Lilian Wee Opens Hearts and Conversations Through Her Podcast Journey from Singapore to Houston
- Unique Wisdom
- May 22, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 14, 2025
After relocating to Houston, Lilian Wee embraced the ups and downs of building a new chapter abroad. Through career transitions, community building, and personal reflection, she discovered that true fulfillment is found in the ongoing process of living and learning. Her story reminds us that growth is seeded not at the finish line, but along the way.
Hi there! I’m Lilian Wee, a born-and-raised Singaporean who moved to Houston, Texas, in September 2018 to begin a new chapter of life with my then-fiancé, now husband, Sandro. When he proposed to me after 2.5 years of courtship in Singapore and a long-distance relationship, it was important that we start to discuss and plan how we can physically doing life together.
I was lucky to have the support of my company with the legal aspects of this process, and with that, I packed my things and life and made the big move 10,000 miles away from home.
Claiming that starting this new chapter was a culture shock for me is not an understatement. Coming from a city like Singapore, where clean, safe, organized, and small are typical descriptors, the city of Houston couldn’t be more different.
Luckily, the common threads of diversity you find in both the people and food in this city introduced ease and respite to my transition. What had and continues to support me through different moments are the connections I’ve nurtured with other Singaporeans who also live here.
Through generous and warm individuals like Richard and Stephanie, I was connected with some 200 Singaporeans located throughout Texas.
I still vividly remember the warmth and closeness I felt celebrating Singapore’s National Day with fellow Singaporeans adorned in red and singing our national anthem, seeing each other through screens during the COVID year of 2020—a tradition we’ve kept up since then (now also in person!).
Such festivities often make missing home even harder, and when it isn’t always possible to make that trip to see everyone back home in Singapore, such connections and gatherings where themes from makan (food) to mahjong are involved, significantly eases and warms my insides.
Creating Space for Real Voices and Asian Stories Through Podcasting
Photo Credit: Lilian Wee
I am deeply passionate about making space for and being in conversation about the real and hard aspects of our everyday lives, especially shining a light on Asian females and those who are immigrants or foreigners in the cities they currently reside in.
This led me starting my podcast and becoming a podcaster since December 2020. Follow me on Instagram at @heartopenconvers_asians or listen to the podcast, Heart Open ConversAsians, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Growing Through Life Abroad, Holding Space for Others, and Creating a Personal Dream
Photo Credit: Lilian Wee
My journey of living and working abroad away from home and all the people and familiarities of home is one that no school or education could have prepared me for.
I attribute much of my resilience, grit, and adaptability to my early start into the workforce at the tender age of 16. These traits, I believe, were essential in supporting me through big changes and transitions.
I’ve definitely seen, learned, and experienced a lot in the school of life these past eight years living in the U.S., experiences that have helped me grow and flourish in ways I’m grateful for, for instance, learning the way of doing sales in this culture, the importance of self-awareness and assertiveness, tackling big-girl things like car and home ownership, and finding and developing communities, to name a few.
I think the key to having a meaningful life can be very different from one person to another, and they are all beautiful in their own ways.
For me, the ability to represent, to hold space for others to highlight their heart stories, and the availability of resources to create my own version of the "American dream" is something that I remind myself often how lucky I am to get to have.
Weaving Courage, Growth, and Connection into a Life Abroad
Courage, resilience, curiosity, optimism, adaptability, joy, and strength—all are applicable as I reflect on my story of moving abroad, professional development, and cultivating meaningful connections.
Embracing the Journey with Curiosity, Self-Kindness, and Support
Some advice that I have either gained through my own experience or received from others that I think can be helpful for those looking to embark on their rainbow rides:
Lead with curiosity instead of judgment.
Speak kindly to yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for or lean on others in times of need.
Find time to rest and take care of your body and mind.
Stay Connected
Instagram: @heartopenconvers_asians
Substack: substack.com/lilian.wee
LinkedIn: Lilian Wee