Born in Kerala, brought up in Muscat, Dubai, Bangalore and now currently in Pune, you’d say that I have had my fair share of exposure to a multitude of cultures. In addition, an international school education really developed my understanding of the unique norms and beliefs inculcated through one's upbringing. Growing up alongside people from a diverse background has helped me gain different perspectives to life. Due to my environment, I have grown to be culturally aware, socially mature, comfortable with differences and keen to explore the unknown. I moved to India for my under graduation after 18 years of living in Dubai, an international hub. I was quick to adapt to the new culture, surrounding and ways of living.
This may, at first sound very fascinating to the common-man; the sheer amount of exposure that I must have received must have been incremental towards both my personality and self-growth. Whilst the latter is true, there were a few negatives that also dragged along from the continuous bouncing between countries and states. Due to my continuous transitions; it became a challenge to properly maintain relationships with my friends and peers from my previous location as I would be so submerged in exploring and understanding the cultures, norms and traditions of the new place I was currently at, not to mention also trying to socialize at the same time. Every time I would establish a deep and meaningful connection with someone, I would have to part ways with them as my future endeavors would guide me to a new location and so on.
This phenomenon may sound obscure to some but unless one personally goes through this, one cannot relate. On the contrary, all this moving did help me grow exponentially. As mentioned before, I got to experience norms, cultures and values that could have only be experienced should I had moved there, and hence has made me who I am today.
Philip John
