【推荐3】Two of the world’s most common species of reef-building corals seem surprisingly able to survive and even cope well with climate change, according to a new study—at least so long as global warming is kept below 2 degrees Celsius, the target set by the Paris Agreement.

The world has so far warmed by 1.1°C. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, is currently in “crisis,” a recently published UN report said. That report warned that some coral reef ecosystems could face irreversible damage if the world warms more than 1.5°C. A 2018 report by the IPCC concluded that at 2ºC or more, 99 percent of all reef-building corals could be lost.

But that’s not what McLachlan and her colleagues observed when they subjected Hawaiian corals to a simulated (模拟) 2ºC world for nearly two years. They found that two common coral species were especially resilient (能复原的) : Two-thirds of those corals survived the simulated future.

To learn more about how both warming and acidification might threat reefs in the future, they collected samples of three common coral species and placed them in tanks where they would be exposed to the same weather as a reef just offshore. They filled a total of 40 tanks with sand, rubble, reef fish, plankton, and other reef features. The idea was to simulate ocean conditions as realistically as possible.

For 22 months, the researchers subjected some corals to 2ºC of warming, some to acidified water, and some to both changes. Overall, of the corals exposed to both conditions, 46 percent of rice coral, 56 percent of lobe coral, and 71 percent of finger coral survived. Many of the corals were even thriving.

“The paper supports what has been observed in Hawaii.” says Ku’ulei Rodgers, a coral expert at the University of Hawaii at Manōa. “However, although it is hopeful that some species will survive this century, unless significant reductions in emissions occur, corals will eventually lose their fight for survival.”

【推荐1】When Mark Twain visited Florence (佛罗伦萨) in 1867, he dutifully visited the city’s museums, churches, and tombs. But as he stood by the Arno, he began to sense the Italians’ insistence that it was a river, not a stream. “They all call it a river, and they honestly think it is a river, do these dark and bloody Florentines,” he complained, “I might enter Florence under happier circumstances a month hence and find it all beautiful, all attractive. But I do not care to think of it now, at all.”

It’s normal to feel uncomfortable outside your home culture. Feelings of discomfort, dislocation, and overload among travelers are referred to by many as “culture shock.” But Susan Goldstein, a professor at the University of Redlands says, “ Though the term has existed for many years, ‘Culture shock’ implies a dramatic, unexpected, negative event. Though many travelers will experience such challenges, a real sense of ‘shock’ is untypical. So untypical that many researchers no longer use the term.”

It was the vivid description of culture shock by Canadian researcher Oberg, written in 1960 in response to his own multicultural experiences, that won over audiences. The researcher spoke of the adjustment process as “an occupational disease of people who have suddenly been transplanted abroad” — a “disease” that progressed from a honeymoon phase, through rejecting the new environment, to finally adjusting fully to it. By the 1970s many researchers adopted the idea that, like physical illnesses, culture shock progressed through a remarkably consistent and universal set of stages.

Modern research, however, suggests that the experiences of adaptation are individual, not universal. “People will have their ups and downs, but for the most part, they will become increasingly comfortable and competent over time,” Goldstein says. And while many connect the causes of culture shock to the host culture itself, an individual’s internal expectations and differences are just as important.

As for Mark Twain, the moody author was able to ride out his feelings of upset and dislocation while traveling. He eventually finished out his European tour - and in his bestselling travel memoir The Innocents Abroad, famously remarked that travel is “fatal to prejudice and narrow-mindedness.” With the right attitude - and the willingness to seek help if you need it - it’s more than likely that you, too, can adapt and grow in new settings, building new memories-and toughness - with each new stamp in your passport.

【推荐2】Professor Zhu Yunxia, an award-winning researcher and educator at the University of Queensland and has an international reputation in cross-cultural management and strategy, believes that anyone can learn to overcome cultural barriers with the right approach. She offers the following suggestions.

Be prepared for surprises.

One country might contain different cultures—China, for example, is composed of 56 ethnic groups—and within these, people may act in different ways in different contexts and with different groups of people.     1    

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While speaking the language is not necessary to understand the culture, it is important to know basic greetings and courtesies (客气话) for social interaction such as “hello” and “thank you”. These everyday phrases and rituals (礼节) are entry points which allow you to access the culture. People will also appreciate that you have made the effort.

Learn to “make strange”.

In day-to-day life, we tend to take many of our own customs and behaviors for granted without recognizing that these might appear odd from others’ point of view.     3       

Use a “cultural bridge”.

The customs of another culture can be too strange or too foreign to understand.     4     “Cultural bridges” are people whose knowledge enriches our own and who can help us understand what’s going on. Having arrived as a Chinese student, Dr. Zhu has spent over 20 years in Australia but still sometimes seeks a second opinion from her daughter who was brought up here and occasionally calls up old friends for advice in China.

Don’t focus on yourself.

    5     Instead of giving in to thoughts such as “I’m a stranger in a foreign land” or “Nobody talks to me”, try to forget yourself and focus on others. By taking a more positive approach, you can even find ways to use cultural differences to your advantage.

Six months ago, 19-year-old Xie Lei said goodbye to her family and friends and boarded a plane for London. It was the first time that she had left China.

Xie Lei is studying for a business qualification at a university in China and has come to our university on a year-long exchange programme. “I chose the exchange programme because I wanted to learn about global business and improve my English. My ambition is to set up a business in China after graduation,” she explained.

At first, Xie Lei had to adapt to life in a different country. “You have to get used to a whole new life,” she said. “I had to learn how to use public transport and how to ask for things I didn’t know the English names for. When I got lost, I had to ask passers-by for help, but people here speak fast and use words I’m not familiar with. I ask them to repeat themselves a lot!”

Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family who can help with her adaptation to the new culture. “When I miss home, I feel comforted to have a second family,” Xie Lei said. “When there’s something I don’t know or understand, I ask them. They are also keen to learn about China. Laura, the daughter of my host family, wants to study in China in the future. We take turns to cook each evening. They really love my stir-fried tomatoes and eggs! Laura says she always feels hungry when she smells it, so I taught her how to cook it, too!”

Another challenge for Xie Lie is the academic requirements. The first time that she had to write an essay, her tutor explained that she must acknowledge what other people had said if she cited their ideas, but that he mainly wanted to know what she thought! Xie Lei was confused because she thought she knew less than other people. Her tutor advised her to read a lot of information in order to form a wise opinion of her own.

Xie Lei also found many courses included students’ participation in class as part of the final result. Students need to generate ideas, offer examples, apply concepts, and raise questions, as well as give presentations. At first, Xie Lei had no idea what she should say but what surprised her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks. “My presentation on traditional Chinese art was a great success, which boosted my confidence,” she said, “I’ll use these skills back home for presentation. They’ll help me build a strong business in the future”.

Now halfway through her exchange year, Xie Lei feels much more at home in the UK. What seemed strange before now appears quite normal to her.” Engaging in British culture has helped,” she said. “As well as studying hard, I’ve been involved in social activities. British people are fascinated by our culture and eager to learn more about it, so I’m keen to share my culture with them. While I’m learning about business, I’m also acting as a cultural messenger building a bridge between us.”

We will follow Xie Lei’s progress in later editions, but for now, we wish her all the best.