Hello!
It is quite possibly the first word you will learn in any given language, arguably the most important.
A good, simple “hello” has the universal power to connect one person to another. It can break down barriers, build bridges, inspire action. The proper introduction is key. First impressions are long-lasting.
Our world is founded upon appearances. No matter what, you cannot escape how you look, how you appear to others.
As old as time itself, people have been treated according to the colour of their skin, the shape of their eyes, the way their bodies mould to the clothes on their backs. Even today.
I am Asian, and I look Asian. From a glance, few know what kind of Asian I am. (Feel free to guess!)
Last week, my partner and I were walking down the boardwalk towards Nobby’s Lighthouse in Newcastle (a beautiful coastal town in Australia, around 2 hours north of Sydney) when an older man passed by on a bicycle. “Ni Hao,” he pronounced as he pedalled ahead, his voice swallowed at once by the crashing of waves.
Affronted, I discussed with my partner the issue of (usually) white people casually throwing out the Chinese greeting of “ni hao” to every Asian-looking person. It is an act of passive-aggression, intimidation, ignorance. A reminder of our “other-ness”.
He agreed with me but told me that he takes no offence. Some people simply do not know any better. You cannot change how others act, but you can control your reaction. We all get to choose how we feel about these sorts of things.
In a surprising turn of events, the man stopped to talk to us on his way back. It turned out that he was a lover of languages and self-taught in Chinese. My partner is currently learning, so they talked about the local area in Mandarin. (Dolphin in Mandarin is “hai tún”)
Sometimes first impressions are all we get. It’s why we need the right words and delivery that hit home. But sometimes, sometimes we get another chance to start anew. Sometimes we are surprised by what happens when we try again.