How I Got Here

Fikile travels from her west coast, suburban hometown to her father, Bangane's, homeland in Zimbabwe. They make this journey together for the first time, and Bangane takes his daughter to the roots of their family to teach her their stories, their way of living, and the Ndebele culture. Fikile struggles with some culture shock but, ultimately, gains a vast appreciation for her father and his people's past, participating in a family effort to dig a well in hopes of finding water for the community.

Italian-Canadian Michael goes to Italy for the very first time with his father, John. Though John returns to his Italian homeland frequently, he has never taken his son. And while Michael has gone on many travels of his own, he has never explored the country that has helped shape him. The pair set off on an unforgettable adventure to visit extended family, explore the richness of their culture through food, dance, and music, and attempt to address the issues in their personal relationship.

Nelly and her 17-year-old son, Manasseh, travel from their home in Texas to their homeland of Zambia. An accomplished woman, Nelly seeks to revel in her home country and show her son the beauty, and difficulties, tied to her past in Zambia. They broach a hurdle in their relationship and, through this journey, Manasseh discovers clarity and peace about his own past.

Sasa returns to Serbia for the first time in almost 30 years after escaping rising wartime tensions for a better life. While exploring the country with his son, Sebastian, Sasa revisits the places closest to him, like the apartment he grew up in, and the people, like his three best friends he left behind when fleeing the Kosovo war. Sebastian gains a better understanding of his heritage and his father, and Sasa is able to make peace with the decades-long regrets that have haunted him.

Shaun travels to Zimbabwe to revisit the life he left behind over thirty years ago. He faces conflicting thoughts between the land he loves and the shifting political climate that forced him to leave. His daughter, Shannon, joins him on this journey with her own goal of embracing her personal identity as a bi-racial young woman. She is ready to learn more about herself in the places that have had such an effect on her father. Throughout their journey, they connect with family, the land, and the Zimbabwean arts community.

Having escaped her home country of Slovakia during a time of oppression, Simona returns to reflect on her past and rekindle with the people and places she left behind. Simona returns with her daughter, Vivian, to explore their Slovak heritage and, together, process the loss of Simona's mother, Vivan's grandmother. Vivian will connect with her roots and come to a better understanding of the sacrifices Simona made when she left Slovakia over twenty years ago.