Transplants by Laura Peruchi - Conversations With Women Thriving Abroad #28 Growing Up Between Countries: Identity, Exile & Belonging | Négar Chahkhalili | Iran → Switzerland
Négar Chahkhalili’s life has been shaped by movement, resilience, and the art of adapting across cultures. She was born in Tehran and left Iran at just six years old, during the 1979 revolution. What followed was a life lived across continents and cultures. She grew up with her grandparents in the south of France and moved to the U.S. to study and build a career. Eventually, she met her husband, who is from Switzerland, a place they both decided to settle in together and where they now live with their two daughters.
In this episode, we talk about her early and candid memories from Iran, followed by the context of why her family left the country, the special bond with her grandparents—and how it influenced her in so many aspects of her life—the move to the U.S., and eventually back to Europe. She shared more about her struggles with motherhood and how these experiences in different parts of the world are layered in her life.
Connect with Négar:
- Substack http://echoeswithnegar.substack.com/
- Instagram @echoesofelsewhere.negar
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Why the name “Transplants”?
I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another.
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Connect with Transplants:
- Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.pod
- Substack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/
- Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchi
- Follow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants
- Questions, suggestions, or random thoughts you’d like to share? Or maybe you’d like to pitch yourself for the podcast or suggest a guest? Send me an email at laura@lauraperuchi.com.