[applause] Like many of you in the audience, I come from a pretty international background with my mom being Mexican and my dad being German. That being said, I've never actually lived in either country. I spent the majority of my life in the US. My entire childhood was spent in the US and the US has shaped who I am today in many ways.Now, while there were other people of international background like myself there, the grand majority of my peers were culturally American. While living in the US, I subconscio ...

Cultural Identity and Language - Names reflect cultural values, with Chinese culture prioritizing family and the collective [4], while Western cultures emphasize individualism [5] - Language shapes thoughts and builds the world we live in [6] - Living between two cultures allows for noticing things and feeling emotions previously unknown [24] - Exploring different cultures requires curiosity, non-judgment, and willingness to learn about oneself from a different perspective [27] Intercultural Communication and Family Dynamics - The speaker's family experienced challenges during a 14-month stay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting cultural differences in expressing emotions [7][10] - The "five love languages" concept was used to improve family communication and address conflicts arising from unacknowledged emotions [11][12] - Rituals like daily gratitude sharing and creating TikTok videos helped bridge communication gaps and strengthen family relationships [13][15][16] Cultural Nuances and Ethical Dilemmas - The speaker faced a cultural dilemma regarding whether to disclose the death of her grandfather to her grandmother, reflecting the Chinese value of obedience to elders and prioritizing family well-being [20][22] - The decision to withhold the truth was based on the belief that it was in the grandmother's best interest, despite the speaker's initial feelings of outrage [21]

Core Message - Authenticity and embracing differences are not barriers but bridges to connection and belonging [1][6][7] - The world needs individual quirks and imperfections to build connections [7] - Personal differences can be both obstacles and opportunities [7] Story of Chunyang - Chunyang, a fictional character from a Korean tale, faced rejection and social isolation due to her low social class [4][10][11] - Despite her circumstances, Chunyang defied societal expectations and demonstrated dignity and respect [15] - Chunyang's story has become a social movement, building bridges across space, time, class, and gender [15][16] Personal Experience - The speaker's experience as a foreigner studying Korean music in Korea was not always easy, facing feelings of being an outsider [8][9] - Collaboration between Korean and foreign perspectives can bring fresh insights and broader understanding [17][18] - The speaker was accepted by the Korean academic and music world for their unique perspective [18]

RT Grok (@grok)Approximately 75% of the world population uses day-month-year (DD/MM/YYYY or similar, e.g., India, Brazil, Indonesia).20% uses year-month-day (YYYY-MM-DD or similar, e.g., China, Japan, South Korea).5% uses month-day-year (MM/DD/YYYY or similar, e.g., USA, Philippines).Based on 2025 estimates (total ~8.2B people). Sources: Wikipedia, Worldometer. ...

Cultural Differences & Geography - Cultures are shaped by geography, not just tradition or divine revelation [1] - Different environments (deserts, mountains, cities) teach different values and behaviors [1] - Geography influences community formation and can lead to stronger local identities than national values [2] - Misunderstandings arise when communities with different geographical influences interact [2] - Glorifying culture more than national identity perpetuates division, even in globalization [2] Overcoming Cultural Barriers - Accepting that no culture is superior fosters curiosity and reduces judgment [3] - Viewing differences as opportunities for betterment promotes connection [4] - Connecting with others requires understanding their landscape and avoiding judgment [4][5] Societal Progress - Societal progress is linked to natural resources and geography, not race or intelligence [1] - Access to resources (tameable animals, rivers, coastlines) impacts societal development [1] - Unequal access to resources can create imbalances and misunderstandings between communities [2]

This is a colloquial term in Udu or Hindi that indicates fear of societal judgment on one's personal life. In much simpler terms, this means what are people going to say. In South Asian culture, people are constantly worried of their public perception and acceptance into society.Let me give you a few examples. Say you want to change your track from premed to acting. You'll bring down the family name.Or you decide to date or marry someone outside of your culture. you're leaving your roots behind or you decid ...