Hana Son was born in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia, in 1986. Hana recounted her upbringing, particularly how the increasingly violent circumstances in Chechnya at the turn of the 1990s prompted her father to move the entire family to Kazakhstan. Hana explained her Koryo-Saram heritage and how it presented unique opportunities and challenges in all phases of her life, whether growing up in Kazakhstan or living in Orlando. Hana studied international relations at Kazakh National University by Al-Farabi, citing her passion for learning about different cultures and peoples as the underlying reason. In 2011, Hana earned her master’s degree in business administration from a university in South Korea. She recalled the emotions she felt returning to her homeland. After her MBA, she worked as a contractor for the World Bank. Marrying her husband, who worked in the US Foreign Service, unexpectedly shifted Hana’s career trajectory to suddenly representing the US abroad and executing its foreign policy mission. Hana shared details about the various roles and places she had worked, including Russia, Pakistan, and India. She reflected on how each location strengthened her emotional resiliency and deepened her understanding of the US, its global projection, and the politics and culture of each country she served in. In approximately 2016, Hana and her husband returned to civilian life. Since then, Hana has worked to promote awareness of her Koryo-Saram heritage in Central Florida, primarily through her involvement with the Central Florida Korean Association. Through her cultural work, Hana seeks to challenge stereotypes about the state of Florida, such as perceptions of “Florida Man.” Additionally, Hana discussed how South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law in 2024 has affected Koreans living in Central Florida. Lastly, Hana outlined her observations about Central Florida and its cultural changes and challenges over the past nine years.