Cross Cultural Communication 2

"Did you already eat?" I asked in his dialect from the doorway.

The Asian man turned from his computer and looked at me funny. "Did I what?" He responded in his dialect.

"Did you want some more to eat?"

"Did I WHAT?" He said looking mildly condecending and yet utterly confused.

I sighed. "Uh, didyah eat yet?!" I said in English with my American accent. It took a minute for this to sink in. He interpreted my previous phrases (which were apparantly incorrect.) corrected the grammar, and then laughed.

"Oh, no, I'm fine."

Wow, the simplest question can be misinterpreted according to Grammar, tone and pitch of your voice, and mix up of actual words. Plus problems in cultural differences. Maybe I shouldn't have been asking if he had eaten yet. Maybe I should have just given him another bowl and said "eat, eat, eat." a common phrase in Chinese. Who knows. Hopefully will be an easier way to communicate after I have lived in their country for some time!

Interpersonal Communications in America

Well, I'm starting to realize how much I.P. communications effect my everyday life. During conversations with internationals I'm very aware of cultural differences in the conversations and am careful to avoid cultural taboos. In American society is where I'm finding a problem with my communication skills.

Take for example in class this last period: I didn't like the personality test and rather blatantly, I said so. Hum, this did not make me a fan of fellow students. Some of them reacted negatively towards my honesty, some mildly annoyed and a strange feeling of "why can't you just blend in" sort of hit me. Then I shook it off. I resolved to find a nicer and more informative way to start saying things. (I am truly sorry for those I offended, though, I did not intend to hurt you all)

I felt rather strongly about this test because I have invested so much time and energy analyzing myself and others reactions toward me. I know a lot of my strengths, as well as weaknesses. I have identified them and ran towards mending the gaps. You see, I have Learning Disabilities. This affects my interpersonal communications in ways most people don't realize. Because I have a God given confidence, (and speak several languages, as well as love performing in plays and stuff) many people assume I'm just a normal kid with above average communication skills.

I'm not some normal kid. I failed math several times over and even now have an intense hatred toward the subject. I mess up a lot in communication because the facts get scrambled in my head and I hit a wall. I get frustrated easily if something doesn't fit in my ideas of things. God continues to work in my heart as well as my mind, but it's a "journey" as they keep saying in chappel. It won't happen all at once.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I hope this class draws us closer to Christ as well as to each other.