Asians unpack identity, mental health, and life’s weird in-betweens. Hosted by Romy Lee, a mental health professional & advocate, this podcast blends real talk, humor, and deep convos with guests who have lived it. 🍌
🔊 Listen for unfiltered stories, cultural struggles, and conversations that hit home.