HGTV follows these ‘House Hunters’
True citizens of the world, Rukiya and James McNair are constantly on the move. The couple decided it was time to expand their horizons so she closed her Culture Cloz shop in East Liberty and they moved to Indonesia in 2014, trading Bloomfield for Bali.
While looking for a new home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the McNair family was filmed for HGTV’s “House Hunters International.” The episode will air at 10:30 p.m. May 7.
They have since moved again. After the show was filmed in December, they moved to Kigali, Rwanda. In a phone interview from there, Ms. McNair said she has always enjoyed delving into different cultures.
“I have been traveling since I was 3 years old and finally moved abroad because I felt like there were other countries that may be a better fit for me than the United States,” she said.
Ms. McNair said she has very different tastes than her husband and that is obvious on the show.
“My idea of a home is somewhere closer to nature, quiet and more traditional,” she said. “My husband’s idea of a home is a place that is modern and in a city setting.”
They also try to accommodate their 8-year-old daughter, Abeo, and their son, Asad, 7. Friends and family encouraged them to reach out to HGTV.
“For years my friends would tell me we needed to be on the show because of how often we move and the amazing places we have lived.”
Filming took place over five long days (8-10 hours), she said,
but they have no regrets.
“In travel media, black people are underrepresented, so we chose to do the show in order make an impact and hopefully inspire other black Americans who want to move abroad,” said Ms. McNair.
She sees media as a valuable too that can influence society for the good. “It shows people what is beyond their immediate surroundings.”
Both of her parents grew up in the Hill District, then moved to Oakdale, where Ms. McNair was raised. She lived in the Hill with her husband and children for about a year before moving to Thailand.
“Living abroad and immersing myself in different cultures has taught me more about myself, humanity, the world and my place in it than staying in the United States ever could,” she said.
The McNairs wanted to share the wider world with their children. “We chose to raise our family in a way that reflects our values.”