I would love to see one every time the Vietnamese had been to Australia. I'm eager to hear their opinions about their country, and asked them about their experience there.
His outlook will bring a unique feel of a country that I thought I knew everything. Things are so familiar with Australia became noticeable and new through the eyes of a foreigner. Between these stories, I find myself often say: "I have never seen it that way."
Vietnam A friend told me about his experience as a student in Australia and go fruit picking to earn extra income during the holidays. This generally only foreigners as Australia as most people, myself included, think it's too hard, and working conditions are too harsh compared to income levels. But my friend's face shining at the recollection of memories in the rural areas of New South Wales, picking cherries.
Return to Hanoi, he says he often dreams of the laden gardens and friends that he was acquainted there, and that it is one of the most amazing experience of his Australia.
Listen to him speak, I realized that his opinion entirely correct. He knows better than the Australia about how to best utilize the experience of Australia, perhaps because he came from Vietnam, where the romance of country life deep in the culture flow.
Vietnam A friend told me that in another school in Melbourne, he had tried living with a family of Australia, but it is too difficult, and eventually he had to move out and rent a private apartment.
The difficulty lies in the approach of Australia with the family meal. He describes, with words heavy criticism, a family dinner while sitting on the sofa and watch TV, with food placed on the thigh. He could not bear it.
This was quite a dinner typical of many Australian families, but my friend said that Vietnamese people are more familiar with the common meal, sitting on the floor, whole families gather to share food as well as the question story, and it's eating better. So he decided to move instead of adjusting the habit of "host country".
Although Australia is, and know more than him about the eating habits of Australia, I still agree with my friend. Through his eyes I can see how this family showed how anti-social than what he was familiar in Vietnam. My opinion, he was right to say that Australia can learn a lot from the meals of the Vietnamese family.
The value of cultural exchange made me think: The Vietnamese people here that I can contact to get a new look in their own country through the eyes of a foreigner, as I have experience? Whether they agree or disagree with my opinion, they think I can contribute something to their understanding of their country?
The answer, I'm sorry to say, most are not. Time and time again I was told: "You do not understand" or "That is not how to do here" or "You do not know how to do".
I am a foreigner, I will never understand Vietnam as a Vietnam, but that can instantly destroy any value of the contribution can I make? If I do the other way or to explain the situation differently than a Vietnamese person, which means I'm ignorant, stupid, wrong, or simply different? And to hear such a different perspective at least not supposed to be fun, even if you disagree with it?
Should I tell you Vietnamese who enjoy picking beans in the countryside that: "He does not understand it because he's not the Australia. In Australia no one to do it. There are far better things but he certainly would like more "? Should I tell people how you like your food rather than the way of Australia said: "You do not know how to do it right. I do not understand the new culture so he does not like Australia. He should find out more about Australia before How to judge "?
How would you feel if all ideas, interests and habits you are seen as meaningless and worthless because you just moved to a certain country? Maybe you do not want to play a more active role in their new society, rather than as a mute child does not understand what is happening around and not have suggested?
Living in Vietnam, I always keep an attitude of openness to new values, respect for cultural differences, and have learned a lot by always curious about the opinions and experience new strange. I still have a lot to learn, but every time I hear "You did not understand anything!" I think a closed mind, do not help. Is not cultural exchange, according to its definition, is a two-way street?