Reflection on Global Learning

       Global Learning is much more than some classes, a few events, and a trip. Global learning is a personal commitment to discovery. There are vast amounts of information and experiences, and a seemingly endless journey to understand the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the world we inhabit. Global Learning is about listening, asking questions, listening again, and then asking some more questions; in other words, it is a methodology in knowledge absorption.

       My journey in global learning started when I was very young. I always wanted to know more about the issues the adults in the room and on TV talked about – and the ones they never mentioned. Be it the unrest in the middle east, why Taiwan wasn’t a state, what it meant to be gay, and gender equality in different cultures and countries. I also wanted to learn other languages and understand the history of different civilizations and regions. In my college experience, I understood the need to search for much more than just the easy answers. I needed data, anecdotes, facts, and opinions.

       I enrolled into Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese language courses. They were both extremely interesting, and gave me a better understanding of linguistics, the evolution of language, and how it can unite and divided. I also enrolled into several courses on the culture and history of the East Asia and Brazil. These have improved my understanding of the current events in these regions, and how the countries act throughout the world.

       I believe the two largest contributions global learning will have over my lifetime are the methodology of learning and the multidimensional perspective I've gained. Both are applicable in any circumstance, be it in a negotiation with a business partner from abroad, learning a new skill, or relating to people in from a different background. The knowledge I now have about the world around me improves my ability to make fair assessments about global affairs and what course of action I can take as a member of society.

       I plan to grow my family's coffee company over the next 2 to 4 years by improving the supply chain, getting closer to coffee growers, and increasing our B2B customer. I am currently in the discovery phase of what area I would like to devote volunteering or activist time. I am inclined to create a new initiative, rather than join an already established organization. I will be surveying posible areas of interest in political commentary, education in distressed neighborhoods, and/or sustainable development and resilience in South Florida. I also plan on acquiring new language skills in either Haitian Creole or another East Asian language while improving my Chinese and Portuguese.

       The more I learn, the more I understand I know so little. This is exactly what is supposed to happen when we delve deeper. I believe it’s one of the most beautiful paradoxes that exist. It’s a stupendous remind of just how much we still have to discovery for ourselves. Learning is a process each of use takes on differently, but global learning requires us to step out of our frame of reference, acknowledge others, and understand what they say.