On June 10th, during the first "International Day for Civilizational Dialogue," international student representatives from Laos, Thailand, and Nepal in the International Department gathered with Chinese students majoring in Teaching Chinese as an International Language from the College of Literature and Journalism. Under the theme "Language as a Bridge, Culture as a Link," they engaged in a rich exchange of ideas through keynote speeches and roundtable dialogues, creating a true feast of cross-cultural communication.
A Youth Narrative: The Growth Path from Adaptation to Integration
The dialogue began with a lively ice-breaking session. International student representatives shared amusing anecdotes from their early days in Chengdu: misunderstandings caused by local dialects that led to laughter, touching moments while serving as volunteers for the Chengdu Universiade, and the transformative "cultural awareness upgrade" experienced during their thesis defense. The Chinese student group, drawing from their professional practice, shared innovative cases in designing cross-cultural curricula and insights gained from intercultural communication during Chinese language teaching, demonstrating the reflections and rewards of youth navigating cultural convergence.
Roundtable Dialogue: Breaking Cultural Barriers Through the Joy of Food
The roundtable discussion, centered on the theme "Shared Understanding and Breakthroughs in Cross-Cultural Adaptation," focused on breaking stereotypes and the blending of food cultures. Laotian student Nounbaikham Moukpalakham started with Chengdu's hot pot culture, humorously recalling her initial "culture shock": "We have hot pot in Laos too, but I never imagined in Chengdu, we dip it in an oil-based sauce!" This topic struck a chord, as Chinese and international youth eagerly shared their perspectives as foodies. Food, a universal language that crosses all borders, became a vivid key to decoding cultural differences.
Closing Part: Echoes of Growth in Mutual Enrichment
The discussion concluded with a heartfelt reflection from Nepalese international student Nitesh Maharjan: "During my six years at the university, the warmth of my Chinese classmates helped me transform from an introverted person to an outgoing person—embracing every opportunity and daring to take on all challenges. This experience taught me that cultural integration isn't about smoothing away our edges, but about letting different colors shine brighter through their unique sparks."
Chinese students Hu Manxiang and Li Xiaoling concluded by sharing their insight that "no journey taken is ever in vain." They expressed that their experience in cross-cultural teaching not only inspired their career direction but also gave them a profound understanding: "Cultural exchange is never a one-way street, but a journey where two hearts illuminate each other." This dialogue did more than provide a platform for graduates to share their cross-cultural stories; it embodied the very meaning of civilizational dialogue from a youth perspective: finding common ground through differences, and expanding horizons through mutual learning. When young people worldwide take language as their vessel and empathy as their oar, they can surely sail toward the vast ocean of human civilization.
