Breaking Borders: The Growth You Find in Cultural Diversity

Today I’m writing this post right after coming back from a work dinner with my colleagues. I arrived home feeling energized, because I’ve always been a people person, and I truly love listening to people’s stories. But there’s something very special about where I work now: at that dinner table, we were seven different nationalities. Can you imagine that? Sitting at the same table with people from all over the world, sharing stories, experiences, and completely different views on life.

Five years ago, I couldn’t even imagine myself in this type of environment. Back then, during my first international experiences, I used to stay close to my Brazilian friends — and honestly, I don’t blame myself or anyone who does the same. When you’re far away from home, without family or the comfort of your own language, surrounding yourself with people from your country can bring you a little piece of home.

But when I moved to Belgium, I had no choice but to face a new reality. There weren’t Brazilians around me all the time, and for the first time, I was working in a place where I was the only Brazilian. I had to speak English every day, try to understand different accents, and even learn to deal with cultural differences that I wasn’t used to. At the beginning, it was a real challenge — I won’t lie. But today, sitting at that dinner table, I caught myself thinking about how rich and beautiful this experience has been.

Living and working in a multicultural place has taught me things that I never expected to learn.

One of the most important lessons was patience and the art of listening. When you work with people from different languages and cultures, you need to slow down, pay attention not only to words but also to expressions, gestures, and even silences. This taught me that real communication goes beyond grammar or vocabulary — it’s about presence and respect.

I also learned the importance of letting go of stereotypes. I had so many ideas about other cultures based on what I heard or read, but the more I connected with people, the more I realized that there’s always so much more behind a nationality or an accent. Cultures are alive and constantly changing, and the person in front of you is never just “the Brazilian,” “the Indian,” “the Dutch,” “the Tunisian,” or “the Mexican” — they are people, with stories, dreams, and struggles, just like me.

And probably the most beautiful thing I’ve discovered is that home is not a place. It’s the feeling of belonging you find when you create meaningful connections, no matter where you are. It’s the smiles, the dinners, the conversations, and the shared silences.

I think if more people around the world had the chance to live or work in such a multicultural environment — even once — the world would be a little more open-minded and respectful. When you open space for people inside your life, you also open space for more understanding and empathy, and maybe, for a more peaceful world too.

And you? Have you ever lived or worked in a multicultural place?

I’d love to hear your story. Let’s share and learn from each other.

Thanks for reading,

Leticia Estrela