

We live in one world, yet we hardly know what is going on in others minds, let alone the happenings in other countries.
Being an expatriate, however, gives you an opportunity to mingle with people of other nationalities, which gives you a personal perspective and cultural insight.
One of the first aspects we learn is that emotions are the same, obviously, but how we react and respond may vary.
Why do we need this experience? It is simple. It is an opportunity life has given to understand humanity. We can judge and stay in our bubble or go and explore sincerely and be there. Stories differ; so do the challenges.
For instance, I had the opportunity to attend the seventh anniversary of OK Nuri, the Oman-Korea friendship group. It was wonderful to see the number of cultural events that were taking place because one need not even have to travel to the country to experience the culture. People have been learning the Korean language too, being right here in Oman. In fact, there is a school teaching the Korean language and culture. What's more? A former student who studied in South Korea is now teaching the Korean language at a university in Oman.
This is what Bell State University says: "Foreign language study enhances listening skills and memory. Foreign language study offers a sense of the past: culturally and linguistically. The study of foreign languages teaches and encourages respect for other peoples; it fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature." Learning another language or a culture makes us culturally aware. Of course it can be an added qualification in the field of communications and an asset in the corporate world.
We get to learn about traditions of the world and gain a new perspective on the world and its people. We learn to respect others' sentiments and traditions.
We get a better understanding of world politics. I remember listening to my friend when the war broke out in Ukraine. She was worried about her elderly mother. And this week it was my friend from Syria. The fear of his parents' safety stopped him from everything. It was much later when he could breathe easy and communicate with others, that is, after knowing they were safe.
An expatriate is an individual who carries concerns about their family members back home.
There have been cases of anxiety reaching the point of breakdown. Just this weekend a group of friends sent their counterpart back home after taking him to the hospital, and the doctors advised it is best he goes back home for further counselling and treatment as he would have his family's support as well. So that was one expat who had to leave with dreams interrupted.
Communication is a subject that we look at as a profession so often, but a lot of times we overlook the need for communication at a personal level.
A common challenge an expatriate faces is loneliness if they are on their own in a foreign country. Of course it is part of the challenge they took up when they chose to work abroad. But everyone needs to share their thoughts, and today technology has made it so much easier to stay connected with their loved ones back home.
Sometimes there is a deep bond that develops beyond nationality. A conversation with a voluntary group that looks after the elderly brought up the story of an expatriate tailor who had been in the community for so long that as he got older, the volunteers started looking after his welfare as well.
It is all because humanity has a link to emotions and can be more powerful than making economic sense. And if humanity can be given more importance, there could surely be sustained peace.
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