Globalization

Globalization, globalization, globalization. Sometimes thats all we hear in the media these days. The text book definition of globalization is to bring to another part of the world; to make global. If you think about that for a second you can easily see how this is in our everyday lives. For instance, branding plays a part in this too, such as McDonalds, Disney, and Nike are all represented world wide, these companies have become a product of globalization. It's not only products that can become global, some services can also become global, like T mobile customer service centers. Within the last decade the US had figured out that by outsourcing jobs to other countries will allow them to save money because they can pay them less than they could legally in the states. This alone brings problems to Americans, many lost their jobs when big companies started outsourcing. While outsourcing isn't all bad, it does offer opportunities for people living in less developed countries. And to take it to another level, it helps bring communities together even when there are thousands of miles between them. It allows us to learn more about cultures that we otherwise wouldn't have a clue about. Through globalization it allows us to be closer to everything. Just think how far we have come? Think back before the Internet, before every phone service offered international calling. If you can't see the difference from then to now...I need to talk to you about that rock you've been living under.

Attention all Americans....

After reading an article entitled Creative Democracy and Diversity in the United States, I found myself at an epiphany moment. The article goes on to explain some things that Americans like myself have not realized before. The US has been known for democracy and diversity, or so we thought. The definition of democracy means the people to rule, the definition of diversity is the make up of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. In the US we have gone through great lengths to have a democratic society, that not one person or one group has the right to rule, that's why we have systems like checks and balances; to insure not one party or group has to much power. Most of us believe that we have full control of what goes on in our society because of the system in place, and that it's fair to everyone. After all we do have a lot of other cultures in the US, right? It is true that we have a highly diverse community but it's also true that many of these voices from different cultures aren't heard. If these other cultures aren't fully represented then we truly don't have a democratic society. Throughout the article it highlights these claims through the first portion of the paper.
The second part of the paper some what pats America on it's head and says good job, but goes on to point out numerous flaws. Living in the US is something to be proud of, we have a lot going on for us that other countries don't but we still aren't living up to our full capability. As a citizen it is our responsibility to keep up with current events and have knowledge of what is going on right before our noses. However I've notice and this article points out that Americans are doing exactly the opposite. We are electing people that we hope are doing their job and doing what we want them to do. We have forgotten what the Declaration of Independence stated way back when: that as citizens we have the right to change or over throw our government when it's not working or has taken a bad turn. We have a responsibility to look out for one another, to not be taken over by manipulation and greed. For the most part it doesn't play out like that though. As Americans were lacking, end of story. We live in the greatest nation of the world and we are abusing it, not reciprocating and upholding what it stands for as a whole. As individuals we have to step it up and play our part.
This article showed some true colors that many Americans might have been aware of but try to push under the rug. I urge you and others to pay attention to the news, our elected officials and to be skeptical of everything. Once we reevaluate ourselves we can start making changes.
Overall this article was a wake up call, or should at least be treated as such. All the things this article talks about is what we consider general information but in reality, it shows us were we have gone wrong as a society. We have a great system in place but we don't use it to it's full potential. The problem lies with us-the individual.

Jesus is my homeboy

Beliefs, everyone has them. Religion is sometimes something we are born into or eventually find on our own in later years. I however was the exception to the rule. I was raised in a environment that I was exposed to multiple religions at a young age. Both of my parents had been forced into chrisianity as a child and in return despised it. They offered to take me to church if I wanted but they wouldn't go in with me. My mother thought it best to place me in a international school, which was great. We had students from everywhere, Russia, Ukraine, Basia, Nigeria, Japan, and the list goes on.

While I loved this experience I also questioned which one was right? Some of them were so different that there wasn't even any middle ground. Take the art of Zen for instance, meditation. They don't believe in a higher power, just if you can clear your mind the answer will come to you. Another would be Christianity which is the following of Jesus Christ who actually was Jewish. Some worship multiple people, others just one and some ideas and concepts.

What is the right answer?

Most religions do have one thing in common, they believe there is something out there. Whether it be a higher power, mother nature, a philosophy, etc. everyone believes in something. Even not believing is a form of believe.

Religion is one of the most complicated discussions since the beginning of time and will continue to be until the end of time.

The Art of being Polite

Being polite was something I remember my parents instilling in me. Pleases and thank yous were just the beginning, as I got older my mother went on to further explain how to speak without offending others. Let alone did I know I would be taking a college class that took this one step further. Apparently Brown and Levinson (1967) developed a theory of positive face and negative face. Positive face is the want to be considered as a desirable human being, negative face is the want to not be imposed on by others. Politeness is the expression of the speakers intention to mitigate face threats carried by certain face threatening acts toward another. There are four types of politeness usage, bold on record, positive face, negative and indirect. Bold on record is normally used with people that know each other fairly well, they aren't worried about hurt the others feelings, they just use it as fact. For instance telling your roommate that it's their turn to mow the lawn and to do it is an example of bold on record.. Positive politeness is used to minimize the potential threat, for instance telling your roommate, 'hey I know you've been busy but could you try to mow the grass soon?'. Negative politeness is just the opposite. Instead of trying to abide by the politeness rules, your rude about it. For instance saying that you need to mow the grass and walking away will cause some problems. The final type is indirectly. Instead of asking the listener for a direct thing, you mention a statement that has implied meaning but literally doesn't ask someone to do something. For instance you would say 'wow the grass really needs to be mowed' in hope of them taking it upon themselves and complying.
By following this types of politeness, we can see the differences in levels of when to use them and when to use others. I would have never have considered the thought that professors had put standard to use politeness, my mother forgot to mention that.

Who are you?

When we were born was our destiny of our identity laid out for us? Was I distended to be the awesome chick that I am?

I have a few different theories, first was I conditioned by my parents to be who I am today? I've always been a really social person, and thinking back as a kid I was always around a group of people it seems so I had to make due. My parents loved fairs and Si-Fi conventions, I was always drug along. By my parents putting me in different social groups at a early age did they condition me to be a social being? On the other hand I could have hated it and not embraced it and carried on with life.
My theory here might be that when we are younger we pick up on habits, traits, and life skills that will shape our identity for us. From the age of toddlers we start picking up things we see around us and adapt. We get to see what we like, what we don't like, etc. and then shape our idenity around our thoughts and opinions.
My second theory would be a genetic base. Is it possible that our traits,likes and dislikes are destined lie in our genes? That we simply get what we get from our parents and that's the end of it. If you look at parents and child you can see the similarities not only physically but mentally as well. (I know this is sometimes a scary thought to grasp) I personally have traits in common with my mother that I wouldn't like to have, such as constant questioning of everything. Sometimes I wish I could let things go and take them for face value.

While I believe in both of these theories, I honestly happen to believe in both. When we are younger we start building our identity with things that are going on around us. The environment that you were raised in as well as your genetic make up will give you a combination that is your identity.

People Watching

I am a people watcher. I love going to a public places and pretend to read a book while I actually watched others interact with each other. I'd go to the park and watch kids play, and their parents try to interact with each other. My most favorite was to grab a meal out on a patio next to a busy walking area. Before you write me off as a creeper, I actually do this for a purpose. My reasoning is I love learning about people and you can learn so much through someone else's behavior that is mainly subconscious.
For instance I caught myself looking at a new couple. All the signs where there, the puppy dog eyes, the dumb smile, the giggly laughter etc. Then I happened to look over again about ten minutes later.... It was obvious that the boy had said something that he shouldn't have, my first thought, that didn't take long. The dynamics of the entire instance had changed. While I was unsure of what said you can see she was pissed. Now how is it that me, an observer sitting 15 feet away out of earshot, could pick up on all this. Likewise many people don't realize that an observer like me, can still pick up on what just happened even though I have no idea what was said. Well boys and girls, it's called nonverbal communication.
Any gesture, motion, hair flick, batting of eyes, the way your arms are position, eye contact, facial expression, etc. everything you do sends a message to the receiving party. Many refer to it as a 'feeling' they had, or they just 'knew'. That really means they picked up on the non verbals of the conversation and they can't place them into words.
Now I pose the question, me watching this couple from a distance and watching for their non verbals, was that an invasion of privacy? Granted I'm not stalking them, didn't take pictures or anything and after all it was in public. I know we have all people watched at one point in our life, but where is that line between innocent watching and invasion of privacy?
Listening in on phone calls, watching through windows and following people is obviously invasion of privacy. Taking pictures, stealing personal items and such all fall under this category but what about watching the non verbals in someone else's argument? Me sitting there and following a dialog through non verbals, was that crossing a line or would it fall under being nosy?
After all it was all out and the open, that makes me wonder if they even cared. I'm sure many don't realize that someone can follow their conversation without actually being in it. I figure in this situation I'm going to rely on what my Grandma told me awhile ago. If you don't want everyone to know, don't do it in public.
I still people watch even though I consider watching to much being an invasion of privacy from time to time.

Caution- Cell Phones Not only Cause Cancer, They Also Cause Language Barriers

We all have 'em. We use them for everything, keeping our dates together, to wake us up in the morning, a source of connection, all of our contacts, music, pictures, email, the Internet, and oh, don't forget the invention of text messages.
Over the last few years the cell phone has become huge, they do everything, give you directions, check facebook, horoscope, bank balance, a million friends to talk to or text, etc. But one of the older aspects of the cell phone, text messages or texting, if you will, impair our communication because so many things are missing by just reading a message.
Text messages were originally set up for quick questions and answers but today it's being way over used, mainly by the Y generation. I'll admit that I am one of them, I text quite frequently, up to 3,000 or 4,000 a month, so glad I have unlimited; tried that a 1,000 a month thing, ended poorly.
Text messages today have in a way taken time away from actual phone time. All my friends and others I have talked to have turned to quick messages verses a phone call. Which is great in a way, it's actually cheaper if you pay for unlimited messages. On the other hand it also causes language barriers.
Messages today are ineffective because many have started using them to communicate much more information that needs other non verbals to communicate the message effectively. I'm not saying that all text messages are not effective, by all means they are great for short quick questions, it's when people resort to text messages to discuss a matter that really needs to be given in person if not the phone. I've watched friends fight with their significant others through text messages across the room. When touchy subjects surface in text messages there is so much room for error.

For an effective message the following helps to convey the message that text messages are lacking:
-Body language, how is the person facing you, arms crossed or open, are they looking at you, can they look you in your eye?
-The Voice- is their tone cold and sarcastic, do they sound truthful, do they sound sincere, any signs of emotion?
-Message- clear and effective? Hidden meanings?

Let's be honest, there are so many times I'm texting friends and aren't sure how to take there response because their answer could be interpreted a million different ways. Were they being sarcastic? Was their a mild undertone? What was their response? But we don't have these types of hints, we only have those stupid :) or ;), :(, lol and haha to illustrate our mood. Not much help when your trying to decipher feelings.

Both body language and the overall tone are very critical for messages to be sent and received effectively. While most think it's not a big deal that texts lacks these parts because it makes everything less impersonal which also add to language barriers.

In situations when people are fighting, arguing, breaking up, anything with emotion there absolutely needs to be body language, a clear verbal message and serious tone. If not and maybe done through text messages it will only leave both parties lost and confused and once again hit with yet another a language barrier.

Why Intercultural Communication?

Intercultural communication is nothing if not complicated. First let's analyze the individual words, first intercultural meaning between two different cultures. Cultures doesn't just mean different countries, there are many different cultures within cultures. Second, communication meaning any form of verbal, nonverbal messages being sent by one and received by one or a group.
Now that we have that out of the way, we can explore the deeper meaning. Intercultural communication is not something new, it's been growing since the 30's. Intercultural communication is directly how different cultures communicate between each other. The norms in America are only in America no where else, the same with any other place.
While it's common knowledge today that no two cultures are the same. While a child living in Australia is not going to have the same mannerisms, body language, and rules of conduct verses an elderly woman living in Canada. For each culture there is a different set of rules for conduct, what might be accepted in one isn't in another. For instance if you go to Japan and take a business card from a naive and place it in your bill fold, it's a huge insult. While in America this action is accepted, in Japan it's considered rude and more manners.
Since so much business is being done over seas involving different cultures it's important to know some of the big cultural differences. If noted before hand there is less of a chance that you will offend someone or more importantly be able to communicate efficiently. Humans in general often have misunderstandings. Misunderstandings can happen anywhere with anybody but it's more likely to happen between cultures with uneducated parties. Some of this can be prevented by reading about a culture before you go visit or by even asking someone that belongs to that culture. Normally people respond well to questions rather than being offended.
Intercultural communication is needed skill that can only help you succeed with others. When you have come to the understanding of others and have learned appropriate ways to get your message across, you have reached your goal. While communication is important in general, interculural communication is even more important because there is more room for error because of the different norms.

Communication

Communication is one of those tricky subjects, once you think you have it all figured out you find out once again, your flat out wrong. Communication can be classified in so many different ways, and those have subcategory, then those come with foot notes. It seems like a grueling concept to grasp. Verbal and nonverbal are the two biggest types. Verbal communication consists of conversations, emails, fliers, anything said or written in words. Verbal only represents about 20% of communications. While the majority of the rest of the communication is non-verbal. This includes body language, groans, looks on faces, open or closed body,etc.

Communication happens all the time, multiple times a minute even. There are even a few moments that stick with you for a few weeks or so. For instance, I was at work a few days ago and I walk up to a table with two children and two adults. I gave both of the children stuff to color with and crayons, immediately the one little boy pushed his coloring sheet away. Joking with him I kneeled down next to him and asked him if he was to cool to color, he responded with a duh. Then I informed him that I still color and I'm pretty darn cool. He then said 'I don't like to color baby pictures'. Not really having a response for that I decided to let it go but the cute 7 year old ginger kid hadn't planned on letting it go. She looked at him from her coloring sheet and said, 'Please! This picture is to complex for you to color it!'.

I laughed so hard as this young ginger reminded me so much of myself at her age, she wasn't going to let him make fun of something she liked doing. I gave her a high five and got their drinks, I don't believe the adults found my laughter appropriate and later stiffed me. It was ok though, that little ginger is going to do great things in life. It made me smile, already at 7 she was able to stand up for herself and give a decent burn. This is just one of the ways we communicate with each other. The ginger conveyed her message to the little boy and the message was received loud and clear.

As well as there are successful communications there are just as many if not more, miscommunications. It is so easy to have a message not be received properly due to the higher use of technology. Texting for instance, put a huge dent in face to face communications. Through texting you don't get the others body language or smaller hints so it's very easy for things to get jumbled around or for 2 meanings to get confused.

It is very important to communicate properly and successfully. When you have the ability to do this you are more likely to get what you want and are more likely to be heard.

American? The subtle answer.

The meaning to be an American has many different aspects to it. I could sit here and tell you about all the things I did papers about when I was younger; Freedom of Speech, right to bear arms, basically everything 'American' stands for. However I'm not going to do that because cliches need to disest eventually.

Being American is very unquie than most of the world, we concern ourselves with possessions while others die of hunger. We like to think of ourselves as knowledgeable but yet the majority of the population (or my generation more specifically) couldn't tell you one bill that is trying to be passed.
In America, Americans are given opportunities and rights that third world countries can't even fathom. While this gives up a leg up we have forgotten and ignore what others endure everyday, millions of immigrants make the trip here for a better life for them and their families.
Don't get me wrong, being American is great. However it is when we forget what our forefathers did to get us here that there is a backlash.