Short Story 011

By englishgroove / January 3, 2012 / Story Lesson / No Comments

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Rene from Germany talks about being in Asia for the first time, and how we can all make it a bit better.

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Traveler Interview: “Asian Impressions”

William: What do you do back in Germany?
Rene: I’m an Engineer; working in the energy business. Producing generators and… that’s what I did the last three years.
W: Like mechanical engineer or electrical engineer.
R: It’s industrial engineering. And I use…
I buy technical parts to assemble generators for power plants.
W: You’ve been living or traveling in Cambodia? You were teaching in Cambodia or something?
R: Yes, that’s what I did before I came back here to Bangkok. I did it for almost a month now. Yeah, a great experience.

Rene: For me it’s 100% proven that intelligence or what you are, and what you would like to become or whatever. It’s mainly triggered by the environment you are born into. So I mean: we lived for example in the village where I was teaching, (there are) so many just wonderful and fantastic people who just don’t have the ability to express what they can do or what they are willing to do, which is really sad. You have the skill but you don’t have the opportunity which is really sad.

Rene: If you have any extra money or anything to spend it’s really needed, especially in Cambodia. And the education is one of the most important things you can have. That’s why I’m really happy I got a good education. And I see I can make use of that by contributing to the people and helping them in that matter as well.

Rene: So, for me it was, especially in Cambodia, sad to see how people can be left behind. Not by not having the skill to do it, but just not having the opportunity or the possibility. And everybody can make that a bit better by contributing. By spending some money or by being interested in what’s going on in the world. Then you can choose your action.

William: Is this your first time in Asia; this trip?

Rene: Yes. I’m here now since (for) three months, and it’s the first time in Asia.

I would say, I’m impressed about (by) how beauty in the world can be defined, and Asia opens up a completely new chapter into that (idea of beauty). You know, how people express themselves. In people’s faces, it’s new to me how people can look like and how people can act.

And as well, it brought as well to me, even if you’re really different in a lot of things (ways), it’s all pretty much the same, so you gain respect or you gain understanding and that makes the world even more a village, like you know. Which I very much like. It takes away our barriers. Because barriers usually trigger fear, but if you understand what it means (another culture), then you’re more open.

And what I like most; what I particularly like is the smiles I receive here. It’s much… It happens much more often and for no reason, and that’s the most important thing. Yeah, Asia in general is for me a place of good smiles and nice people. And yeah, that’s what I like.

William: Cool man. Great interview.
Wonderful experience. Enjoy India.