What is internationalization

We know that it is international month. But have you ever thought about what international is? You may say that you could buy a pair of expensive shoes with international brand. Then you become international. You may also say that you are in an international school, then you are international. But is that true? Well, at least I don’t think so. For me, I think international is about embracing different culture and showing respect.

Now, I want to share some of my experience with you. Previously, I worked as an interpreter in a Department of Commerce. I met people from many countries there. For example, Mauritius, South Africa，Bangladesh and so on. Once, when we had dinner together for the first time, I found out that some of them eat with hands, without a spoon or chopsticks. To be honest, I was very surprised the moment I saw it though I heard of this before. I still don’t think it is a clean or healthy way of eating. But I tried to be calm and show my respect. At that time, I thought Chinese way of eating is the best, so is the Chinese food. Later on, I realize that it is their culture. There is no good or bad between different cultures. When I think more about it, I also realize that it may be the first time for those foreigners to see the Chinese way of eating. But they said noting,either. So they showed respect, too.  

This experience taught me a lesson. International has nothing to do with superficial stuff, it is all about inside. It is about whether you are a person who can embrace different things even if you don’t agree. It is about whether you are a person who can show respect to others even if you think you are the best.

There are many ways to embrace different culture and show respect. I hope the following suggestions might be helpful. First, when you hear something that makes you unhappy. You should hear it out without interrupting and try to think about it very carefully to see whether it makes sense. Second, when you see different way of behavior that you think is weird, you should think about the reason of it to see whether it is acceptable. When you do something that you do not want to do, you should do it well without complaining and try to enjoy it.

From now on, Let’s listen more, learn more and think more. Then you are international.

speaker/KailiLu