International Marriage... a Q&A from rural China

GET THE ROSETTA STONE DEAL HERE: tryrosettaston... - a lifetime subscription of 25 languages, for $179 (down from $299)!
0:05 Questions for Miriam & 9:48 Questions for Yonghong
This is part one of our Q&A series! In Part 2 I am asking my Chinese parents-in-law all the questions, live on December 26: • When your son marries ...
Part 3 goes live on December 29, and there you will get answers to the questions you asked my son and his cousin: • Questions for a 4 year...
› OUR STORY: • OUR STORY
› MY HUSBANDS CHANNEL: / yonghong米粒的一家
› MORE FROM RURAL CHINA: • THAT CHINA LIFE
› MORE FROM SWEDEN: • THAT SWEDEN LIFE
› SUPPORT/PROMOTE
Patreon: / miriamfollin
PayPal: www.paypal.me/m...
The Music I Use (affiliate): share.epidemics...
The VPN I Use (affiliate): xvuslink.com/g...
My Gear (affiliate): www.amazon.com...
Instagram: / miriam.follin
Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you click through my links and decide to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
› ABOUT ME
My name is Miriam Follin. I’m a Swedish woman who has been living inbetween Sweden and China since 2015. In 2017 I married my husband Yonghong, and we have since had two baby boys. In my videos I share the experience living in-between these two cultures.
Thank you for watching!

[@MiriamFollin]

Rosetta Stone's lifetime subscription gives you access to all their 25 languages for the rest of your life. Get it here for $179 (down from $299): tryrosettastone.com/miriamfollin-1

[@sigyul2283]

Kudos to Yonghong with his effort speaking in English. Yes, definitely keep up with your acupuncture and Swedish learning. Immersion in both cultures bring the best of both worlds.

[@moxiebombshell]

Came into the comments to say exactly this :) Go Yonghong!! 🥳

[@wtb61]

Kudos.

[@acrossthepond4792]

Yonghong, I am very impressed to hear you speak English so well, and the fact that you say you will learn to speak Swedish is astounding. What a wonderful couple you are, a great family. You have so many skills and are still eager to learn and travel. My Husband and I come from different Countries and it can sometimes make life difficult, but mostly we embrace each other's culture, and then we find other Countries to visit which we both enjoy.

[@rozumnaistota9489]

May I ask where are you guys from?

[@hongchew7878]

I think this is so far the best episode. Two of you talked to each other frankly openly about some very basic and important subjects in a family. 🎉

[@gracechan4312]

Your family is so blessed, having the best of both worlds. Culture, language, food, people... Have a great holiday

[@MiriamFollin]

Thank you, and the same to you!

[@anneskic]

I love to listen to the Chinese dialect you're speaking. What an interesting couple you are and it is very evident how much you love your kids, each other, and willingness to embrace each other's cultures. I left Norway for Canada 40 many years ago. It is very healthy to embrace a new culture and language, but oh so challenging at times. Yours are vastly different and I can just imagine the challenges. I love watching your videos, and I learn something new each time. I would love to see more nature, and the mountains Yonghong love to hike in. You both have lovely families that have embraced your spouses,, and your kids seem well loved and adapted. Your Q & A was well done!

[@golfinspectorgeneral]

Children that learn more languages are so blessed, I know from my own experience. Love is allowing yourself and your family to flourish anywhere and everywhere.

[@xujunling]

Miriam is talent of video making, kind of the documentary style and the quality is international level!

[@juliegoodwin6850]

Couldn't agree more!🥰

[@ahmedhadi9176]

You know what, everytime I see your videos, it is through them that I am able to see China which is something I so dearly wish to do - to know actual China. Thank you.

[@GenaF]

Such a lovely couple. So happy you've uploaded again and are doing well with your language skills.

[@MiriamFollin]

Thank you!

[@moxiebombshell]

Right?? I've been so looking forward to this video!! Wonderful to hear from you two again :)

[@valerieayla4687]

God bless the sweetest couple ever. I love the purity, sincerity, and beautiful intentions you both have toward life, each other, and being parents. So grounded and inspiring at the same time. Thank you. Wish I could know you in person!

[@yvonnebirch6026]

Oh sweet strong Miriam you are so brave and honest ! I love this video !! Yonghong is speaking English. Wonderful ! Is he learning ?so nice to get an update from your life !!

[@momclean]

A wonderful insight into your lives . You have both weathered many storms since your marriage, and still there for each other with more storms to come, but they will be lesser because together you are strong. I wish for you and the boys a loving , happy holiday over this period, lots of fun with the children and of course the extended family. I hope you will be able to share some of these memories with your on - line family also. Love and best wishes from myself in Spain..❤️🌻

[@emisday]

Do not be sorry for the shaking at 14:18. I like it that it moves as you come closer to him and because it goes slow, it feels more genuin somehow.

[@MiriamFollin]

Aw, that's a nice way to see it! ❤

[@이방인일기]

Tack för din fina video 💕 Jag är korean och flyttade till Sverige för 3 år sedan. 🇸🇪 När jag lärde mig svenska tittade jag ofta på Alfons Åberg haha 🤣

[@MiriamFollin]

Haha, åh så fint! Alfons är så mysig! Och du verkar ha lärt dig snabbt, på bara tre år! Det är stor skillnad på Svenska och Koreanska!

[@ildiko1vt]

SWEET! Always enjoy your perspective Miriam~ and Yonghong's too :) I too, am Taurus and have always liked Aries men.

[@pinangsungai2116]

LOVE is big and wide totally agreed.

[@MiriamFollin]

🥰

[@tinekejoldersma]

A lovely interview, very wise and loving. Coming from a blended family myself, different countries and religions, it is not always easy to understand each other. It's the willingness to learn from each other, and support each other that makes the waves of love stable and repetitive. Our kids will be citizens of the world.

[@yvonnebirch6026]

This was a good interview with much respect for both sides of the coin ! I liked the ending best when the sun broke out on your handsome husband’s face !! The light came on that was there already !! Thank you for sharing Miriam. Respect and much love to you and your wonderful families on both sides !🙏❤️❤️🙏

[@liepsan]

You guys have such an impressive relationship and are so positive and optimistic! With all that is going on on social media (and the world) your videos are such a joy to watch.

[@yvonnebirch6026]

This was such a great video. I love that you were both so insightful and open. You are a lovely family. I hope to see the boys next time ? Thank you ! 🙏💕🌷

[@steveliu5392]

永鴻哥们你們這期的視頻做的exceptional 🈚️以倫比！我最最欣賞的是你們提到信仰也是最高度敏感的個人人生問題，你的夫人很坦誠的説到她成長在一個基督教文化的家庭（大部分歐洲人要不是新教即基督教或是羅馬天主教或是東歐或俄羅斯的東正教（現在俄烏还在打仗，宗教信仰相同呢）。 永鴻你的回答令我激賞！ 你回答了絕大部分中國知識份子们的回答即文化上我們是受到儒、釋、道的思想潛移默化的！（这算是信仰嗎？我倒認為是個認知或哲學思想。）你們這期內💕深度地剖析太精彩了！Highly admired and respect you guys . 永鴻你提到包容，因為咱們中國人的集体思想vs. 西方個人主義思想！ 你是個🈶️智慧的汉孑！加油！

[@mayhuang3928]

看到視頻你們都是很棒的夫妻 祝全家人都平平安安

[@cyrilXilier]

Many thanks for this video. A " 4 out of 10 " for your mandarin language, you are so modest ! Take care !

[@mcytiamo4192]

Hey I'm from Xining Qinghai who's working at eastern China but I really love my hometown,thanks for your video,hope one day I can make friends with your families

[@marjamerryflower]

This was such a gift. Thank you both so much. Communication is probably the most challenging and important issue in every relationship. So Miriam studying Chinese in family matters is fantastic. I do hope Yonghong can go on a hike or do some calligraphy. Because if he feels weak and if communication is challenging it is so important to be in touch with oneself. It is vital. And my husband and me have been married for some decades now....i must say that i am really impressed with the way in which you both communicate about all of these important issues in life. Thank you both so much for sharing this interview

[@morrigansmaiden]

I am impressed with the candor and honesty you both have in this interview, and wish you and your family many blessings going forward !

[@cristinaespinoza4818]

Thank you. I always enjoy your vlogs. I hope to see a lot more. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

[@MiriamFollin]

Thank you! And the same to you!

[@fhchoong6880]

Lovely video. Can't wait to watch your next video

[@ML-lp8jw]

I want to be honest, I can’t imagine myself living in a rural place in China with my husband’s family. If I marry someone , I marry this person, not the family or even country. Of course you can also love the family and country too. If there were things that I don’t agree with, I wouldn’t make compromises by telling myself those just culture differences. You are so smart and I believe you can always make the best decision for yourself and your family.

[@audreydale4052]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful and very personal video with us!!

[@MiriamFollin]

❤

[@dongwu518]

Smile is the most powerful weapon！I wish you health and peace! 扎西德勒！

[@MiriamFollin]

The sam to you! ❤

[@alyciawang2892]

Thank you 😊😊😊😊

[@charleschang1319]

加油! 祝 平安健康 心想事成。

[@laurakelly631]

Great interviews! Excellent questions and thoughtful replies. It is a pleasure to peak in to your life as you life it with such grace. Your plans are good. I feel I learn a lot by keeping in touch with your videos.

[@mollylysowski6656]

U two are truly inspiring family and loved the answers on love so true being married comes and goes like the tide and u grow through hardships and love also think so amazing your kids get to exp two diff places how amazing that is

[@rafflesstamford6118]

I really enjoyed this Q&A video. You should consider expanding this to other people like your extended family or fellow villagers

[@mhn7700]

your kids have been very fortunate with their parents :) that you're willing to not only teach them both languages, but also live in both places and not just live in one and make visits to the other, to give them a true chance of living and loving both cultures and places. that's quite remarkable and not something you see often with international parents. in connection with that though, is there anything you could see being potential difficulties for the kids with doing it like this? like friendships, for instance. I hope you all have a great Christmas and happy new year

[@MiriamFollin]

Hi! Thank you for taking the time to comment! This is a very good question, and I actually think about it a lot! The simpel answer is that I don't know. But like you mentioned, friendships and community are two of my main concerns. I am afraid that this living in-between will be difficult for them due to that. But then I also think that it will add a lot of value into their life. What I'm thinking so far, to make this kind of lifestyle easier, is to try to keep in touch with the "other side". Nowadays, it's so easy to stay in touch with people from across the world through video calling and messaging, and I hope that then can root themselves in both places. That they will have family and friends in both. We want to eventually buy a home in Sweden, so that we have a home in both countries, so that when we are in Sweden, we know where we are, know our neighbours etc, and similarly, we are fixing up our house here in Qinghai, making it a lovely place (hopefully) that we will love and enjoy when we're in China. I think that might make it easier, to have two homes, so that we don't end up in a new place every time we go the other country. I don't know if that makes any sense? Do you have any experience with this yourself?

[@mhn7700]

@@MiriamFollin I do not so unfortunately no good advice or suggestion to offer 😅 but I do think that having a familiar base in each place could definitely make a great difference. and like you said, keeping online contact is so easy and also normal now and I’m sure that it can work out for the boys. I have some of my best friends different oceans away, but we still message every day and stay close like that ☺️

[@davidcheong7421]

Thanks

[@MiriamFollin]

thank you so much 🥰

[@MarySmith-gu5nb]

I think you both seem a little tired and maybe a little defensive. I love this video which covers extremely important interactions and emotions.

[@jling73]

上传了，希望每个星期都可以看到，时间长短都可以，谢谢。

[@Albion80s]

These are some of the most probing questions many couples of either the same or mixed cultures have difficulties answering or fear stepping into. Yong Hong is damn good looking has he ever considered going for an audition to be a movie actor?

[@antonycao]

wow, your Q&A is beautiful. Your relationship is beautiful

[@anitabatistic8174]

Aries is a ram (Capricorn is a goat). Again I love your videos. They’re always uplifting

[@山-u1j]

很真诚善良的夫妻！祝你们好运！

[@wendywright3914]

Yonghong, great English! Miriam, your English is a definite 10.

[@leilaeissa3348]

His English is getting so good!!!

[@maha-em7jz]

so much respect for the both of you! beautiful video and your honesty is wonderful.. so inspiring to hear your thought about family and love across cultures. i do think about what it would be like to communicate so intimately and commit despite all the differences and difficulties, im so impressed. it must be a lot of hard work and energy, but it looks like its so worth it for you :)

[@danstenis660]

Please keep in mind that as you get older, heart disease is the number one killer around 50 years of age. Then cancer later. So watch your diet and physical activities and stay healthy.

[@aitastic]

Is yonghong still selling organic goji berries? I would love to order some. I love eating the dry one in yogurt, parfait or just snacking on it

[@shench]

加油，加油！

[@guyal2332]

Marriage i is a challenge in the most stable of situations. Therefore you are to be commended for the hsrd work, consistency and understanding each of you bring into the relationship You are both pretty amazing in your flexibility as you go back and forth berween 2 such differipent cultures....and as you said you do this without too much desire to control outcomes, since we are living in such rapidly changing times. Keep up the good work. .

[@lukykruythoff1442]

Good day, Thank you for shearing. On the word love -it carnot be explained. Only on how it behaves. The Good book explains how love behaves at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.

[@coolz5536]

So nice

[@zoeliu1350]

太爱你们了❤

[@MiriamFollin]

❤❤❤

[@marianneeckertjensen4723]

Wise answers! :D

[@roycwu]

Best wishes to you and your family. Wish you all the happiness. Go back to Sweden if you can and bring up your kids over there.

[@kathrynflannery2889]

You guys have such an interesting life! It's great the boys will be bilingual if not multilingual.

[@renfamily5091]

米粒！你是我最喜欢的中国媳妇!太完美了你！

[@kateaye3506]

Did Yonghong find this level of intimacy and expression difficult? I don't imagine too many Western men being so vulnerable and open

[@never4ever386]

❤

[@wtb61]

God is love. Take it from there.

[@shiningwarrior1957]

Hi Miriam,good to hear and see you are doing well in China,allthough Yonghong looks a bit worn out. I hope he doesn't contract the virus,but if he does,he will be still fine. I heard him saying that he is interested in budhisme and taoïsme and I want to urge him to find his salvation in reading the bible and that is also my advice to you Miriam! I do also hope that Yonghong will be more dedicated to learn english and swedisch,so good for communicating better. I hope you are doing well and God's blessings upon you and your family,greetings from the Netherlands 🌷

[@erfanyu902]

Chinese people can learn Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism at the same time, because these philosophy are very inclusive. But learning Abrahamic religions from the Middle East is different, because Christianity and Islam are very exclusive doctrine

[@shiningwarrior1957]

@@erfanyu902 Hi Erfan Yu,it is not about philosophy or an exclusive doctrine,it is about your eternal salvation. Jesus said,'I am the way,the truth and the life',John 14:6. Studying eastern philosophy will lead you astray I would recommend you to watch 'The fuel project',knowing your enemy,on KZbin. It will give you great insights about all the different religions in the world and where they are coming from. God bless you Erfan Yu,greetings from the Netherlands

[@erfanyu902]

@@shiningwarrior1957 haha…this is what makes western countries always eager to impose universal values ​​on the whole world, to the extent of using violence and colonial politics!

[@waguagua6619]

中医可以看一下倪海厦的视频，很多人都通过他的视频自学中医

[@wtb61]

That feeling of missing homeland, family, etc., is called being homesick in English.

[@jakclackk2027]

👍

[@vincentlee2107]

这期很好

[@ckwaiutube]

Wow ! Nice Video 👍👍👏👏

[@xuefarret3526]

I am wondering how you guys could use youtube in China .

[@MiriamFollin]

We use VPNs to access western social media

[@xuefarret3526]

Thanks for your reply and I wish you and your family have a lovely Christmas and happy new year x

[@MiriamFollin]

@@xuefarret3526 the same to you! 🎄🌟

[@hongqingxiang3374]

🙂🙏🙂

[@hannahwilhelm5463]

Very interesting thank you for sharing. I loved seeing the countryside but i was so busy reading. I loved his explanation of love. Religion, look into Christianity, Jesus Christ is Lord of all. It's the only true afterlife, eternity with Jesus Christ !! God bless your family and adventures of life.

[@wtb61]

While exploring Buddhism, Islam, etc., please look into Christianity and the claims of Christ.

[@magno5157]

Husband: "What is love?" Wife: "I don't love you anymore." xD

[@firstlast2780]

Forgive my rudeness, but I don't think you guys are on the same intellectual level.....lol. But that doesn't mean you cannot be happy together. You both have extremely nice personalities. That's the key for a successful marriage.

[@qake2021]

👏👏👏😃👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@qake2021]

👏👏👏 my wife is also infp. What about your husband 's personality type?

[@anam7300]

It is a blessing to hear a couple of young human beings open their hearts and express themselves in such a mature way. Your children are blessed. All the best for you and your family.

[@umopapisdn123]

One of the most thoughtful, vulnerable and lovely q&a I have ever watched. It’s poetic the way you share the intimacy of your relationship with us. Thank you for sharing, it gives me hope and joy in a complicated world to see intercultural relationships as possible and a real asset.

[@ahamprema1]

I always get so excited when your new video appears, Miri, it's like I got a gift. You are such a bright and joyful soul, thank you for existing in this world😃💖💖💖 Edit: I finished watching the video now and I can see why Yonghong and you found each other. You have very similar ideas about life and share the same values. You talk about the same things, just in different languages. It's amazing.🌟

[@vashti2389]

Miriam, your definition of love was so accurate. It is exactly like ocean waves. 🌊❤️

[@孫清綉]

兩人相愛就是包容对方,体貼对方,米粒是個有教養、有智慧的瑞典女子,把很棒的笑容跟真誠的心对待永鴻的家人.又愛丈夫,兩個可愛的混血孩子、你們分享的影片真棒

[@lesa9538]

中国应该学习如何改变是一个真正的清廉的法制国家，而不是以贪制贪的国家😂😂😂😂不过这很难

[@moxiebombshell]

8:23 Okay, this right here is THE most perfect ad partnership for Rosetta Stone that I've ever seen -- seriously, though!! Listening to Yonghong (who I imagine is fluent in more than just his native dialect of Mandarin plus, if I recall correctly, is learning Swedish) reading questions out in English while you answer in English while discussing your relevant fluency in Chinese vs. your native Swedish is the best advertisement for the lifetime membership to Rosetta Stone I can imagine! I'd also like to add that I really appreciate your very considered definition of your fluency. It's like the exact opposite of those pseudo-polyglot YT channels where they're like "look at me, I'm fluent in fifty-eleven languages! Ooooooh!" -- though I will say, if you were able to write your bachelor's thesis in English, you're more fluent in the language than many *many* native speakers 😏

[@kerrylaw100]

That would be the best Q & A I’ve ever watched well done both of you 👏excellent, interesting and fun 🙏🌸🥰

[@friederikeriechmann4025]

Don't worry about the shaky camera, you are doing great both a camera operator and an interviewer! Two years ago I took part in a documentary workshop and got introduced to a lot of indie documentaries that opened a whole new world to me. I learned there is more than just TV style documentaries with a voice over that explains everything to you, so you dont have to think for yourself. Your videos here (especially the ones that are more "essay"-style) remind me of those indie documentaries. To sum it up: You are doing great work and you have a found your own style of videography!

[@AAAAAAaaaaaa889]

最后的结尾很棒，能看出来男孩子虽然出生在中国较偏僻的乡村，但是可能在母亲的大爱下生活过来，视野很开阔，感觉说话都很像母亲那种很慈祥的样子，同时让我很佩服的是小姑娘米粒，永远都是阳光灿烂的样子，这大概是男孩子大爱而质朴的母亲修来的这份厚福，实言之米粒比很多中国女孩子有眼光。🥰🤗🤫❤👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

[@sevcents]

I love that you're tentatively planning on both a Chinese and Swedish education for your kids. They are so lucky, they will reap the advantage of both!

[@steveliu5392]

永鴻哥们，我由衷的對你们夫妻之間這種對話（我也相信預先🈶️了剧本，nothing wrong ! ) 發自我內心的敬意！不忘本（你們的根）也開放的🈶️容乃大的中國人文化中的核心價值。 这段夫妻对话我會很 熱情的傳給我的國內外的朋友圈！ 你們的影響力will be expending far away than you guys anticipating. 謝謝🙏你們Love You .

[@teokueiyang9454]

Sweden with a population of only 10 million, just 2 times the size of Singapore, build its' own fighter jets, its' own submarines and the first AIP submarine in the world, has its' own luxury car brands Volvo & Saab, Ericcson, high end camera Hasselblad, Electrolux, Ikea....Outstanding.

[@reneet0163]

This was really insightful. You're both so wise. It was really nice to see this side of your husband too - he was very eloquent with his answers, and you both have such a great view on how to raise your kids. Great video, so insightful 😊

[@jennyhuang7495]

米粒太有才了。希望你今后中瑞的生活更加丰富多彩。更希望永鸿在语言上更加努力💪。共同过着美好的生活。祝你们圣诞快乐🤶🎅🧑‍🎄🎄🎁💕👍👏

[@进陈-f1q]

挺喜欢永鸿米粒儿这对年轻夫妻还有两个可爱的宝宝， 真实的生活记录，很认真拍摄视频，非常好！米粒永鸿 的视频能在油管KZbin上多播一些吗？ 有好多粉丝在等待关注米粒永鸿俩夫妻的视频。

[@amac0190]

You both are always so thoughtful in your questions and responses to one another. And I don't know if it is because one of you is behind the camera or if it was edited out but you each give each other the space to answer without it becoming a conversation or a debate. Thank you for the video!

[@yvonnebirch6026]

I love how Yonghong answered the question about love ! Quite the philosopher !

[@aeldanielmei]

I wish you and your family - merry Christmas, a happy new year & spring festival (Chinese new year)!🥰🥰🥰

[@MiriamFollin]

Thank you, the same to you!🥰

[@aeldanielmei]

I have been paying attention to the lives of your husband and wife and children, and sincerely wish you a bright future and a happy life.

[@bjmcia]

Superb interviews and such insightful responses from both of you. The English subtitles are greatly appreciated. Continued love among your families. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! God bless!

[@rosegreen2269]

There's a chinese saying. When a woman marries a man, she marries also his family and his country

[@juliegoodwin6850]

So very interesting! Thank-you both for sharing your amazing life🥰 Miriam, you underestimate your english skills, give yourself a 10!

[@ML-lp8jw]

记得你说过中外夫妻沟通和相处的挑战之一是有时候很难判断两人行为或者认知上的差异更多来自于性格还是文化背景 （大概是这个意思）也许有时候只有用爱去克服。

[@readbyjordyn]

So great both of your answers to what is a good thing about being in an inter cultural relationship is the same. As love your comparison to romantics love being like a wave, it’s very poetic and true.

[@tamarf4596]

I love both your candid answers about love. Thinking about love as waves, coming and going, but being committed to staying on the shore, waiting for the next wave. There was added nuance in your husband's answer, which was about endurance and time to change and grow together.

[@isaacstone7899]

I hope they continue English, Swedish and Mandarin toward 10 scale. Chinese kids are the way to get Mandarin towards 10 scale. I think Europe and America are same for people have to pay annual tax for their lands interest. Expect Native American they don’t have to pay tax same as rural in China. They should live in both country Sweden and China for their kids.