Hope Lavender 0:00 Sometimes you won't know what a person has accomplished or overcome until you get the chance to hear their story. I've realized that being grateful it takes being intentional. And it's inspiring when you learn what others are grateful for. Welcome to the I Am Grateful For.... podcast. I am Hope Lavender. I Am Grateful For... hope so encourage people to think about what they're grateful for despite hardships and difficult situations, to choose to look past, the negativity and the temptation to spread it by facilitating an atmosphere of gratitude, instead. We aren't denying that life is hard and unfortunate things happen. But we are hoping to share the joy of knowing that nonetheless, we can still find something to be grateful for. On this podcast, you will hear stories from people from all walks of life, about the places they've been the decisions they've made, and how those decisions have shaped them into the person they are today. So let's jump into today's episode. Hey, guys, just wanted to give you guys a little background on today's interview, I had the honor of interviewing my friend Josh, back when he was at FIU, studying. As a student there, I had been going to Syracuse University for school. But when I would come home to Miami, visit family and friends. I met Josh through the campus ministry that was at FIU. And through different conversations we had, he just casually mentioned that he had gotten back from India and Dubai at a program that he was doing with this university. And I was like...what?! That's awesome! I would love to hear all about that. And so I asked him if we could grab some time. And so this interview, although it's a couple years back is about his experience, and just being able to see the world through a new lens that he wouldn't have seen if he hadn't been able to get out and travel and see different parts of the world and how they do what they do. I hope this interview is encouraging to you guys. I know I was definitely surprised and learned a lot. Hey, Josh, thanks so much for making time to sit down with me and talk about who you are the experiences you've had. I'm really, really thankful for you making time man. Can you introduce yourself to our audience that is listening in. Joshua Foxworth 2:17 Thank you again for having me. I mean, I'm super honored to you know, be here right now. But yeah, my name is Joshua Foxworth, where I go to school that FIU. I'm currently a senior. And you know.. Hope Lavender 2:30 Whoot! Whoot! Joshua Foxworth 2:30 Yeah. Hope Lavender 2:31 That's big things. Big Things. Joshua Foxworth 2:32 Yeah, so definitely happy to be here. Hope Lavender 2:35 Nice. What are you studying right now at FIU? Joshua Foxworth 2:38 So right now I'm studying international business with a minor in marketing. And I'm also getting a certificate inbound outbound logistics. So yeah. Hope Lavender 2:49 Doing big things! Joshua Foxworth 2:50 I'm trying. I'm really trying. Hope Lavender 2:51 Wow that's awesome! So yeah, what made you want to get into international relations? Joshua Foxworth 2:55 Well, two things I like business. Well, coming out of high school actually took you know, what is, I guess, like your interest are type of exam to see what your major should be in college. I did that. So business was at the top, like computer sciences was like right afterwards. But ultimately, I chose business because I felt like, you know, in anything you do in life, there's like a business aspect to it, whether it be like a hospital, or you know, even the police department, you know, firefighters, there's a business in to, you know, the job they do, people have to get paid. And then yeah, so, and I chose international business, cuz pretty much I want to travel like, that was my thing as well. Like, I want to just really go and see the world. So thus you have international business. Yea. Hope Lavender 3:46 Throw it in there like yea I can do that too. Cool, cool. Had you ever traveled before? Like, before coming to college? Joshua Foxworth 3:54 Um, yeah. My family. We took a little family vacation to Jamaica. We went to Ochos Rios. So that was pretty cool. It was, it was actually a cruise. So we visited Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Yeah, so that was super awesome. But before that, not really outside the country. But yeah, so yeah, Hope Lavender 4:18 Gotch so you felt like college could help supplement your desire to keep traveling because he had this, you know, experience on the cruise, but you're like, I want to see more. Joshua Foxworth 4:26 Yeah, exactly. Um, you know, I just remember like, going into my senior year of college, like, you know, I have to do something to make, I guess my college experience much more memorable. I mean, I had a lot of fun. You know, I've learned a lot of things, but I'm like, I have to do something else. And when I saw the opportunity to study abroad, like in another country, two countries that that like, I just jumped at the opportunity. And so that was, I guess for me, like my last hurrah type of thing. Yeah. So yeah. Hope Lavender 5:00 Cool! So with the study abroad program, what countries were included in that? Joshua Foxworth 5:05 So the program was about two weeks. It was six days in Dubai. And then there was six days in India, where, you know, we visited, we had company visits, and we would see different sites saying, you know, monuments and things like that and really learn about like, both of the cultures, which, you know, were two completely different cultures, but it was really awesome. I had so much fun. Hope Lavender 5:35 MAN! Congratulations! That's huge, dude, I can't believe you get to go to India and Dubai. Like, yeah, and let alone get into the study abroad program. Like, I know, that couldn't have been easy. Joshua Foxworth 5:46 Yeah. You know, a lot of people get really concerned. At the first look, you know, for the study, as far as the study abroad program, it can be very pricey and expensive. But they do have things that help with that, as far as like financial aid. And of course, you can get scholarships, which is all things that I did to just help me ease, I guess, the payment process. And, um, I had, like, everything paid for, for my trip. So it was awesome. Like, definitely, if you're gonna consider like a study abroad program, or traveling, you know, definitely expenses is, you know, a big concern. But if you put too much of your concern, or you know what, you're gonna be spending, like, you might not even know, get around to leaving the country. Like, you're not gonna jump on that opportunity. It'll pass you by. Hope Lavender 6:40 Yeah, like you'll leave college and look back and kind of regret, like, I wish I had done that. Joshua Foxworth 6:46 Yeah, like you, I, oh, man, it was too expensive. I wish I did this, but didn't have the money when you know, there's so many ways to help, you know, finance, I guess that trip or, you know, just that program that you're trying to do. And so and I took advantage of that. So yeah. Hope Lavender 7:02 Great, great job of taking advantage of just the resources that are out there and getting scholarships and all kinds of resources, they haven't paid for us. I can't even imagine how nice it was just just to go. And be like all of this already paid for. It's done. I'm just here to enjoy the experience. Joshua Foxworth 7:19 Yeah, for sure. Like, the meals, I will say all of the meals were not paid for. So, you know, some nights you have to, I guess fend for your own. But what I found out was like, even in Dubai, you know, even though it's like the richest country in the world, their prices are for, I guess, I guess like the things that you buy there is equivalent to the price of something that you would buy here in the States, like, you know, there's not they don't pay any taxes on any of their things like whatever you buy is like at a flat rate. So that was awesome. But it I think by 2018 there, they gonna start adding taxes so yes, Hope Lavender 8:05 So you came at a good time! Joshua Foxworth 8:06 I actually went at a great time, but even still, the taxes are gonna be like, less than 5%. And you know, here in the States, we pay like a 7% tax on like all my purchases, so but I was not expensive at all, like my whole mindset of you know, it being like the richest country in the world. You know, everything is gonna be super pricy, like super tax, but it really wasn't. Hope Lavender 8:31 Yeah, how interesting. Yeah. Wow. Well, can you tell me a little bit more about your experience in Dubai, I'd love to hear about how that was, and then hear about your experience in India to Just some of the highlights for me, we got to visit the Burj Khalifa was most people know as the tallest building in the world, I actually got to travel to not the very, very top floor, but one of the highest floors up like a tourist type level. And it was amazing. You can see all of you know, the United Arab Emirates from their floor, like you can see the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Island, um, the World Islands. It was so amazing. The view was crazy. I enjoyed it. It was really fun. Not just that I also went to Dubai Mall, which is the biggest mall in the world. They said it takes about a week to visit every store in there, which I did not try to do I wanted to. I'm like yeah. Yea Right. But it was so amazing. And then just another takeaway for me was definitely the culture. I had so many misconceptions about, you know, Arabic culture or Muslim culture and just how they dressed and you know, just ultimately, like the way they live their lives like I was no completely. I want to say thrown off. Like I was shocked and I was surprised how wrong I was. Like just seeing that you have areas where you can grow in your understanding of the other cultures? Yeah, like one of the biggest misconceptions I had, and I'm almost ashamed to say this, but was about how I guess the women were viewed over there. Like, for me, I thought, you know, the men had, like, all the say, so in the family, the women didn't really have a voice, you know, essentially, they were like, treated as like, you know, their husbands property. But man, was I wrong, I also got to visit the center, it was, um, it was a mosque, what they turned into a center for cultural understanding. So for like, visitors and tourists, and I really learned a lot, like, as far as women, there, like, 53% of the women population hold prominent positions within the workforce. As far as like, you know, CEOs or like engineers, and COOs, and things like that, you know, you think those would be like, male dominated, you know, roles or, you know, positions within a company. But 53%, like, that's a huge number! And also like how, even though they still have arranged marriages, a lot of it is still, you know, the woman has to agree to it. And the woman has a lot of say so within the process, it's not like, hey, you're gonna marry this guy. And that's it, you have no say so, like, he's your husband, like, she actually has a voice, she can say, "Yes, okay, I would like to marry this man, you know, he looks like you know, someone that can provide for me, financially and help me build a family." Unknown Speaker 11:48 [INTERLUDE] Hope Lavender 12:12 And that's something that they really cherish over there is family, you know, more so than the money or the lavish way of living, but just really loving one another as a family and building up their family. Also, I just want to mention is how, you know, the woman is almost have like, you know, it's kind of like in my household growing up, but like, how the woman has all the say, so like, my mom, and you know, the husband, pretty much has to agree with his wife, um, it is really cool. Like, I like, I was, like, totally wrong of what I thought about the women over there. Like, they are truly cherished and held to like a high pedestal like they really love their women. It's not what the the media portrays at all. Yeah, yeah. I appreciate your honesty and saying, like, you know, this is hard to admit that I had this, this view in my head or this stereotype towards, like, Middle Eastern countries. And but I also will say, yeah, I think in the States, we do have this very skewed image. And I know, we talked the other day a little bit, and the US kind of portrays and kind of singles people and labels people in a certain way. So yeah, I definitely can relate. And I'm still shocked that it is a lot different than what you hear in the media. Because I've I too, have thought like, "Whoa, like, how do the women feel?" And I haven't really been able to know, but you were actually able to talk to someone that was a woman in the country that you were in Dubai, right? Joshua Foxworth 13:48 Yes. Like, women are definitely, like, very empowered. I'm in the Muslim, I guess society. One thing also I can say about Dubai is only 30% of their population is, I guess, nationalist. Like 70% of their, I guess population is people who've traveled there to work and do business, and are essentially tourists as well. Like, that's... Hope Lavender 14:19 That's a big chunk! Joshua Foxworth 14:19 Yes! You know, like, only 30% of them are actually from there, you know, 70% of the population is from somewhere else. So, you know, you really get a sense of how truly diverse they are and how welcoming and accepting they are to other cultures. You know, they still have, you know, some of the things that you know, they do as far as like, know, how they dress and their parents and you know, some culturally things you know, that, I guess we we wouldn't do here in the States. But I feel like that's just all culture and you know, It's really relative to the way they live their lives and then how we want to live our lives over here. So yeah. Hope Lavender 15:08 Wow, that's so cool. Have you have you ever thought like maybe I could do business in Dubai one day? Joshua Foxworth 15:13 Oh yeah! It's funny cuz me and like everyone that I was with and that participated in the study abroad trip with me, like all of us were saying like, by the second third day, like, "Hey, we need to move, start a business, you know or work in one of these firms." Like, I remember one of the companies we visited was DIFC, which was a center for essentially helping foreign investment into the country. I'm helping, you know, entrepreneurs, you know, start up a business within, you know, Dubai, and how to, you know, get it funding and off the ground, and making sure it follows the right protocols and the right standards, and things of that nature. And just seeing the company as a whole. Like, it was, like, the building was super nice, you know, it was like state of the art. It was really fancy, like, like, we all just was like in awe. We was like taking pictures, like in shock! But I would definitely love to move there, to work there, to live there. One thing also, that's like an added bonus for, you know, people that are. Yea, like people that move there to work. Like within the country, they provide housing, they provide transportation, like all expense paid. Like, you literally just go there to collect a paycheck. But you can do like a crazy amount of saving, like in Dubai. Like I said, they don't pay any person. Well, now they do, but then they didn't pay like any taxes. Like, it's just a great look for someone who's really, really wanting to branch off and like really start, you know, to have a foothold in the world. Hope Lavender 17:03 So, it definitely seems like they're open, inviting people who love to invest. Joshua Foxworth 17:10 They really are. Hope Lavender 17:12 So that would be a good idea to be like, if anybody's an entrepreneur, you should definitely go check out Dubai and they'll support you through that transition. Joshua Foxworth 17:18 And you know, they're, they're accepting to all. One thing, that, just in all the company visits that we went to. One thing that, you know, Dubai is really trying to focus on, is being the number one tourist destination in the world. A lot of people think, you know, because it's in the Middle East, you know, they, they're so rich because of oil, or you know, they have gas or whatever. But only 10% of the country's wealth comes from oil. You know, they have a set mindset of, you know, eventually this oil is gonna run out, then what are we gonna do? That's why if you go to Dubai, you see so much innovation, you see so many skyscrapers and the lavish, you know, five star hotels and restaurants and different things like that. Like they really are truly trying to be the number one tourist destination in the world. So it's really awesome. Hope Lavender 18:18 Man, I definitely need to put Dubai on my list. It sounds like! Joshua Foxworth 18:22 Yeah, it was great. Hope Lavender 18:23 Wow. And do you have any takeaways from your time in India too? Like, how is that? Coming from Miami and going to India for the first time. Joshua Foxworth 18:31 Oh yeah, definitely like, India was another great experience, I wouldn't dare compare India to Dubai in no way. Because they're just two completely different things on on their own. Um, one thing I can say about India, as well is, you know, in New Delhi alone, there was about 21 million people living in such a small city. And half of those, you know, people were below the poverty line. You know, in my opinion, was, you know, living in like, complete shambles. And, you know, just not the standard of someone over here would want to live in. But in all the expressions of, of their own, the people I will see on the street, like, have their faces like they were happy. Like, it was more so about family and togetherness, as opposed to, you know, trying to have this lavish lifestyle or, you know, trying to appear as if, you know, they, you know, have this or that or anything like that, like. They really, really just enjoyed one another's company. Just even still like the hotel that I was staying in, the Taj Mahal hotel, they have this saying. And, you know, some people might, you know, I don't know, be weirded out by it. Um, but they see their guests as gods to, like, you know, to make sure you know, our guests are treated to, I guess, like the highest standard, like, while they stay here. Like, it's funny because I felt like every morning when I left my room to go get breakfast, there was always someone in the hallway just there to say good morning to me or to want to help me like when my bags or just helped me with any questions that I had. It was, it was a little weird. And I felt like it was a little much at time. But you can tell like in their faces that they was really sincere. Like, India's Customer service is like on another level, like, it's something I've never experienced here, like in the States. Like you have people that go above and beyond. But I felt like, like everyone in that hotel was trying to go above and beyond to really make me feel welcome. So it was really cool. Like India is a completely separate world from Dubai, but something I truly appreciated as well. Hope Lavender 21:15 It sounds like gratitude is just kind of like written all over them. Joshua Foxworth 21:20 Yeah. It really is. Hope Lavender 21:23 Like not having much, but still being able to be grateful for family and grateful for what you have, and not kind of getting bogged down by the day to day, like burdens that we can put on ourselves here. Unknown Speaker 22:15 [INTERLUDE] Hope Lavender 22:15 Yeah, it sounds like, not only is the Indian culture, like one that super grateful for what they have and the family that they have. But even in Dubai, it sounded like you had the same similar experience of in America, we can have these kind of stereotypical views on women and their culture and how they dress and their roles in the family. But yet, they are so much more grateful for family than the extravagant things. Joshua Foxworth 22:40 Yeah, for sure. Hope Lavender 22:42 Would you say that you felt like, you noticed that? The like, people were just more grateful for family? Would you say that? Or would you say that's just something that you noticed? Joshua Foxworth 22:51 Yeah, I would say like, just as far as just being in Dubai and even being in India, it's more so about the way of life for them, as opposed to, you know, finding a means to an end. You know, some people you know, work for a living. And then, you know, you have other people who work to live on and they are definitely I can say for Dubai and India, you know. Like, in their culture, they, they moreso look at the way of life that they want to live. But if it doesn't incorporate, you know, family and togetherness, and just being around their family, if, if their job is like taking them or pulling them away from their family for too much. You know, that's not something, you know, they want to be a part of, I have associated with them, you know, I know for you know, sometimes like, even like in our cultures here in the States, you know, it's okay, let me get to where I need to be. And then everybody, I guess I forgot about or I kinda, you know, left back then I'll pull them along the way, but I just have to focus on me for right now. But over there in India is a completely separate attitude, where, you know, let's all help each other come up together. Um, and, also, one thing I also learned as well was, you know, they have it's now illegal, but they've had like, caste systems that's really still embedded in their culture. Um, even though it's illegal. Um, to, you know, not allow someone to move out of their caste, um, because of you know, where they were born. But it You can still see how is deeply rooted in their culture. And what I mean by you know, just the different caste that they they are in. So it's almost like people who are born in like a certain, I guess hierarchy type of way of life. So if you're born at the bottom, and you didn't have nothing, as far as that's pretty much where you're gonna stay and where you're gonna die. And if you were born, like at the highest caste where, you know, you wer born into royalty, you know, you have rich family, rich relatives, you know, you're going to be that way. You're going to be set for, you know, the rest of your life. And just seeing how that contrasts with, you know, just here in the States, you know, you can have someone who was nothing, make a million dollars overnight. Um, you can have, you know, people pretty much startup businesses and become, like billionaires overnight, and just seeing how different we are, as opposed to them was like, really eye opening. Hope Lavender 26:12 Sounds like you had a lot of solid lessons that you've walked away from your time, in Dubai, and in India, just contrasting how you've seen life growing up in the states to how people live and other foreign countries. With all of the lessons that you learned, do you feel like there's one that you're like, man, like, I'm gonna take this back with me, and this is gonna kind of change my outlook, when you came back to the States? Joshua Foxworth 26:38 Definitely just feeling like, how I was like, I've truly felt accepted. And, you know, in the foreign country, whether it was Dubai and, or India, how, you know, I was treated to. Just, how I can apply that to my life, you know, in the people I meet, and, you know, some of the things I share and do and, and how I interact with people. I felt like, you know, I can truly have the people in my life feel, you know, special to me, as well as I am to them, and really have them feel as you know, I truly care for them. Whether, you know, it'd be me saying it or showing it. That's something I felt like, you know, after my trip, I wasn't doing enough. Um, you know, it's one thing to know, you love someone. But then it's another thing to, you know, call them out and say, "Hey, super random, I love you." Like, you just, essentially, you know, made that person day and you didn't even know it, like, just the little things like that. And I feel like I can really take that, you know, away from just my experience Hope Lavender 27:57 So for you being able to go into another country, and feel welcome to no matter based off of race, or what country you're from, or where you're born, is something that you really want to learn how to continue to do with your friends and family and even people you meet to showing them that you care. Joshua Foxworth 28:15 Yes, Hope Lavender 28:15 And that you're grateful for them. Joshua Foxworth 28:17 Exactly. Hope Lavender 28:19 Man, thank you so much, Josh, for just sharing about your time. I mean, I definitely will put it on my list to go see Dubai in India, because I've never been there. But I would love to and even just to see meet people in the way you did and get to talk to them and hear their stories and their experiences and even maybe correct some of my worldviews from what sometimes we're brought up hearing. But thanks so much for your time, man. Joshua Foxworth 28:45 Thank you. I'm honored. Thank you. Hope Lavender 28:48 Hope you guys enjoyed this interview as much as I did. I know, I feel like I said, "Wow!" a billion times in this interview, because there's just so much that I learned from Josh that I just didn't know, I think that was the biggest thing that I took away from this interview is that sometimes we have these perceptions about other cultures or other countries. And it isn't until you're immersed in it, that you really can tear down some of those stereotypes or even prejudices that get formed subconsciously. From things we hear media or sometimes are taught. And so definitely think for me personally, I walked away wanting to check my prejudices and stereotypes at the door and I see people and really just want to get to know their story more once again. And I hope that you can take maybe some nuggets from this interview with Josh and use them in your interactions with people going into this week and that you have a really great one. Transcribed by https://otter.ai