Ever since I was little I have had a fascination with foreign cultures. There were a couple of key experiences that showed early on that one day I would need to explore the planet and connect with people from other places.

When I was 14 years old I went on a school trip and we ended up stopping in Munich, Germany. Our group visited the Olympic Village and while being there I bumped into a group of school kids from Thailand. I started talking to them in my broken English and ended up having a pen pal with whom I exchanged letters for several years. 

The high school I went to specialized in foreign languages and I had the opportunity to learn English, French and Latin in addition to my native German language. I always had the desire to learn languages to be able to connect with people from other places, preferably in their own language. I later learned Spanish, now my favourite language, and I have also taken basic courses in Italian and Russian. My goal is really to have a bit of an understanding of many languages so I can at least carry a basic conversation (or at the very least say hello and introduce myself) in a number of foreign languages. Language skills open many doors, and connecting with people in their own language provides much greater access and a deeper understanding of that culture.

My parents never spoke any foreign languages, and I actually grew up in an environment where a lot of racist statements were made around the dinner table. That was not surprising, considering that my father had grown up during the Nazi years and later fought in the Second World War. Considering the way he was indoctrinated and brainwashed from when he was a child, it's probably not surprising that he remained a racist until the end of his life. 

What happened to me was the exact opposite. The racist statements and attitudes I was exposed to really turned me off ever since I was a kid. As a result I started reading about the Second World War and educating myself. In addition, this experience fostered an interest in foreign cultures in me, a curiosity to explore other places and ways of living, and a desire for more acceptance and tolerance in general.

Coming to Toronto was really an eye-opening experience. I came from a small town in Austria, a place where people can trace back their ancestors hundreds of years,  to Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world. I had literally never spoken to a black person or Asian person in the 20 years I grew up in Europe. And then came Toronto. All of a sudden I was working with people from the Philippines, from Jamaica, from China, India, Vietnam and literally every other place in the world. I started realizing that as human beings we may look a little different; dress, eat and talk a little different. But on the whole we are much more similar than we are different. This was a key insight for me.

Today I am married to a wonderful man from the Carribean and sometimes during family get-togethers, I am the only Caucasian person at the table. I also run a business that connects people and businesses in virtually any language spoken on this planet. The people in my office are a little representation of the United Nations. Throughout this year and a half, as my business has grown, I have worked with individuals from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Germany, China, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia and Mexico, right here in my office. We all talk and share tid-bits of our own cultures, customs, backgrounds, experiences, traditions, lifestyles. We connect as human beings, we share an interest in one another and enjoy each other's company despite the fact that we are from totally different places. To me this is a real inspiration.

My goal is to encourage others to explore the planet and to experience its beauty and uniqueness, to connect with people from other places, get to know them and realize that we can co-exist and accept each other, with all our differences. My dream is to make a little contribution towards making this world a better place, and it starts with a little bit more tolerance and open-mindedness on the part of each of us. This discovery and sharing of experiences is going to be a long-term endeavour and I hope to inspire others to do the same, at home or throughout the world.

To share your comments or experiences please email me at sq@travelandtransitions.com.