Andrea’s (Hsi Yun Chien) Feedback on Our Youth Exchange project (from Ithe Netherlands).

We are happy to receive Andrea’s (Hsi Yun Chien) feedback on our Youth Exchange in Armenia:

"I was filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension in anticipation of my trip to Armenia. It was a country that I was unfamiliar with, having only encountered it within the pages of my high school history textbook. When I informed my friends of my plans, they were obliged to check Google Maps in order to locate its exact position. En route to Armenia, my mind was awash with a myriad of thoughts regarding my existence, my study, my relationships, and my self-doubts.
While I was not expecting any epiphanies from this project, the experience granted me a newfound perspective on my life and who I am. It instilled within me a sense of gratitude for what I have and pride in what I have accomplished, whilst simultaneously directing my attention to areas in which I could further improve. During the project, we had the opportunity to share our cultures and traditional dances with other participants. I was taken aback by the fact that the French, Italians, Greeks, Armenians, and Georgians were all familiar with their traditional dances and took immense pride in promoting their culture. The Netherlands and Taiwan seemed to be quite an opposite.
In my experience, countries influenced by American culture, particularly those that are relatively developed, find it challenging to preserve their traditional culture, as it is often perceived as old-fashioned. Through this project, I came to realize that there is a trade-off between embracing internationalism and preserving tradition. Seeing the passion with which other participants spoke about their countries, I think it is cool to be proud of my country, and embrace it as part of who I am. In addition to the self-exploration component, I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic workshops that involved constant movement and learning new dances. The logistical arrangements were impeccable, and the variety of events offered was impressive. I particularly relished the behind-the scenes glimpse into the production of a TV series, and the opportunity to learn how to swim and tennis from my friends. During this experience I was engaged in the fun and interesting workshops, had space to interact with other people and learn about what I like and dislike. This project presented me not only the international culture and music, but also brought along with the unique opportunity of meeting people from diverse backgrounds and stages in life.
I am grateful for all the lessons and insights that each person shared with me. Through their experiences, I saw how everyone struggled with uncertainty about their future. As I resonated with the struggles of those around me, I realized that life does not offer easy answers to the challenges we face. However, the journey of self-discovery is ongoing, and it is essential that we keep moving forward. Upon my return, I felt spry and lively, unencumbered by the weight of past heartbreaks or anxieties. This experience taught me the importance of being present and prioritizing my own self-worth".
Andrea (Hsi Yun Chien)
(Dutch team member, originally from Taiwan)

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Видео Andrea’s (Hsi Yun Chien) Feedback on Our Youth Exchange project (from Ithe Netherlands). канала Bright Future