I absolutely love chatting with much-traveled people because they always have a vivacious view of life. For sure life as a third culture kid absolutely influenced Christin Hoag’s desire for a life of travel. Quite a portion of her adult life was spent as a foreign correspondent in Latin America.
Cristina has had enough adventures to last two lifetimes already. She has posed as a nun to interview a prisoner, interviewed past presidents, and was even once, falsely accused of being a drug trafficker just to name a few dangerous situations. She recollects some of her favorite adventures as a former journalist.
WORLD EXPAT AUTHOR CHRISTINA HOAG ON DANGER
I am a great admirer of Cristina and l really enjoyed our conversation. We found out we had some life experiences that were similar. For instance, Cristina lives in Los Angeles, my former home, and l used to live just a couple of blocks from where she is.
She also partially grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Now how often do you find that Nigerian connection? and how happy l am when l discover someone who has been to my homeland. To boot, she shares the same name as my mother!. I do readily admit that l am not anywhere near as brave as she is. No way would l have had the courage to cover some of the assignments that she happily volunteered for.
Christina has had a colorful and fulfilling career as a foreign correspondent. She has in addition worked for some major newspapers such as the Miami Herald and Associated Press, authored a few books, and has lived in over ten countries that l recall!
Here are some of the topics we covered in our lovely chat:
- Where she grew up
- The many countries she was raised in as a child
- College days. Imagine, we both lived in Boston
- Working as a foreign correspondent
- Why she chose Latin America to report from
- Posing as a nun to get that all-important interview
- Other dangerous situations she’s been in
- “Skin of Tattoos”, her book about gang members in Los Angeles
- Other countries she lived in, and teaching in Madrid!
- Her other book, “Girl on the Brink” influenced in part by her own past abusive relationship
- Her 2020 starting off great in the Philippines and being cut short by the pandemic
- Her work with at-risk girls in prison in East L.A
- Life in California now
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I really loved listening to some of Cristina’s life stories. I love the fact that nothing really fazes her anymore after some of the past narrow escapes that she’s had. I urge you to check out her books. Her descriptions really makes everything come to life.
Nice stuff! Some people have amazing life stories – it instantly makes you think “Now that would make for a nice movie!” Christina is one of them. Really enjoyed listening to this one!
You’re right. Her life would make a great movie. She is fearless and l loved it when she said she had no more fears. Awesome! I also enjoyed interviewing her. I wish l had a bit of that courage :-).
Kemkem, sounds like Cristina’s parents were also very adventurous people. Interesting that they met in Africa and then moved around so much with the family. She has certainly have had an incredible life. Posing as a ” Nun” to visit a prison and get her information?…wow that did sounds like dangerous. Visiting the mines was also a very brave thing to do, but I guess as a journalist she just had to do what was required? I will be checking out her blog and books.
Thanks for another fascinating podcast.
It does tend to be in the blood, doesn’t it? I would definitely say she had adventurous parents. They lived everywhere. What an exciting life it must have been. Yeah… you couldn’t get me to do half the stuff she did. I am too much of a chicken. I was exposed to gang bangers a couple of times working in L.A, and yep… scare the crap out of me, and l was only there at hospices. You should definitely check out her books, some are award-winning. She has had quite a life. Love it!