By Lydia (Zhang Xiyue) from Class 2401

Dear teachers and students, Good morning!

I’m Lydia from Class 2401 . It’s my honor to be here to share my insights about“  What We Can Learn from Other Cultures. "

Culture isn’t something distant — it’s part of our everyday life, hidden in rituals and habits, waiting to be discovered. Behind the food and manners of different countries lies deep cultural meaning.

Take the Japanese tea ceremony idea of “ ichigo ichie ” — which means “ every moment happens only once. ”Hosts and guests treat each tea gathering as a unique,never-to-be-repeated event. From carefully cleaning the tools to pouring water with precision, every step is done with sincerity and focus. This reminds us to treasure every meeting and experience — to be fully present. It makes me wonder: Do we often ignore breakfast time with family? Do we sometimes only half-listen to our friends?