Watching foreign films, TV shows, and reading books from other cultures is a way to train, expand and broaden our cultural intelligence. Some years ago, I found myself reflecting on the transformative power of foreign narratives. Having spent much of my life traveling, living, and studying in diverse countries, I’ve always been drawn to the rich tapestry of human culture. My career, particularly my work with immigrants, refugees, and expats, has deepened this connection.

Let’s say it honestly: university lecturers hold a profoundly important role in shaping not only knowledge, but also human development, intellectual confidence, and the quality of how people learn to engage with complexity and difference. Although many academics enter universities primarily as researchers, specialists, and creators of knowledge, teaching still carries a deeply human responsibility. Let's explore this a little deeper.

Picture Alexandria in its golden age; a bustling port city where ships from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Levant docked daily. The harbour was a mosaic of cultures: Phoenician traders unloading amphorae of wine, Egyptian farmers selling grain by the sack, Greek philosophers deep in debate under the colonnades. In a place like Alexandria, empathy was profitable. Traders who could anticipate the needs, customs, and sensitivities of foreign merchants thrived.

In an age of fast-paced digital consumption and curated perfection, there are rare artists who touch something deeper. Someone, who remind us of the raw, unfiltered beauty of life itself. Jonna Jinton is one such artist. A Swedish creative powerhouse, she has captured hearts across the globe through an unwavering commitment to authenticity, cultural honesty, and an artistic dance with her heritage that is as real as the northern winds that sweep through her village.

Once upon a time, in a tiny kitchen, in the heart of Paris, a woman named Rachel Khoo, opened a jar of mustard, stirred up a sauce, and with a flick of her red lips and a glint in her eye, inspired a creative revolution. Not just in her viewers’ kitchens, but in their hearts. I was one of them! And I have been a huge fan of Rachel Khoo ever since. So, I bought duck. I zested oranges. I baked cakes with names I couldn’t pronounce. And I cooked for the people I love.

Stories are the threads that weave the fabric of our identities. They shape our understanding of the world, our place within it, and ...