Ancestry, particularly in this generation with all the mixed backgrounds, is a fascinating topic and it's always intriguing to know about where someone comes from. It's also interesting and highly beneficial to learn about these different cultures because we're constantly surrounded by them-meaning it's not only efficient when you want to get around on an overseas trip when you learn about different cultures, but you'll easily obtain things such as more engaging friendships, one-way tickets to impressing anyone you want or the pleasure of being passed down special wisdom from a different culture. And shouldn't the easiest and best way of doing this be surrounding yourself with friends with varied backgrounds? Not only is this effortless, but it's something you'd actually aim to do, especially in these days where friends from all different places are becoming more accessible. I mean, it's such a disadvantage-less option that by the end of this you'll be wanting more friends from different cultures before you know it!
One huge bonus of having a diverse friend group is that it also automatically translates into a well-connected, interesting friend group. Don't believe me? It's good to have someone with the same background as you, so you can relate together and understand each other when talking about things from your culture, but it's also fun when you can learn about others-and compare the differences, or even find some similarities! I can even provide my own personal example. I have a few Chinese friends, and while the foods we eat or the television shows from our countries may be different, it's always fun to learn about them and try them out, and do things such as exchange fried rice or talk about the Lunar New Year festivities together! Conversation topics are endless and enthralling with friends from various backgrounds, and you can even celebrate some new holidays, enjoy more cuisines or play some games from different countries together. It's also touching when a friend of yours understands and respects a part of your culture when they're not from the same background, I'm sure you'll agree. So you may think different cultures divides people, but in the end they actually bring us closer together.
It's also efficient in daily life to have friends with mixed backgrounds. Say you needed to work in a foreign country, or your job involved speaking to a lot of people from an unfamiliar culture. Having a friend to help you understand how their culture works is a big help in both situations, and is much more reliable than Googling it or looking through a textbook. This even applies to leisure-you may be travelling, and all sorts of tasks from ordering food to using toilets can be a struggle if you don't know how to do it the way a local does! Not only this, but having extra knowledge is handy when you want to earn someone's respect or impress someone. It's a good way to start a friendship, as mentioned before, but having someone from a different culture talk about food from your cuisine that they've tried, relate to you through their friend who shares the same background as you, or understand an unique part of your culture is a surefire way to earn your respect too. You'd be flattered, wouldn't you? Then so would people's parents, a new boss or a love interest. This means you'll not only get what you want, but further develop your social skills and be an immediate favourite. It's that simple!
However, it's not just street smarts that benefits from diverse friends. You can even find yourself gaining important knowledge, whether it be scientific or societal. Wisdom from different cultures, such as old sayings in another language or skills taught within a culture can be shared with your friends. All sorts of things from crucial scientific inventions to painting skills have been passed on throughout history thanks to friends of different backgrounds sharing ancient recipes, or artists from two different countries sharing styles. I've learnt and taught other people a few words from Vietnamese to Chinese to Korean thanks to my friends, even if I'm not from some of those places! (And as you might know already, language learning benefits your cognitive skills massively) It's not all fun and games, though. Being surrounded by friends with different views and who have grown up in different conditions teaches us to be less prejudiced-if we know someone on a personal level, it's easier to sympathise with them or something that people of their culture are going through. People are far less likely to stereotype or judge others of a certain background if they have a friend who is from the same one. It's because of this that people have become so much more sympathetic over the course of history, and it's helped develop our society into a more diverse, understanding one. And that can be one of the most powerful things about friendship.
So next time you meet someone new or hang out with a group of friends, try asking them where they come from and about their culture! Not only is it great to see them get engrossed in talking about something they're likely to be passionate about, but as you have seen you'll never know where it may lead you. Inquire about a regional dish, or compliment a piece of clothing that connects to their background. Since their background is literally a part of them, they'll at least have something to say about it. Think of all the possibilities-this one day could help you get your dream job, impress an in-law or completely change your view on a political topic. Turns out having friends with different backgrounds really does take you places!
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