The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most dynamic and active regions in the world. Its diversified culture and economic potential have solidified my interest in discovering cultures, histories, societies and traditions of the countries in the region. Understanding the region is the key for me to integrate into this region by means of business interactions and cultural exchanges. Now I am well prepared for working with people from the region without any culture shock and language barrier.
My first preparedness is a good language approach. My special interest in the region has stimulated me to take enormous opportunities to learn languages of countries of the region. I have learned Japanese for two and a half years and now I can deal with daily life by speaking Japanese. I have been to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and China and during my trips to these countries, I have learned native languages in order to make friends with local people to understand their cultures, histories, traditions, issues they concern about and challenges they are facing, to exchange ideas, and to share experience in business and daily life. As a result, I can speak a little Chinese, Malaysian besides English, French and Japanese.
My second preparation is a culture approach. I learned at school geographical characteristics, brave histories, diversified cultures, national identities and economic potential of the region. To develop in depth understanding of the region, I have visited some countries in this region, maintained crucial connections and relationships with my foreign friends from the region to exchange professional experience and seek business opportunities. I have participated in organizing culture performances, fashion shows, food fairs and exhibitions of Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in Hanoi, Vietnam, through which I have understood more their cultures and traditions. I understand Malaysian, Singaporean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indonesian people’ life styles, their ways of thinking and expressing ideas, their working habits, their concerns and expectations for a Asia-Pacific region of peace, security, solidarity, friendship and prosperity.
In preparation for integration into this region, I have improved my cross-cultural communication and networking skills. As a sales executive of a Malaysian enterprise in Hanoi, Vietnam, I have been exposed to an international working environment of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Malaysian employees. I have played an important role in coordinating between people of such nationalities in my enterprise to create unified working environment. Employees at my company are treated equally regardless of their race and religion. This position has given me opportunities to meet with businessmen from Asia and work closely with them at the manager level. As a result, I have improved significantly my cross-cultural communication skills that enable me to communicate, cooperate and work successfully with people from the region without any burden of culture and language.
In conclusion, I have drawn real-world experience and skills to work in a multi-cultural environment through years of working with people from countries in the Asia-Pacific region. My understanding of their cultures, life styles, working habits and traditions will enable me to live and study in an inter-cultural learning environment. I strongly believe that learning with students from America and the Asia-Pacific region is a great opportunity for me to understand more about their cultures and to gather valuable experience for my future working with people from the United States and the region.
