I would say that throughout Sino-Sing, among all the indelible memories and valuable experiences, I was definitely made painfully aware of one thing: I am not a very good Mandarin speaker. This weakness crippled me in my encounters with the Chinese delegates, and it made me realize, albeit bitterly, that effective communication is so crucial to establishing a sense of rapport with them. I have made it my resolution to return one day with renewed fluency in Mandarin. The good news is that the Chinese delegates mostly understood what I was trying to convey as they made a conscientious effort to listen carefully.
That aside, I absolutely enjoyed every moment of Sino-Sing. At the start, we interacted with our Chinese delegates on a very professional and official level. Of course, as the days went by, the barriers started to break down and the delegates began to loosen up. While some delegates continued to be polite and diplomatic, others started to express themselves more freely (they know who they are!). I am glad that eventually we did not just exchange pleasant words, but instead held markedly intellectual and thought-provoking conversations that went beyond the surface.
I also realized that the delegates, while brilliant, shared the same joys and challenges as us. All of us enjoyed food, fun and laughter and gravitated towards such activities. It was truly an affirmation that we have common experiences even across thousands of miles!
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