With deafening war sirens going off in Beirut and kidnappings all over the news, Antranik made a life-changing decision to start a new life at the tender age of 17. He climbed into a refugee boat with his Lakers jersey on and headed for Cypress where he waited for homeland security to determine his fate. Is America the utopia he imagined? What did dual citizenship mean to him? Did the suburban streets of Los Angeles look like Disneyland after all? Find out what he has to say about gut-wrenching goodbyes and heartwarming hellos in this story that surpasses what may come to mind when thinking of a "refugee life".

Antranik discusses the culture shock, assimilation, and finding his capoeira family in the afro-Brazilian martial arts world where he is popularly known as “Coach Quebrado.” That’s not all…the story continues. In the time of Covid 19, he met the love of his life. He talks interracial marriage and what it was like to take his American bride to Lebanon to meet the family! From breakdancing in a Pizza Hut commercial to using Nutella sandwiches as economic currency, this moving narrative invites you to transcend borders! Join us for the journey!

Follow me, Mary Terterov:
https://www.instagram.com/mary_terterov

Get a copy of my book, Silent Warfare:
https://www.amazon.com/Silent-WARFARE-Mary-Terterov/dp/B0D182XQCN

Follow my guest, Antranik Kouyoumdjian:
https://www.instagram.com/quebrado.capoeira

#mma #capoeira #refugee

Ver todos los episodios