in my life I heard a thousand times one doesn’t do that one has to do that one
doesn’t do that one has to do that one
doesn’t do that one has to do that one knows you’re totally capable of doing
knows you’re totally capable of doing
knows you’re totally capable of doing that have you heard that as well maybe
that have you heard that as well maybe
that have you heard that as well maybe from early childhood onwards the one
from early childhood onwards the one
from early childhood onwards the one does one doesn’t is probably the reason
does one doesn’t is probably the reason
does one doesn’t is probably the reason I’m talking to you today as a child at
I’m talking to you today as a child at
I’m talking to you today as a child at the age of six I was lying in bed
the age of six I was lying in bed
the age of six I was lying in bed thinking about this one
thinking about this one
thinking about this one wondering why it was a one and not an i
wondering why it was a one and not an i
wondering why it was a one and not an i or a you like I don’t want you people to
or a you like I don’t want you people to
or a you like I don’t want you people to be mean to your sister or you don’t be
be mean to your sister or you don’t be
be mean to your sister or you don’t be mean to your sister instead of one isn’t
mean to your sister instead of one isn’t
mean to your sister instead of one isn’t me to one’s sister
me to one’s sister
me to one’s sister I was thinking and trying to understand
I was thinking and trying to understand
I was thinking and trying to understand where this one does one doesn’t behavior
where this one does one doesn’t behavior
where this one does one doesn’t behavior was coming from and it took me many
was coming from and it took me many
was coming from and it took me many nights until I came to the conclusion
nights until I came to the conclusion
nights until I came to the conclusion that the one does one doesn’t behavior
that the one does one doesn’t behavior
that the one does one doesn’t behavior it’s an indicator of pushing
it’s an indicator of pushing
it’s an indicator of pushing responsibility away from you pushing it
responsibility away from you pushing it
responsibility away from you pushing it to a third person pushing it to someone
to a third person pushing it to someone
to a third person pushing it to someone who is distanced from here pushing it to
who is distanced from here pushing it to
who is distanced from here pushing it to someone or even something that holds the
someone or even something that holds the
someone or even something that holds the overall generalized collective opinion
overall generalized collective opinion
overall generalized collective opinion on how one has to behave in order to be
on how one has to behave in order to be
on how one has to behave in order to be normal when I realized that that one
normal when I realized that that one
normal when I realized that that one does one doesn’t behavior is an
does one doesn’t behavior is an
does one doesn’t behavior is an indicator of pushing responsibility away
indicator of pushing responsibility away
indicator of pushing responsibility away from you my thinking became more
from you my thinking became more
from you my thinking became more adventurous I did allow myself to break
adventurous I did allow myself to break
adventurous I did allow myself to break habits to reinvent myself to think
habits to reinvent myself to think
habits to reinvent myself to think outside the box to lose respect
outside the box to lose respect
outside the box to lose respect basically my bedroom turned
basically my bedroom turned
basically my bedroom turned to a space of pushing through barriers
to a space of pushing through barriers
to a space of pushing through barriers sometimes I was jumping with joy because
sometimes I was jumping with joy because
sometimes I was jumping with joy because I found ways out of the narrowness
I found ways out of the narrowness
I found ways out of the narrowness sometimes I was turning in labyrinth
sometimes I was turning in labyrinth
sometimes I was turning in labyrinth circles not going anywhere my first step
circles not going anywhere my first step
circles not going anywhere my first step out was the conviction that there are
out was the conviction that there are
out was the conviction that there are many ways of doing things of course
many ways of doing things of course
many ways of doing things of course there are I will never forget
there are I will never forget
there are I will never forget Johnny Johnny joined us when I was in
Johnny Johnny joined us when I was in
Johnny Johnny joined us when I was in third grade primary school he fled
third grade primary school he fled
third grade primary school he fled Yugoslavia with his mother and his
Yugoslavia with his mother and his
Yugoslavia with his mother and his siblings I got invited to Johnny’s
siblings I got invited to Johnny’s
siblings I got invited to Johnny’s birthday party and the mother who didn’t
birthday party and the mother who didn’t
birthday party and the mother who didn’t have any money decided that the birthday
have any money decided that the birthday
have any money decided that the birthday attraction for Johnny’s birthday was
attraction for Johnny’s birthday was
attraction for Johnny’s birthday was attending the blasting of an industrial
attending the blasting of an industrial
attending the blasting of an industrial chimney in my home village in western
chimney in my home village in western
chimney in my home village in western Germany it was so fundamentally
Germany it was so fundamentally
Germany it was so fundamentally different to what I have experienced
different to what I have experienced
different to what I have experienced before and afterwards but I saw that
before and afterwards but I saw that
before and afterwards but I saw that Johnny’s mother really wanted to have a
Johnny’s mother really wanted to have a
Johnny’s mother really wanted to have a party for her boy and what Johnny’s
party for her boy and what Johnny’s
party for her boy and what Johnny’s mother did with no funds was creating an
mother did with no funds was creating an
mother did with no funds was creating an unfocused
unfocused
unfocused childhood memory so life taught me that
childhood memory so life taught me that
childhood memory so life taught me that there are many ways of doing things and
there are many ways of doing things and
there are many ways of doing things and that brought me to my second conviction
that brought me to my second conviction
that brought me to my second conviction that the diversity of approaches is a
that the diversity of approaches is a
that the diversity of approaches is a good thing
so far my life has been written in a way
so far my life has been written in a way that anybody who threatens this one does
that anybody who threatens this one does
that anybody who threatens this one does one doesn’t status quo it’s an enemy but
one doesn’t status quo it’s an enemy but
one doesn’t status quo it’s an enemy but really isn’t it ever so boring and moldy
really isn’t it ever so boring and moldy
really isn’t it ever so boring and moldy to only have one way of doing things of
to only have one way of doing things of
to only have one way of doing things of course it is isn’t it ever so egocentric
course it is isn’t it ever so egocentric
course it is isn’t it ever so egocentric isn’t it
isn’t it
isn’t it not putting interest in different people
not putting interest in different people
not putting interest in different people in different approaches I think it is
in different approaches I think it is
in different approaches I think it is and this is why I decided to become an
and this is why I decided to become an
and this is why I decided to become an ambassador for diversity
when I became an ambassador for
when I became an ambassador for diversity living in a multicultural
diversity living in a multicultural
diversity living in a multicultural environment I decided to first focus on
environment I decided to first focus on
environment I decided to first focus on cross cultural competences cross
cross cultural competences cross
cross cultural competences cross cultural competences being in a position
cultural competences being in a position
cultural competences being in a position where you can celebrate differences and
where you can celebrate differences and
where you can celebrate differences and you can celebrate similarities at the
you can celebrate similarities at the
you can celebrate similarities at the same time I moved from Germany to France
same time I moved from Germany to France
same time I moved from Germany to France but before that I spent my corporate
but before that I spent my corporate
but before that I spent my corporate working life in the Europe Middle East
working life in the Europe Middle East
working life in the Europe Middle East and Africa headquarter of a large
and Africa headquarter of a large
and Africa headquarter of a large American software company where they had
American software company where they had
American software company where they had the opportunity to experience embracing
the opportunity to experience embracing
the opportunity to experience embracing differences and celebrating similarities
differences and celebrating similarities
differences and celebrating similarities on a daily basis I learned it sometimes
on a daily basis I learned it sometimes
on a daily basis I learned it sometimes the hard way or now how to do that when
the hard way or now how to do that when
the hard way or now how to do that when I’m thinking of embracing differences in
I’m thinking of embracing differences in
I’m thinking of embracing differences in the celebrating similarities if you ask
the celebrating similarities if you ask
the celebrating similarities if you ask yourself what is that basically it’s a
yourself what is that basically it’s a
yourself what is that basically it’s a behavior and that behavior has to enable
behavior and that behavior has to enable
behavior and that behavior has to enable three things tearing down walls creating
three things tearing down walls creating
three things tearing down walls creating bridges and making us all want to cross
bridges and making us all want to cross
bridges and making us all want to cross the bridge together and I give you a
the bridge together and I give you a
the bridge together and I give you a hint
hint
hint there are many ways of doing that so how
there are many ways of doing that so how
there are many ways of doing that so how do I tear down walls basically it’s that
do I tear down walls basically it’s that
do I tear down walls basically it’s that kind of loop I observe I listen I feel I
kind of loop I observe I listen I feel I
kind of loop I observe I listen I feel I understand or I don’t understand I ask
understand or I don’t understand I ask
understand or I don’t understand I ask and eventually I understand after I have
and eventually I understand after I have
and eventually I understand after I have circle that loop multiple times I can
circle that loop multiple times I can
circle that loop multiple times I can literally put myself into the shoes of
literally put myself into the shoes of
literally put myself into the shoes of the other person and then I ask us what
the other person and then I ask us what
the other person and then I ask us what if we are looking at we would be looking
if we are looking at we would be looking
if we are looking at we would be looking at it from a different perspective what
at it from a different perspective what
at it from a different perspective what if we would feel about it in a different
if we would feel about it in a different
if we would feel about it in a different way
way
way I’m doing that in a non-attacking way I
I’m doing that in a non-attacking way I
I’m doing that in a non-attacking way I try to enrich ourselves through
try to enrich ourselves through
try to enrich ourselves through different perspectives by then the wall
different perspectives by then the wall
different perspectives by then the wall is down and they’re spaced to create
is down and they’re spaced to create
is down and they’re spaced to create something new to create a bridge between
something new to create a bridge between
something new to create a bridge between people as a child I’ve been visiting
people as a child I’ve been visiting
people as a child I’ve been visiting eastern Germany multiple times I will
eastern Germany multiple times I will
eastern Germany multiple times I will never forget the sound our car made when
never forget the sound our car made when
never forget the sound our car made when we were driving on the transit highway
we were driving on the transit highway
we were driving on the transit highway and I will never forget the smell of
and I will never forget the smell of
and I will never forget the smell of brown coal one evening we were staying
brown coal one evening we were staying
brown coal one evening we were staying with my father’s aunt the parents went
with my father’s aunt the parents went
with my father’s aunt the parents went for dinner when suddenly someone was
for dinner when suddenly someone was
for dinner when suddenly someone was knocking on the shutter of the window
knocking on the shutter of the window
knocking on the shutter of the window tanta Mitzi said quick go hide behind
tanta Mitzi said quick go hide behind
tanta Mitzi said quick go hide behind the sofa they must have found out that
the sofa they must have found out that
the sofa they must have found out that we are having contact with people from
we are having contact with people from
we are having contact with people from the West we were hiding behind it so the
the West we were hiding behind it so the
the West we were hiding behind it so the sofa my head was beating my borderless
sofa my head was beating my borderless
sofa my head was beating my borderless fantasy went wild went on to meet she
fantasy went wild went on to meet she
fantasy went wild went on to meet she went to the door opened the door she
went to the door opened the door she
went to the door opened the door she welcomed some friends who couldn’t find
welcomed some friends who couldn’t find
welcomed some friends who couldn’t find the doorbell so it was not a dangerous
the doorbell so it was not a dangerous
the doorbell so it was not a dangerous situation at all but the fear I felt was
situation at all but the fear I felt was
situation at all but the fear I felt was real
a bridge has to be built from two sides
a bridge has to be built from two sides sometimes the paths of the bridge don’t
sometimes the paths of the bridge don’t
sometimes the paths of the bridge don’t instantly meet in the middle then we
instantly meet in the middle then we
instantly meet in the middle then we have to go back and try again
have to go back and try again
have to go back and try again so that they finally can meet when with
so that they finally can meet when with
so that they finally can meet when with two parts of the bridge meet people are
two parts of the bridge meet people are
two parts of the bridge meet people are happy they are relieved they are
happy they are relieved they are
happy they are relieved they are thrilled and they’re very much enjoying
thrilled and they’re very much enjoying
thrilled and they’re very much enjoying crossing the bridge together which is
crossing the bridge together which is
crossing the bridge together which is the greatest part and a logical
the greatest part and a logical
the greatest part and a logical subsequence of having built that bridge
subsequence of having built that bridge
subsequence of having built that bridge together I believe the the big majority
together I believe the the big majority
together I believe the the big majority of people is more interested in tearing
of people is more interested in tearing
of people is more interested in tearing down walls and creating this you might
down walls and creating this you might
down walls and creating this you might think oh that’s all very nice in theory
think oh that’s all very nice in theory
think oh that’s all very nice in theory close your eyes close your eyes and
close your eyes close your eyes and
close your eyes close your eyes and think a moment about the ecstatic
think a moment about the ecstatic
think a moment about the ecstatic emotions when the Berlin Wall came down
I remember my father crying my meets all
I remember my father crying my meets all these pictures on television you can
these pictures on television you can
these pictures on television you can open your eyes again it is part of life
open your eyes again it is part of life
open your eyes again it is part of life that we are hitting balls but most often
that we are hitting balls but most often
that we are hitting balls but most often we have the choice to decide if we want
we have the choice to decide if we want
we have the choice to decide if we want to tear the wall down and if we want to
to tear the wall down and if we want to
to tear the wall down and if we want to create the bridge when I’m working with
create the bridge when I’m working with
create the bridge when I’m working with people from all walks of life and from
people from all walks of life and from
people from all walks of life and from all across the world I have been in the
all across the world I have been in the
all across the world I have been in the position in the lucky position to have
position in the lucky position to have
position in the lucky position to have witnessed falling down wars a thousand
witnessed falling down wars a thousand
witnessed falling down wars a thousand times a day the energy set free when
times a day the energy set free when
times a day the energy set free when this happens it’s contagious and it is
this happens it’s contagious and it is
this happens it’s contagious and it is addictive once you have started you want
addictive once you have started you want
addictive once you have started you want to have more of it and why is that
to have more of it and why is that
to have more of it and why is that because it makes you feel meaningful you
because it makes you feel meaningful you
because it makes you feel meaningful you need of togetherness is instantly filled
basically you set a prisoner free and
basically you set a prisoner free and you realize that this prisoner was you
you realize that this prisoner was you
you realize that this prisoner was you as Lewis B Smith’s so wisely said and
as Lewis B Smith’s so wisely said and
as Lewis B Smith’s so wisely said and who demonstrated that in more essence
who demonstrated that in more essence
who demonstrated that in more essence then Nelson Mandela the biggest
then Nelson Mandela the biggest
then Nelson Mandela the biggest ambassador of tearing down walls and
ambassador of tearing down walls and
ambassador of tearing down walls and building bridges if you are into rugby
building bridges if you are into rugby
building bridges if you are into rugby you might remember the 1995 Rugby World
you might remember the 1995 Rugby World
you might remember the 1995 Rugby World Cup where Nelson Mandela put on his
Cup where Nelson Mandela put on his
Cup where Nelson Mandela put on his green rugby the the green rugby shirt
green rugby the the green rugby shirt
green rugby the the green rugby shirt from the Springboks and handed over the
from the Springboks and handed over the
from the Springboks and handed over the web Ellis cup to the right to the
web Ellis cup to the right to the
web Ellis cup to the right to the captain Francois Pina by doing so he was
captain Francois Pina by doing so he was
captain Francois Pina by doing so he was living up to the slogan of the of the
living up to the slogan of the of the
living up to the slogan of the of the tournament one team one nation until
tournament one team one nation until
tournament one team one nation until then rugby was a sport being played by
then rugby was a sport being played by
then rugby was a sport being played by white men by putting on the Springbok
white men by putting on the Springbok
white men by putting on the Springbok rugby shirt and by handing over and
rugby shirt and by handing over and
rugby shirt and by handing over and supporting the team Nelson Mandela has
supporting the team Nelson Mandela has
supporting the team Nelson Mandela has torn down the wall and and killed the
torn down the wall and and killed the
torn down the wall and and killed the last remains of apartheid and he built a
last remains of apartheid and he built a
last remains of apartheid and he built a bridge some 20 years later my sons are
bridge some 20 years later my sons are
bridge some 20 years later my sons are playing football in the fields of Changi
playing football in the fields of Changi
playing football in the fields of Changi on the wild coast of South Africa if
on the wild coast of South Africa if
on the wild coast of South Africa if this is possible for me and the people
this is possible for me and the people
this is possible for me and the people I’m working with it must be possible for
I’m working with it must be possible for
I’m working with it must be possible for a year I actually assume you are already
a year I actually assume you are already
a year I actually assume you are already doing it but I’m here to advertise to
doing it but I’m here to advertise to
doing it but I’m here to advertise to use this behavior on an exponential
use this behavior on an exponential
use this behavior on an exponential level I think that this behavior can
level I think that this behavior can
level I think that this behavior can only bloom if we commit ourselves to the
only bloom if we commit ourselves to the
only bloom if we commit ourselves to the attitude of humanity I’m not here to
attitude of humanity I’m not here to
attitude of humanity I’m not here to talk about the attitude of humanity just
talk about the attitude of humanity just
talk about the attitude of humanity just let me give you some of the ingredients
let me give you some of the ingredients
let me give you some of the ingredients which I think are very fundamental
which I think are very fundamental
which I think are very fundamental respect acceptance of differences belief
respect acceptance of differences belief
respect acceptance of differences belief in diversity but most importantly taking
in diversity but most importantly taking
in diversity but most importantly taking responsibility for your own behavior
responsibility for your own behavior
responsibility for your own behavior I would neither be German no an academic
I would neither be German no an academic
I would neither be German no an academic to bring in some stereotypes if I
to bring in some stereotypes if I
to bring in some stereotypes if I wouldn’t bring in the yes but yes there
wouldn’t bring in the yes but yes there
wouldn’t bring in the yes but yes there are limits of what you can respect and
are limits of what you can respect and
are limits of what you can respect and yes there are limits in your acceptance
yes there are limits in your acceptance
yes there are limits in your acceptance of differences and yes there are limits
of differences and yes there are limits
of differences and yes there are limits in your belief in diversity but there
in your belief in diversity but there
in your belief in diversity but there are no limits in taking responsibility
are no limits in taking responsibility
are no limits in taking responsibility for your own behavior let me give you an
for your own behavior let me give you an
for your own behavior let me give you an example
example
example once I work with students who studied in
once I work with students who studied in
once I work with students who studied in a master of in maths and advanced
a master of in maths and advanced
a master of in maths and advanced European and international studies the
European and international studies the
European and international studies the students were already together for three
students were already together for three
students were already together for three months in Istanbul before they came here
months in Istanbul before they came here
months in Istanbul before they came here to nice where I met them for the first
to nice where I met them for the first
to nice where I met them for the first time and we were conducting a workshop
time and we were conducting a workshop
time and we were conducting a workshop together in the beginning of the
together in the beginning of the
together in the beginning of the workshop I asked the students to share
workshop I asked the students to share
workshop I asked the students to share an example of a cross-cultural situation
an example of a cross-cultural situation
an example of a cross-cultural situation they have experienced everybody had a
they have experienced everybody had a
they have experienced everybody had a story to tell but one student in
story to tell but one student in
story to tell but one student in particular she stood up when she was
particular she stood up when she was
particular she stood up when she was giving her example she was talking
giving her example she was talking
giving her example she was talking brilliantly she was like talking like
brilliantly she was like talking like
brilliantly she was like talking like giving a speech like talking to
giving a speech like talking to
giving a speech like talking to Parliament the example she shared was an
Parliament the example she shared was an
Parliament the example she shared was an example that she experienced in the
example that she experienced in the
example that she experienced in the group of students she was presented to
group of students she was presented to
group of students she was presented to when she finished her example the other
when she finished her example the other
when she finished her example the other students applauded her with respect
she told me that she hasn’t spoken in
she told me that she hasn’t spoken in front of the group for the past three
front of the group for the past three
front of the group for the past three months that she ever felt so lonely that
months that she ever felt so lonely that
months that she ever felt so lonely that she didn’t feel the foundation of trust
she didn’t feel the foundation of trust
she didn’t feel the foundation of trust given with cultural differences but
given with cultural differences but
given with cultural differences but today in the workshop she jumped she
today in the workshop she jumped she
today in the workshop she jumped she said who she walks
said who she walks
said who she walks she set herself as a prisoner free
she set herself as a prisoner free
she set herself as a prisoner free she created a bridge which the others
she created a bridge which the others
she created a bridge which the others instantly crossed by uploading her with
instantly crossed by uploading her with
instantly crossed by uploading her with respect and that changed her world if we
respect and that changed her world if we
respect and that changed her world if we manage to do this in the little circle
manage to do this in the little circle
manage to do this in the little circle we are living in as students in our
we are living in as students in our
we are living in as students in our family with our friends in the workplace
family with our friends in the workplace
family with our friends in the workplace we are having an impact on how migrating
we are having an impact on how migrating
we are having an impact on how migrating people are being seen and how they feel
people are being seen and how they feel
people are being seen and how they feel it is on us to take a responsibility for
it is on us to take a responsibility for
it is on us to take a responsibility for our own behavior and be a champion in
our own behavior and be a champion in
our own behavior and be a champion in tearing down walls and creating bridges
tearing down walls and creating bridges
tearing down walls and creating bridges it is a shift that happens and starts
it is a shift that happens and starts
it is a shift that happens and starts first within ourselves and it is our
first within ourselves and it is our
first within ourselves and it is our obligation to be as contagious as we can
obligation to be as contagious as we can
obligation to be as contagious as we can be I invite you to join this movement of
be I invite you to join this movement of
be I invite you to join this movement of transition from balls to bridges in
transition from balls to bridges in
transition from balls to bridges in order to make this world a better place
order to make this world a better place
order to make this world a better place in which we can all across cultures can
in which we can all across cultures can
in which we can all across cultures can live on planet Earth together with
live on planet Earth together with
live on planet Earth together with billions of bitch thank you
billions of bitch thank you
billions of bitch thank you you
”
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