Welcome to Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, a miniseries by the Catalyze podcast that explores the transformative summers of the Morehead-Cain Program. In the Global Perspective summer, scholars design their own journeys around the globe to dig into areas of personal interest, whether academic or professional. In this episode, host Aadya Gattu ’28 of the Scholar Media Team sits down with Raina Sohur ’27 about how she crafted a summer spanning three distinct experiences across Mauritius, Southern France, and Paris. Raina completed her RYT200 yoga certification in the French countryside, interned at a prominent law firm’s Supreme Court Litigation division in Mauritius where she navigated a bilingual office environment and accompanied lawyers to trial, and explored Paris through the lens of the Mauritian diaspora. Their conversation delves into the intentional planning behind balancing professional development with personal growth, choosing meaningful locations, and building connections in both familiar and unfamiliar places. Raina opens up about the challenges of designing such an ambitious summer and shares the lessons she carried home about cultural identity, professional exploration, and pushing beyond comfort zones.
Welcome to Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, a miniseries by the Catalyze podcast that explores the transformative summers of the Morehead-Cain Program. In the Global Perspective summer, scholars design their own journeys around the globe to dig into areas of personal interest, whether academic or professional.
In this episode, host Aadya Gattu ’28 of the Scholar Media Team sits down with Raina Sohur ’27 about how she crafted a summer spanning three distinct experiences across Mauritius, Southern France, and Paris.
Raina completed her RYT200 yoga certification in the French countryside, interned at a prominent law firm’s Supreme Court Litigation division in Mauritius where she navigated a bilingual office environment and accompanied lawyers to trial, and explored Paris through the lens of the Mauritian diaspora.
Their conversation delves into the intentional planning behind balancing professional development with personal growth, choosing meaningful locations, and building connections in both familiar and unfamiliar places. Raina opens up about the challenges of designing such an ambitious summer and shares the lessons she carried home about cultural identity, professional exploration, and pushing beyond comfort zones.
Music credits
The episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.
How to listen
On your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcastsor Spotify. For any other podcast app, you can find the show using our RSS feed. You can let us know what you thought of the episode by finding us on social media @moreheadcain or you can email us at communications@moreheadcain.org.
(Aayda)
Welcome to Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, a series by the Catalyze podcast. I’m your host, Aadya Gattu, from the class of 2028. This series explores the how, why, and what behind the Morehead-Cain Summer Enrichment Program. Over the course of four years, scholars progress through Outdoor Leadership, Civic Collaboration, Global Perspective, and Professional Experience. These transformative summers are designed to help scholars develop leadership skills, increase self-awareness, and expand their understanding of the world. In this episode, we speak with Raina Sohur from the class of 2027 about her Global Perspective summer, where scholars travel around the globe to dig into an area of personal interest. Raina interned at a law firm in Mauritius, pursued a registered-yoga-teacher certification in southern France, and traveled throughout Paris.
Raina, thank you so much for being here today.
(Raina)
Thank you so much for having me.
(Aadya)
So, just to start — how’s your semester been? I know you’re a junior, so, in the weeds of it.
(Raina)
In the weeds but enjoying it. Yeah.
(Aadya)
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
(Raina)
Something people might be surprised to learn about me is that I am a huge introvert. I mean — I do public speaking and debate with the Ethics Bowl team — but I also love just being at home.
(Aadya)
Oh, I love that. What’s your favorite thing to do at home? What are your hobbies?
(Raina)
Oh, I love reading. And I love catching up with friends, for sure. That’s so sweet.
(Aadya)
I’m curious — if you can remember, back to your first introduction to the Morehead-Cain program. What was your initial reaction to the Global Perspective summer? Did you have any early ideas — or any fears?
(Raina)
Yeah. I remember being a senior in high school — and since I went to high school during the pandemic, I was home a lot, and I got really comfortable in that environment: just going back and forth to school, sports practices, extracurriculars — but generally staying in Boston because of travel restrictions. So, I remember thinking: uprooting myself not just from Boston, but from the entire U.S. for an entire summer. I was like, “Okay — I’m going to choose clothes that maybe suit Canada or the UK, something that feels familiar.” I was just going to get it over with. Not “get it over with,” per se, but — it was something that definitely made me uncomfortable at first. Yeah.
(Aadya)
I mean — you mentioning Boston made me realize I was so excited to dig into your travels. Can you tell me a little about where you're from, what you’re studying?
(Raina)
Yeah, of course. I’m from the suburbs of Boston. I don’t want to . . .
(Aadya)
Suburbs of Boston?
(Raina)
Shout-out Milton, Massachusetts. But I went to school in the heart of Boston at a small all-girls school called Winsor. That was actually one of the things that attracted me to Morehead-Cain — it was a smaller community with all the resources of a large research university. When I came to UNC, I was pre-med — a lot of that had to do with the huge medical community in Boston that felt amazing when I got to take part during high school. But as I got into the UNC Center for Ethics and started taking philosophy courses, I realized that my interest lay more in a field where I could use speaking and reasoning in my everyday life. That’s not to say medicine doesn’t do that — but I found more of a niche in the Math and Philosophy department. So — I would say I am a math and philosophy major because I love spending time thinking deeply and being in awe. I feel that’s something my majors really allow me to do. I love that.
(Aadya)
I love that interdisciplinary approach. Math doesn’t necessarily bring me awe — but I commend you for that. So, you brought up a little about your early anxieties or what you thought. Where did you end up going during your summer?
(Raina)
Yeah — so the first part of my summer took me to France. I landed in Paris and then went to the south of France to do my registered-yoga-teacher certification. Then I went back to Paris for about five days. And then I was in Mauritius for the remainder of my summer.
(Aadya)
Can you walk me through the three main parts of your Global Perspective summer?
(Raina)
Yeah. So being in France — I was welcomed by family friends, people known from Mauritius or who are part of the Mauritian diaspora, and they were instrumental in helping me figure out how to navigate trains to southern France and generally get around. Then, once I was in southern France, I completed my yoga-teacher certification. Over the course of 25 days, I spent 200 hours studying. Oh my gosh — that’s a lot. Two hundred hours studying traditional yoga texts and movement. I think a common misconception is that yoga is just the poses you might do in a yoga class. It’s more than that. There's a deep cultural meaning in the traditional texts — and I found that to be a really enriching experience.
(Aadya)
It sounds like you had a lot of balance in that — going from yoga to then a law firm. Was that intentional?
(Raina)
I think something that initially boggled my mind about Global Perspective — but that made so much sense and brought so much closure by the end — was that you can have very different experiences within one summer. I think people asked me, “Yoga and a law firm — how is that connected? What story are you going to tell that unifies them in a satisfying way, from start to finish?” For me — there were many aspects connecting them, but ultimately, they were two separate experiences that satisfied different parts of my curiosity and taught me different lessons.
(Aadya)
Can you expand a little on how you decided to work at a law firm?
(Raina)
Yeah, of course. I am ultimately interested in pursuing a career in law — specifically international law. My father is from Mauritius, a small island off the east coast of Madagascar, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That made Mauritius a logical place for me, and I’m very happy I went. After choosing the place, I knew I wanted to learn more about law — so I interned at a law firm in their Supreme Court litigation department. Wow — such a cool experience. Mauritius is a small island, and we were just a walk away from the Supreme Court. I got to shadow barristers and do a lot of legal research. It was really fascinating to see how the legacies of British colonial rule — and then French colonial influence — shaped the legal system there. So, seeing how the legal system works in that context was really interesting.
(Aadya)
Yeah. So, right now I’m in the process of planning my own GP summer. How did you go about choosing locations? I know it’s a huge struggle. I’m curious how you decided where to go — how you thought about balancing going deeper into familiar places (places where your family is from) versus stepping somewhere new and maybe more challenging.
(Raina)
I think at first, when I was planning my Global Perspective summer, I felt like I had to go somewhere totally novel — somewhere I’d never been, where no one I know had been. Do something completely foreign. And I know many scholars do that and find it satisfying. But I was coming from a place where I felt comfortable in Boston or New York and being near people I know. For me, the decision to choose France and Mauritius made sense: places that were more familiar — I speak the language. But I still got something incredibly unique and new from them — something I could never get just by staying with family like I had previously. I was independent. I had to make all kinds of decisions and learn so many lessons for myself. In terms of choosing those places — I think it felt like meeting in the middle between my low risk tolerance and my desire to experience something new and meaningful.
(Raina)
I think that is still a big risk.
(Aadya)
I’ve thought about that too. I could never navigate India alone, even though I’ve been there many times with my family. I understand how you feel. On a similar note — did you get any outside guidance when you were planning? How did you approach relationship building and making connections to places you didn’t previously know?
(Raina)
That’s a really interesting question — especially when it involves going to a heritage country. Inevitably, there’s some help from people I already know — family, friends, diaspora connections. But what felt new to me was that it wasn’t just an introduction through someone I already knew. From that starting point, it was up to me to cultivate those relationships — to present myself as Raina, not as just an appendage of my family (as is often the case when you visit a heritage country with family). That balance — the unfamiliar within the familiar — was how I navigated relationships. It ended up being really meaningful.
(Aadya)
Yeah, I like that: the unfamiliar with the familiar. Can you tell me about a memorable moment from your summer?
(Raina)
Oh my gosh. This story — I want to avoid making it more dramatic every time I tell it; I do that. But I promise this was probably the most dramatic moment of my life. Back up a little: I learned to drive in Massachusetts. I drove to school every day in the Longwood Medical area (for those familiar). I considered myself a “master of the craft,” if you will. When I got my international license, I was like, “Oh yeah — they don’t know what’s coming. It’s the other side of the road, but I’ve done this. I’ve been around the block. I can do this.” I got my international license, rented a car so I could commute from my apartment to work. Big deal. On my first day, I started the commute — Google Maps on — and I’m on the left side of the road. Every single moment I’m thinking: Okay, you’re on the left side. That means your right turn is . . . you have to cross the lane . . . I was very nervous, don’t get me wrong — but I was like: I got this. It’s the converse of what I’m used to.
(Raina)
So I’m driving. And here’s a fun fact: this rental car, for some reason, was programmed so the only song it would play was “My Prerogative” by Britney Spears. And I couldn’t turn it off. I couldn’t figure out how to connect my phone. That alone was driving me crazy. But it became like… okay. I had just come off the yoga certification, so I was thinking a lot about mantras and how we can still the mind. I was like: I’m going to still my mind — and on Britney Spears. It’s the part of the song where she sings “Everybody’s talking” and I thought: “Yeah. You know what — everyone’s saying I can’t drive in Mauritius. Here I am. I’m doing it. I’m driving. On the left side. Listening to Britney Spears.” We’re having a blast. Then I missed the turn for the parking.
I make it to the law firm — I’m like, “Yeah — all those haters. You know what? I’m out here doing the thing.” And then I realize I missed the turn for parking. I’m like, “All right, I’ll loop around.” That involved making four right turns — in Mauritius, that’s analogous to making left turns in the U.S, meaning crossing lanes. Now we’re entering Mauritian rush hour. I know Mauritians are famous for their hospitality — but not during rush hour. It’s chaos — like rush hour in the Northeast. Yeah. So, I try to wedge into traffic. On top of that — there are mopeds everywhere, and you have to account for them too. Anyways — I’m making these turns, thinking I don’t want to be late. I thought I was clear to make this right turn. I said: “Okay, I’ll go for it.” I tried to gun it into the lane. And then I heard the fateful “bonk.” And I thought: Oh, no.
We were in the middle of a busy road — I hadn’t collided head-on, thank goodness. Everyone was okay. Just bumper damage. I had collided side-by-side: my front bumper into another car. It was… oh my goodness. People were honking at me. People yelling in Creole. I speak French — not Creole. I was like: What is going on? Immediately I called my aunt and said: “I’m fine. Everyone’s fine.” And I said — this is day one, by the way. “But I hit a car.” I sent her my location on WhatsApp. She told me: “Just stay right there.” I said, “Okay.”
The other driver pulled into a side street. I stayed in the car, but it was clear the other driver was unhappy. I got out, started calling my supervisor — made all the necessary calls. Suddenly, a man appeared. I had seen him around — since my father’s side of the family is in Mauritius. Usually, when I visited in the past, there’d be a swarm of people meeting me, being introduced very quickly. But this time — I recognized him, even though I was clearly in a state. I said “Hello.” He reached out — “I’m your uncle.” We exchanged the two-cheek kiss. Then he went over to the other driver and started speaking in Creole. The driver relaxed. Then another one of my uncles came down from where he was working in the city. It was just this…
I love telling this story — not just for its comedic value (in retrospect), though at the time it was not funny. But now — it is. What that moment showed me was: even though I was in this new place — the unfamiliar — the familiar came through. I was immersed in a community. A culture. Something really meaningful. The Mauritian diaspora isn’t very present in the U.S. Just being engulfed in that community — in that culture — was something I’ll never forget. Afterward I kept wondering: How can I repay my uncles for showing up? How can I prove I’m grateful? But I realized: there’s no need. They’re family — and family shows up. That was so incredibly meaningful. Yeah.
(Aadya)
On a similar note — and I know this is maybe a strange question — how did your Global Perspective summer challenge and grow you?
(Raina)
Oh my goodness. So fun fact: I’m actually a creative-writing minor. So, you better believe — I’ve been thinking about that a lot this week.
(Aadya)
Yes.
(Raina)
I would recommend it. We’ll talk offline — best believe. I want you all to bear with me, because this might sound a little philosophical. But it truly was such a meaningful experience. I mean, getting that yoga certification and working at a law firm are great. Those are tangible things — things that show up on LinkedIn. (Laugh.) But those are things that matter to me — things that will stay with me.
(Raina)
More importantly, being in my heritage country — in my heritage culture — on my own. I could not have asked for a better experience. It could be lonely at times. There were many things I had to handle: your SIM card, your apartment — all requiring mental load. But I was surrounded by love and family in a way that didn’t feel conditional on all the little micro-qualities I thought defined me.
(Raina)
There’s a concept you often learn about in yoga certification roughly translated as “unselfing” — the act of trying to dissolve your ego. I’m nowhere near enlightened; I want to make that clear.
(Raina)
The theory is that once you abolish the ego and let go of the self, you are wholly at peace. While I don’t foresee myself joining an ashram or pursuing that as my life’s work, I think it’s an important teaching for everyday life.
(Raina)
In Mauritius, that showed up as being seen simply as part of a family. People knew me as Raina — but they didn’t demand that I fit into a narrow identity. In the U.S., among friends, I might define myself as a runner, or someone with a sense of humor — those micro-qualities I hold dear. In Mauritius, I felt enveloped in a community and love that were separate from all those little parts of me I often overthink.
(Aadya)
It’s like a coming-of-age movie.
(Raina)
Of course. Yeah.
(Aadya)
I’m loving this really interpersonal development you had during the summer. But on a more professional note — can you talk about any career clarifications or developments from that summer?
(Raina)
Of course — yes. I mean: Mauritius — if we had another hour, I’d talk to you about its political and economic situation. It’s an island in the Indian Ocean with unique access to Africa, India, and China. Being at that nexus — in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius — really motivated me to pursue a career where I could have impact.
(Raina)
When I first arrived, I thought I’m American. Will they see me as American first? But the experience — the unselfing, shedding American arrogance — showed me how flawed that assumption was. I realized that their world wasn’t centered on American culture. So, I hope to work at the intersection of law and international relations.
(Aadya)
I think that’s a huge thing scholars get out of this summer — just a grounding in themselves.
(Raina)
Yeah.
(Aadya)
So in closing — you touched on so many beautiful lessons. What was the greatest lesson you learned from your Global Perspective summer that you think you’ll carry with you for life?
(Raina)
I think the biggest lesson is that the world is so large — and that’s both frightening and inspiring. I never thought I’d study abroad — and now, I’m going abroad next semester. I love thinking about infinity and largeness — which is why I major in math and philosophy. To me, the world can seem vast, but also small. And I realized that despite the enormity, you can still make a difference. Work on the world, not just on yourself. That was the biggest lesson I took away.
(Aadya)
Yeah — you’re making me so excited for my summer.
(Raina)
Oh, you should look forward to it. It’s amazing.
(Aadya)
Well, thank you for listening to Kickin’ It in the Kitchen, a series by Catalyze podcast. I’m your host, Aadya Gattu from the class of 2028, and that was Raina Sohur from the class of 2027. You can learn more about the Morehead-Cain Summer Enrichment Program on our website at moreheadcain.org. This episode was recorded on video at the Morehead-Cain Foundation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You can watch all our Kickin’ It in the Kitchen videos on our YouTube channel at Morehead-Cain. And if you prefer to listen, you can find Catalyze wherever you get your podcasts. You can let us know what you thought of this episode by emailing us at communications@moreheadcain.org or by finding us on social media @moreheadcain. Thank you for listening.