Leaving One’s Comfort Zone to Create Different Comfort Zones

Ever since my childhood I remember that I have always wondered if communication styles of people from other nationatilities would be different than the ones that I and other fellow individuals around me use.That led me to consider embarking my academic and professional journey on fields that are set up based on multiculturalism.Therefore, I began to read and hear about the stories of other people both online and through books who lived and/or already living abroad for different purposes e.g. expat, student starting from the early ages.

At some point in my life, I realized that I needed to improve my creative self and empathy skills to gain a better understanding of how people communicate and grasp subtle nuances that are hard to catch. Thus, I wanted to channel my energy into enhancing communication in multicultural dimensions and began studying Communication Design and Management during my bachelor's degree to turn one of my areas of interest into my profession. I am now still making progress toward becoming better at Intercultural Communication by pursuing an MA degree in Communication Management at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media, and Arts School.

In today’s interconnected world, the ability to understand, respect, and effectively interact with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds is essential. Intercultural competence is not merely a skill but a necessity in fostering collaboration, mutual respect, and effective communication in an increasingly globalized society. Developing intercultural competence involves cultivating awareness, sensitivity, and adaptability to cultural differences, thereby enabling individuals and organizations to thrive in diverse settings.

As someone who is fortunate enough to be born and lived in Türkiye which is a quite diverse country with different cultural and moral values I have been currently observing the differences among people in Estonia which is more of a homogenous country if I’m to compare both countries in terms of cultural dynamics.

The excitement sparking in my spirit every time I have the chance to observe cultural and moral differences that reflect on various aspects of life not just in corporate business environments but also in daily life itself fosters my will to keep finding out undiscovered nuances of intercultural communication among international people.

Among the significant aspects of intercultural communication, empathy and openness are central to emotional sensitivity. This involves recognizing and respecting the feelings and perspectives of individuals from different backgrounds. Emotional sensitivity helps individuals respond to cultural differences with curiosity rather than judgment, fostering meaningful connections and reducing prejudice.