Dear Editor,

It truly is awe-inspiring when one realises the world is much bigger than one imagined.

As a young Jamaican I’m faced with the challenge of figuring out how to tackle adulthood and my plans regarding my future. A challenge I’m sure many of my peers can identify with. Having recently returned to the island after a year studying abroad in China — just in time for Hurricane Beryl — I’m now in that stage of post-arrival clarity, whereby you begin to notice the differences between your home country and the country where you studied and the differences between yourself before you left versus after returning home. This reflection has led me to the profound realisation that I was very narrow-minded about the world prior to leaving home.

China’s incredible technical advancements, the patriotism of the people, and the organisation of the country’s Government are testaments to how a country can turn things around for itself despite whatever long and hard history it has faced.

It was very educational being immersed in an entirely different culture from my own. I often found myself thinking how I might bring back some of the things I learnt about the principles of Chinese culture and apply them to my life. Yet while there are differences between the two cultures, there is also a great deal of similarity between the Jamaican and Chinese people. Both groups of people have an intense desire to share their cultures with the world. The glee in the face of a Chinese “ayi” (aunty) when she finds out that you can speak Chinese can only be rivalled by the sheer delight a Jamaican has when he or she gets the chance to tell you how a certain style of music or dish is actually Jamaican.

The similarities between our two cultures are, I believe, a part of the reason Jamaica and China share such a good relationship. It is through this relationship between our two countries that I even had the opportunity to study in China and experience a new way of living. Not only have my horizons been widened, but my perspective on international relations has also been changed.

Globalisation is rapidly increasing; this big world is getting smaller and smaller through various advancements in technology and communication. It has never been more important for Jamaica to form fruitful relationships with other countries. Such relationships will help to foster growth and more opportunities for young Jamaicans to learn and develop themselves. Opportunities that can empower them to make good choices will only benefit Jamaica in the future.

I believe it is important for us to encourage our young people to get out and see the world, experience different ways of life, meet people from all across the globe, then use these experiences to transform Jamaica into the place we want it to be.

Horatia Benjamin

horaciann.mar@gmail.com