To become a citizen of the world, it's helpful if you understand how it feels to not belong. Now that may sound like an illogical statement. Doesn't being a world citizen connote a comfort level in most, if not all, global locales? But the key to becoming a world citizen is to understand the essence of what it feels like to be an outsider. That feeling is what fine tunes observation skills and creates the opportunity to learn how to connect with all people from all backgrounds. When you don't belong, you learn how to adapt, fit in, acclimate and connect. Most minority members will relate to my logic. For the rest of you who are majority members or the powerbase, keep an open mind and my point will become clearer as you read on.
The minority knows more about the majority than the majority knows about itself. I heard this meaningful adage for the first time during a lecture in grad school at the University of Chicago--ironically the same institution that Barack Obama attended. And I have no doubt the adage is one he, along with most minorities, understand well. Women know more about operating in a man's world than most men ever think or thought about. And, in my home country, the USA, Blacks, Latinos and Asians know more about conforming to Caucasian norms than most fair skinned Americans ever thought about. Additionally, gays and lesbians know more about fitting into the straight world than most heterosexuals ever contemplated. The reality- the powerbase typically doesn't concern itself with their own actions or take the time to "look in the mirror"-- because the majority doesn't need to- the majority set the rules and simply following the societal norm.
The adage is universal and is applicable around the world. For example Turkish migrant workers living in Germany know more about the ins and outs of fitting into German society than most Germans. But, for me, as an American who was born and raised overseas, the adage takes on a different global meaning. People around the globe know more about the United States than Americans know about themselves. A BBC survey showed that more Japanese followed the recent US Presidential election than Americans. Conversely, how many Americans are familiar with Japan's political structure or leaders? And why can only 11% of the US population identify Iraq on a map of the Middle East? It's because the adage once again rings true.
However, America is in decline and appears to be losing its superpower status. The country can no longer afford to be self-consumed and needs to invest in global education. On the bright side, Barack Obama's victory may help Americans expand their vision and move the country down the multicultural experience curve. Beyond economic survival, a variety of factors in his personal life-- growing up in Indonesia and multi-cultural Hawaii into a bi-racial family with a Kenyan father, an Indonesian step-father, and a Caucasian mother-have set the stage for American cultural exploration. And Obama is already a global media sensation because of his perceived ability to relate to and understand a number of international perspectives.
Similarly, my multicultural expertise is a primarily a result of my upbringing. My father's job took my family to a number of global locales and thus I had the opportunity to straddle several different worlds- always with one foot in the American ex-patriot world while my other toe dipped into a number of international environments. Every few years I was surrounded by new languages, cultures and international peers. It was an amazing experience. And as a result, I am as comfortable in Cairo or Copenhagen as I am in Cleveland. But my greatest takeaway from the whole experience-- I can see the world through many lenses and can understand a number of cultural perspectives.
Living abroad taught me to observe, listen, adapt and thrive. I was exposed to new cultural approaches to life and learned to appreciate diverse ways of living. But the more I traveled and interacted, the more I realized how much we have in common simply as people-regardless of our backgrounds. Most of us have families, relationships, friendships and share many common threads like the desire for respect and appreciation. We can maintain our customs, but still come together as one people. I lived it, have felt it and know it to be true. And I have my interactive childhood to thank for establishing my passion.
I have a dream. I hope the world embraces an international and cultural renaissance. And Globally Hip is committed to being a conduit to change. My lifelong goal is to create cultural awareness and contribute to a more harmonious and communicative world. The right time is now. Let's make it happen together.
William Sinunu is a multi-lingual citizen of the world who has lived in or traveled to over 100 countries on six continents. As the co- founder of Globally Hip, he conducts workshops, seminars and conferences for universities and corporations in the U.S. and overseas. A University of Chicago-trained Master Facilitator, who was born and raised abroad, Sinunu's background as part of a prominent political family gives him a unique understanding of both the world's strengths and struggles. His energetic, warm style lends to captivating presentations garnering kudos from the likes of Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear and Harvard professor Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD. Sinunu, a former JetBlue Airways executive, was instrumental in developing and supporting the airline's innovative customer focused culture. In addition, he has worked as a multi-lingual interpreter for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs and as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Human Services. He is also the best-selling author of "Life Could Be Sweeter" (2005) and "The Sweet Life" (2007).
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