The Art of Quick Adaptation Across Cultures | Phimphiroon Boonchat | TEDxAssumptionU
In a place where nothing felt familiar, she found strength in staying open and grounded in who she was. That’s how she adapted, grew, and eventually found a sense of home. Phimphiroon is a university student who shares her journey of learning a non-native (third) language — Spanish — and adapting to a new culture under pressure and time constraints.Her story draws from studying abroad in two very different environments: New Zealand, where English was spoken and life felt manageable, and Argentina, where language and cultural barriers pushed her far beyond her comfort zone.In Argentina, she struggled with miscommunication and feelings of isolation, as no one at her school spoke English. But within just one month, she began speaking Spanish fluently — a breakthrough that didn’t just improve her language skills, but also strengthened her mental resilience and adaptability. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 14:31Lutos Corporativos | Mariana Clark | TEDxBlumenauCorporate grief is when we push our pain under the meeting room tables. Corporate grief is when we hide our anguish behind online cameras or demand performance at any cost — even with our hearts in pieces. How can we bring Care to the center of workplace relationships? Psychologist, Speaker, Writer, and Suicidologist, with an MBA in Human Resources Management. She is trained in Positive Psychology and specializes in Loss, Grief, and Mental Health in the organizational context. A columnist for Valor Econômico (Career on the Couch) and Mental Health Mentor at Top2You, her mission is to bring Care to the center of workplace relationships through processes of support, emotional literacy, training, and the promotion of existential health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:34Dar Nome à Branquitude: Não Há Planeta Saudável sem Justiça Racial | Thales Vieira | TEDxBlumenauWhiteness has a hidden face that few dare to name. In this impactful talk, Thales Vieira, co-founder of the Whiteness Observatory, draws on the teachings of the wise quilombola elder Nego Bispo to reveal how cosmophobia — the fear of the cosmos and of diversity — fuels both racism and environmental destruction.An urgent reflection that connects the anti-racist struggle to the ecological crisis, showing that there can be no healthy planet as long as modern-day slave quarters exist. Vieira invites us to a revolution of perception, uncovering the colonial structures that turn lives and territories into disposable “resources.”Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about humanity, nature, and privilege. Thales Vieira is an anthropologist (UFF) and social scientist (PUC-Rio). A PhD candidate in Social Sciences at PUC-Rio, he is the founder and co-director of the Whiteness Observatory. He has worked in public administration, in international organizations such as the IDB and UN-Habitat, and in foundations such as the Instituto Unibanco and Instituto Ibirapitanga. He is a specialist in critical whiteness studies and race relations. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
