Between Two Worlds: A Bolivian in Shanghai

I got to know Celeste as a family friend. My father and she were classmates in university, and we played football together. In our conversations, we would jump from Chinese to English, and occasionally Spanish, her native language.

As a Bolivian living thousands of miles from home, Celeste truly embodied how diversity isn’t just a word, but the experience of learning, adapting, and growing in a place that is foreign yet somehow familiar.

“Cultural diversity,” she explained in fluent Chinese, “means the coexistence and mutual respect among different ways of living, thinking, and valuing.”

She smiled when describing traditional Chinese festivals, the importance of family and cuisine on those occasions. “What fascinates me is how Chinese people can keep their traditions alive while moving so fast into the future,” she says. Years in China have shown her that a society can preserve its cultural identity while still embracing modernity and global influences.

Working Across Cultures

As a diplomat, Celeste explained that working in a multicultural environment in Shanghai has been both enriching and challenging.

“In my office, I noticed Chinese colleagues are very focused on their work. They don’t chat much, and even if they need help, they often send a message instead of asking directly.”

Coming from Latin America, where people are naturally open and expressive, this was an accomodation. But it taught her something valuable: small gestures — a greeting, a short conversation — can change the atmosphere of a workplace. “Working with people from different cultures taught me empathy and flexibility,” she said. “You learn to understand others before expecting them to understand you.”

From her perspective, the biggest challenge in multicultural life is not language barriers, but rather understanding different ways of thinking.

“In Bolivia, we’re used to expressing opinions directly. But in China, communication tends to be more indirect. Sometimes, what seems polite to one person might feel cold to another.”

She chuckled when recalling another cultural difference — punctuality. “In Latin America, people might arrive late, and it’s normal. In China, that would be unthinkable! I learned to respect time in a completely new way.”

Contrasting Childhoods

Among all the cultural contrasts, the difference in Chinese and Bolivian childhoods struck her deeply.

“In China, children start structured education very young. They work hard and achieve a lot, but sometimes they don’t have much time to mess around and have fun.” She paused, “In my country, childhood is freer. Kids can explore, get dirty, and spend family time.”

She emphasized that neither way is wrong — but balance matters. “Discipline and learning are important, but so are love and laughter. Children need both to prosper.”

Moments of collision

Besides the minute differences, other aspects of cultural clashes sometimes led to more awkward situations.

Once, in a meeting, her Chinese supervisor presented a new project plan and asked for opinions. “I said right away that I thought the plan wouldn’t work and pointed out some mistakes.” The room fell silent. Her boss looked displeased.

“In Latin culture, being honest is a sign of respect. But here, it can make someone ‘lose face’ (or look bad).”

Later, colleagues explained that feedback in China is usually given privately or indirectly. Since then, she has learned to phrase her ideas more gently, using phrases like “maybe we can try another approach,” or “perhaps we could adjust this part.”

“I learned that respect looks different in every culture,” she reflected, “but the intention is the same.”

Keeping Culture Alive in a Global World

In the age of globalization, Celeste worries that “When everyone imitates the same trends, we risk losing who we are.”

For her, preserving culture begins with education: teaching history, local languages, and traditions.

Clearly defining the fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation is also vital to cultural preservation in the era of internationalism.

“Appreciation means understanding and honoring another culture. Appropriation is using it without respect — treating it like decoration,” she explained. “When we borrow from another culture, we should do it with empathy, not ego.”

“Respecting other cultures,” she added, “doesn’t mean forgetting your own.”

Outside the window, the sun dipped behind the skyline - a fusion of East and West. She smiled, watching people hurry past in dozens of languages and styles.

“In Shanghai,” she said softly, “I learned that diversity isn’t about blending cultures until they look the same. It’s about learning to stand together — different, but in harmony.”