If you haven't expereiced these 10 things in life, you're not as cultured as you think you are

We need to talk about something that might sting a little.

I used to think I was pretty cultured. I'd read some books, traveled to a few countries, tried sushi once or twice. You know, the basics. Then I moved to Vietnam and realized I'd been living in a comfortable bubble my entire life.

Real culture isn't about checking boxes or collecting passport stamps. It's about those transformative experiences that shake you awake and make you question everything you thought you knew about the world and your place in it.

After years of living abroad, diving deep into Eastern philosophy, and having my worldview turned upside down more times than I can count, I've realized there are certain experiences that fundamentally change how you see life.

If you haven't had these ten experiences yet, you might not be as cultured as you think. And that's okay. Consider this your invitation to step outside your comfort zone.

1. Living somewhere where you don't speak the language

When I first landed in Saigon, I couldn't order a coffee without using hand gestures and my phone's translation app. It was humbling, frustrating, and absolutely necessary for my growth.

There's something profoundly transformative about being linguistically lost. You learn to communicate with smiles, patience, and genuine human connection. You develop empathy for every immigrant you've ever met. You realize how much of your personality is tied to your ability to express yourself, and you learn to rebuild it from scratch.

Living where you don't speak the language forces you to be present, to pay attention to non-verbal cues, and to approach every interaction with humility. It's exhausting, but it's also one of the fastest ways to grow as a person.

2. Reading philosophy that challenges your worldview

Remember being a teenager and thinking you had life figured out? I found a book on Eastern philosophy at my local library that completely shattered that illusion.

Whether it's Stoicism, Buddhism, existentialism, or any philosophical tradition outside your cultural norm, engaging with ideas that challenge your fundamental assumptions about reality is essential for intellectual growth.

In my book "Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego", I explore how Buddhist philosophy can radically shift your perspective on success, happiness, and what it means to live well. But it's not about becoming Buddhist. It's about exposing yourself to different ways of thinking that have guided billions of people throughout history.

Check it out here if you're curious about starting that journey.

3. Having a meal with a family from a completely different culture

Vietnamese families taught me that meals aren't just about food. They're about connection, storytelling, and showing love through the simple act of sharing.

Sitting on tiny plastic stools, eating unfamiliar dishes, trying to navigate chopsticks while everyone laughs at your technique - these moments teach you more about a culture than any museum or guidebook ever could.

You learn that hospitality looks different everywhere but feels the same. You discover that your way of eating, gathering, and connecting isn't the only way or even necessarily the best way. You realize that culture lives in kitchens and around dinner tables, not in tourist attractions.

4. Getting completely lost without technology

Before smartphones, getting lost was a rite of passage. Now it's almost impossible, which means we're missing out on one of life's great teachers.

The last time I intentionally left my phone behind and got lost in Saigon's maze of alleyways, I discovered a hidden Buddhist temple, made friends with a street vendor who didn't speak a word of English, and learned that sometimes the best experiences come from having no plan at all.

Getting lost teaches you to trust strangers, to problem-solve creatively, and to embrace uncertainty. It reminds you that not everything needs to be documented or shared. Sometimes the best moments are the ones only you will remember.

5. Experiencing genuine poverty (yours or witnessing others')

This one's uncomfortable, but necessary.

Whether you've lived through financial hardship yourself or witnessed it up close in developing countries, understanding poverty changes your relationship with money, privilege, and what actually matters in life.

Seeing families in Vietnam living happily with almost nothing material challenged every assumption I had about what's necessary for a good life. It's not poverty tourism I'm talking about - it's genuine understanding that most of the world lives with far less than what we consider basic necessities.

This experience teaches gratitude, perspective, and the difference between wants and needs. It makes you question consumer culture and appreciate every small luxury you once took for granted.

6. Learning a craft or skill from a master

In our age of YouTube tutorials and online courses, we've lost something precious: the experience of learning directly from someone who's dedicated their life to mastering a craft.

Whether it's learning to cook from a grandmother, studying martial arts from a traditional teacher, or apprenticing with a craftsperson, this slow, patient transfer of knowledge teaches you about dedication, tradition, and the value of expertise.

The emphasis in Eastern philosophy on the master-student relationship isn't just about skill transfer. It's about humility, patience, and understanding that true mastery takes decades, not weeks.

You can explore these concepts more deeply in "Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego", where I dive into the Buddhist approach to learning and growth.

7. Falling in love with someone from a different culture

When I met my Vietnamese wife, I thought I understood cross-cultural relationships. I had no idea how much I had to learn.

Love across cultures forces you to examine every assumption you have about relationships, family, communication, and life goals. You learn that your way of expressing love might be completely foreign to someone else. You discover that concepts like independence, family obligation, and future planning mean vastly different things in different cultures.

This experience teaches you to communicate beyond words, to question your cultural programming, and to build something new together that honors both of your backgrounds.

8. Facing your mortality

Whether through illness, a near-death experience, or simply sitting with someone as they pass, confronting death changes everything.

Buddhist philosophy teaches that contemplating death isn't morbid - it's essential for appreciating life. When you truly understand that your time is limited, every priority shifts. The petty concerns fall away. What matters becomes crystal clear.

You don't need to have a near-death experience to gain this perspective, but you do need to stop avoiding the topic. Visit hospices, attend funerals, have real conversations about death. It's uncomfortable, but it's one of the most important experiences for developing depth and wisdom.

9. Creating something and sharing it publicly

Have you ever put your creative work out into the world for judgment? Written something, performed, painted, built something, and then shared it publicly?

This vulnerability is terrifying and essential. It teaches you about courage, criticism, and the difference between creating for others versus creating for yourself. It shows you that perfectionism is a cage and that connection matters more than perfection.

Starting Hack Spirit was one of the scariest things I've ever done. Putting my thoughts and ideas out there for anyone to judge taught me more about myself and human nature than years of private journaling ever could.

10. Experiencing true silence and solitude

When was the last time you experienced complete silence? No phone, no music, no podcasts, no people. Just you and your thoughts.

Most people today have never experienced true solitude. We're constantly connected, constantly stimulated, constantly avoiding ourselves. But in silence and solitude, you meet yourself fully - the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable.

This experience teaches you about your own mind, your patterns, your fears. It shows you who you are when you strip away all the distractions and external validation. It's where real self-knowledge begins.

Final words

Culture isn't about knowing which fork to use or being able to name-drop French philosophers at dinner parties.

Real culture comes from experiences that crack you open and rebuild you. It comes from discomfort, vulnerability, and the willingness to question everything you thought you knew.

These ten experiences aren't just items for your bucket list. They're invitations to become more human, more connected, and more aware of the beautiful complexity of life on this planet.

You don't need to experience all of them tomorrow. But if you haven't had most of them yet, maybe it's time to step outside your comfort zone.

After all, the most interesting people aren't the ones who know the most facts. They're the ones who've lived the most experiences and allowed those experiences to transform them.

Which one will you pursue first?