COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES

In my family diversity in terms of ethnicity and class are very evident and therefore, I find myself behaving differently around different family members. My family is not only mixed in terms of ethnicity but mixed nationally and culturally. I found myself wearing different masks at a funeral service and repass for my mom’s cousin. My mom’s cousin who was part Indian, part Negro and part white (Mulatto) married to a Chinese man; therefore, the children looked more like Chinese. I had family members visiting from Canada, England and the USA. I simply did not know how to connect or communicate with her children. I don’t know if growing up in the United States had any thing to do with how they reacted to their Jamaican cousins but I guess it came as a shock when they realized that they had relatives who looked nothing like them. I found my Chinese cousins really reserved and I maybe the reason for this, is we really did not know each other until the day of their mother’s funeral or it could be the fact that it was a sad occasion and so they were mourning. I found myself behaving reserve and solemn around them yet when I saw my Jamaican cousins my personality completely changed. I laughed and made informal conversations and gestures with these cousins. I also behave differently around my Aunts and grandparents. I spoke strictly the Queen of England English and behaved as if I am well cultured. I teach my children to do the same and my husband who does not believe in changing the masks (he thinks it is hypocritical) notices that my son has adopted this attitude. He said he notices that our son speaks perfect English when he finds himself in a certain company but when he is in another setting he uses the creole Language. Based on what I have learned about communication this week, three strategies that I would employ for more effective communication among persons that are diverse are (1) I would keep it very simple and specific. When we keep it simple and specific there will be less ambiguity in our messages. (2) Get to know the persons who are of different culture and ethnicity. This is very important because it is good that we are familiar with each person’s culture, especially when it relates to foods, religion and even customs that involve touching. (3) Put aside preconceived ideas and assumptions. I believe we all might have some preconceived ideas about persons we know nothing about or what might be portrayed through the media. For example, many persons in developed countries still think that persons living in the developing countries live in trees and caves and run around naked.