By Liliana Ojeda – CVX in Austria

There is a proverb that has accompanied me throughout my life: “Wherever you go, do as you see.” What does this mean? Should we simply imitate others without having a personality of our own? Not at all.
Rather, it invites us to approach the unfamiliar with open eyes and to welcome what awaits us with an open heart.

Arriving in a foreign country and facing a different culture is not always easy. Yet it can be enriching, interesting, and undoubtedly instructive. The experiences one encounters are often very diverse. At times, one may not feel fully accepted and may even face discrimination. How should one respond? How should one behave in those moments?

I have, in many ways, been a foreigner all my life. At the age of 20, I left my home country, Argentina, and arrived in Austria for the first time. I have also lived in Germany, Spain, and Mexico. For professional reasons, I have traveled throughout Western Europe, almost all Latin American countries, and even to the Far East. Whenever possible, I made a point of learning about the country I was about to visit. This not only facilitates communication but is also deeply appreciated.
I remember, for instance, the pleasant surprise of my interpreter in South Korea when she began explaining the meaning of the symbols on her national flag and realized that I already knew them. These small details, sometimes seemingly insignificant, can go a long way toward fostering good communication and dialogue. They can become bridges to meaningful relationships.

Pope Francis wrote: “Drawing near, speaking, listening, looking at one another, getting to know each other, trying to understand one another, seeking points of contact (…). To meet and help one another, we need to dialogue.” . (Fratelli tutti, 198).

I come from a country shaped by large waves of immigration, especially in the years before and during the Second World War. Spaniards and Italians arrived hoping to find work and a better life; Jews expelled from Europe; as well as Germans, Poles, and Turks found their way there. Even today, Argentina is home to settlements of many different nationalities. These communities preserve and celebrate their own cultures, while also embracing the Argentine culture in which they have become rooted.
It may be worth mentioning that our Constitution guarantees the same rights “to all persons of good will who live on Argentine soil.” These newcomers were never seen merely as migrants or foreigners, but as people—people like you and me—who came from far away and brought with them the beautiful stories of their homelands and cultures.

All of this likely shaped me and influenced my behavior abroad. I always felt joy in discovering something new, while also doing my best to adapt. Sadly, I also had negative experiences, moments when I was rejected because of my appearance or simply because I was a foreigner. What did I do then? Whenever possible, I sought dialogue. More than once, people were surprised to learn that I spoke their language. And even more surprised when they learned I hold a doctoral degree—this reaction saddens me, because no one is worth more or less for having an academic title. That is why I use it only when strictly necessary. What matters above all is dialogue—respectful, understanding dialogue. After all, doesn’t the saying go, “By talking, people understand one another”?

To close, I leave you once again with the words of Pope Francis:
A Prayer to the Creator (Fratelli tutti):

Lord, Father of our human family,

you created all human beings equal in dignity:
pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit
and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter, dialogue, justice and peace.
Move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world,
a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war.
May our hearts be open
to all the peoples and nations of the earth.
May we recognize the goodness and beauty
that you have sown in each of us,
and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects,
and shared dreams. Amen.