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Sending mixed signals?

By Sachiko Miyakawa

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Odessa Reis, 2007 graduate, found herself in an embarrassing social interaction with an American boy who drove her to school. Reis, a native of Brazil, showed her appreciation and friendship the way she would in her country, by kissing his cheek. He froze in surprise and confusion while his friend watched from inside the car.

Reis knew cheek kissing was uncommon between friends in the U.S. But she said it was her natural response and was difficult to repress.

Students experience cultural differences in physical communication when they study abroad or travel to different countries. Reis’ story is just one example of the misunderstandings that can occur between people of two different cultures.

Jeffrey Hall, associate professor of communication studies, said while business communication, such as handshaking, has become more common among professionals around the world, the types and rules of physical communication were often culturally specific.

Greetings in different countries often involve physical communication, such as hugging and kissing.

Cheek kissing is a common way of saluting friends in several places around the world, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy and Spain.

Reis said while many Americans hugged when they met friends, Brazilians kissed on their friends’ cheek to greet. She said usually men wouldn’t kiss each other.

Brenna Daldorph, Lawrence junior, said people would kiss each other in France even though they were introduced for their first time. Daldorph, who spent a semester in Angers, France, said the tradition helped break awkwardness between people.

“It’s really a nice way of building a contact,” Daldorph said.

Hall said closeness was also influenced by culture along with other factors, such as relationships, preferences of individuals and gender. For example, people from Southern Europe and Latin America touch more than people from Northern Europe, Northern America or East Asia.

Stephanie Mattingly, Overland Park graduate student, spent a semester in Italy and said that when she talked to friends in a bar or coffee shop, she found people used less personal space. When she asked for directions from Italians, they sometimes grabbed her arm abruptly and dragged her to the place.

“It’s their way of helping and being friendly,” Mattingly said.

Kazufumi Shinjo, Naha, Japan, senior, said during conversations, Americans often sat closer to each other than the Japanese.

Differences in physical communication can cause misunderstandings and awkwardness without awareness and cautious observation of different cultures.

Josie Ho, Macau, China, sophomore, said Chinese culture involved less physical interaction than American culture. Ho said she felt uncomfortable when she was hugged and greeted by a man with whom she rarely talked.

Making eye contact and smiling at strangers can be misleading. Adrienne Harris, lecturer of Russian, said men could interpret it as a signal of interest and seduction in Russia, even though women only meant to be polite and friendly.

Maria Carlson, professor of Slavic languages and literature, said observing natives and imitating their actions would help students adjusting to a different environment.

“The best behavior is to keep your eyes open,” Maria said. “And watch to see how people interact around you.”

However, Carlson said respecting different cultures did not mean students had to follow all the rules and participate in everything natives did.

“There are other ways to show pleasure at greeting,” She said. “You don’t have to duplicate the culture.”

Reis said she was aware that Americans preferred to have more personal space, but she sometimes became physically expressive. She said she hoped that she would not give wrong impression and hoped people would be more accepting of different cultures.

— Edited by Rustin Dodd

Comments

DaytonMooreMooreMoore (anonymous) says...

So I can seduce a russian man just by making eye contact and smiling? Count me in!!!!1

July 17, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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