Blog Post

We live in an age shaped by uncertainty and growing distrust, not only towards institutions, governments, and the media, but increasingly towards one another. Philosopher Victoria Camps reminds us that trust is the glue of democratic life, yet today it’s a resource in crisis.  In parallel, we’re witnessing the rise of artificial intelligence and automated thinking, and while this technology brings speed, it challenges our sense of reality and often removes the space for critical thinking, quality reflection, and genuine human connection. 

When we no longer know what is real,  our instinct is to protect ourselves, and resist the unfamiliar. This fear shows up in the rise of polarised discourse, blaming  minorities, in cultural isolation, and in the idea that difference is something to be managed, or even feared,  rather than explored. 

But what if we turned towards that difference instead?
What if, instead of hiding behind borders (visible or invisible), we leaned into cultural encounters as opportunities to think, feel, and connect differently?

Interculturality as a Response to the Society of Fear?

Humans tend to make assumptions about ideologies, habits, and opinions based on our own cultural context, assuming it to be the correct context and questioning the context of others. At Travelling U, we believe understanding others isn’t about knowing more,  it’s about seeing differently. 

Before every journey, our students explore the beliefs, cultures, and worldviews of the places they’ll visit. This isn’t just preparation, it’s a mindset shift. We say: go far to see close, because true learning happens when we step outside our comfort zones and return with a softer gaze and a clearer sense of what matters. One student shared how  the cultural gaps felt overwhelming, it’s not about where you’re from, it’s about what we share, fear, dreams, joy.”

At LEINN International, for example, we experience firsthand how culture shapes the behaviour of our colleagues: a Korean, a South African, a Spaniard, an American, a Chinese… each brings different rhythms, but by analysing and understanding those differences, we build relationships based on empathy and respect. 

Something magical happens. Borders fade. 

And we realise that joy, fear, and uncertainty are universal. We’re far more alike than we think. As human beings we have needs such as the sense of belonging, curiosity, purpose, fear and joy, keeping aside surface cultural differences. 

In a time when AI can answer instantly, what truly transforms us is presence: feeling awkward, getting it wrong, learning together.

Interculturality teaches us to listen without judgement, to care without conditions. It doesn’t just show us the world, it shows us ourselves. And that is a deeply human advantage.

It’s definitely something AI cannot transfer to you. It starts with curiosity and grows through discomfort. When we first approach another culture, what we see is often just the tip of the iceberg:  the language, the food, the traditions. We notice what’s different. We might even call it “exotic.” But true culture runs much deeper. 

It’s only through immersive experiences, those that go beyond the surface of tourism, that we begin to see the values, the beliefs, and the worldviews that shape behaviour underneath.

To develop intercultural competence, you don’t just need knowledge, you need experience. 

You need to live the discomfort.

At first, you often arrive with stereotypes. You carry fear, uncertainty, and assumptions. You face a period of adaptation where you may feel disconnected, confused, or misunderstood.

This is culture shock, and it’s natural.

Most of us grow up believing that our way is the best way. That we cook better, think better, solve better.
When you enter another culture, your ego gets challenged. You feel vulnerable. Out of place. You realise: maybe the “right way” is relative. That’s the moment growth begins.

After all, culture is just a set of social rules we’ve learned to function in a shared space. When you step into a new culture, the “common sense” you’ve always relied on… stops being common.

And that’s when something shifts.

You begin to compare:
“In my country, we do it this way… Here, they do it differently. Why?”
You start asking yourself:
“Is my way the best way? Or just one way?”

This is where critical thinking begins. And where intercultural learning takes root.

Now imagine this happening in an entrepreneurial team like in LEINN International, where students have to adapt not just to the culture, but also to local business realities. They might work on:

• Helping a company adapt its product to a new market
• Reworking their own project to fit local needs
• Navigating client relationships with a completely different communication style

We’ve seen the same learning in action with senior leaders during our Learning Expeditions. Many realise how essential it is for international companies to:

• Adapt not only their branding, colours or product names
• But also how their local teams communicate and collaborate

We’ve witnessed companies where the local branch felt disconnected from HQ, where the absence of shared cultural understanding led to misalignment and frustration. And we’ve seen how transformational it is to have people who understand both sides, people who can build bridges and help a brand not just enter a market, but belong in it.

As Erin Meyer shows in The Culture Map, cultures vary across multiple spectrums, how we lead, communicate, decide, or give feedback.
But here’s the catch: these spectrums don’t just belong to cultures, they belong to people.

You might start off more “low-context,” and become more “high-context” after living in Asia.
You might shift how you communicate or lead based on what you’ve learned elsewhere.
Intercultural experience doesn’t just help you understand others, it reshapes you.

Many youngsters and adults who live and work internationally become Third Culture Adults, developing fluid identities across borders. 

It’s a lot like learning a new language.
You don’t just gain vocabulary.
You gain a new way of seeing and being.

The impact of immersive intercultural experiences goes far beyond the professional or academic, it touches your sense of self and transforms your identity. 

In our programmes, we’ve seen moments of deep connection:
A local student helping an international peer adjust.
And later, that same international student offered support to someone else, now knowing exactly what that discomfort feels like.

In these moments, empathy becomes shared. And cultures stop being parallel lines they intersect.

That’s where real intercultural learning happens.
Not in theory. Not in books.
But in human connection and experiences. 

And it doesn’t stop. This is not a checkbox skill, it’s a lifelong process.

In Travelling U we stand for teaching cooperation beyond coexistence. It is fundamental that the next generations are prepared to work across borders and adapt rapidly to changes in the international landscape. 

In order to do this, they need to experience managing uncertainty in different environments first-hand. Through our international programs, they learn these skills thanks to a two step approach:

First, they are taught the theoretical aspects of cultural norms, business practices, and different perspectives around the world. Secondly, they experience this reality in real life through cultural immersion and real world problem solving in several countries, which shapes them into adaptable and resolutive individuals with a unique skill set. 

Therefore, they are set to not only become professionals with a global worldview, but also committed citizens that want to change the world into a better place.