Are you listening?!?!

We are all guilty of not actively listening from time to time.  For me, I'm most guilty when a device is in my hand.  For others, it's while they are working on a complicated task, or they might be preoccupied with what they are going to say or do next.  I think this clip does a good job of showing both of those last ideas.

Sparkling Trees

Beads are a BIG DEAL in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. They are EVERYWHERE! On balconies, on vehicles, on storefronts, counters, doors, EVERYWHERE. At first, this was a little strange to me, this cultural accessory, but of all the places I saw beads, in the trees were my favorite, like colorful, sparkling plastic icicles.  Many were left there from parade throws gone wrongly, while others were purposely left as festive decorations.  I would love to do this to my own trees, especially in winter and fall when they look so empty and barren, but few Minnesotans would get the cultural reference.

Yogurt Conflict

Chapter 2 was all about culture, and while in New Orleans eating breakfast, I encountered a difference in culture that I found both disturbing and humorous.  We stayed at an Embassy Suites while there, and the hotel hosted a HUGE breakfast each morning.  One of my favorite things there was their extra goopy oatmeal (I'm salivating just looking at this picture).  Next to the oatmeal was a fruit and yogurt bar. On my first morning getting breakfast there, I scooped my oatmeal into a bowl and added my favorite toppings.  Then I saw the yogurt.  I decided I'd put some of the strawberry yogurt in a bowl, too.  Just then, this lady with a strong local accent walked up behind me, ranting, "Don't any of these folks know that yogurt goes on a plate, A PLATE, and not no darn dish.  Really?! Leave the bowls for the hot eats." Needless to say, I turned a little red in the face and booked it to my table before I made another cultural mistake. I also didn't make that same mistake the next morning out of fear the same loud lady would be there looking for me. Regardless of the embarrassment, that oatmeal was worth it.

Culture Shock?

I think I'm about to experience a bit of culture shock. Chapter 2 is all about culture: the language, the clothing, the traditions, the celebrations.  I know heading to New Orleans, I'm going to run into a different accent and dialect (semantic noise), I'll hear different music than I'm used to, and come Tuesday, I bet I'll see dress and costumes that I'm not used to, too.

I love traveling! I love experiencing new things, new cultures, and more than anything else, new foods! I'm sure I'll have all kinds of examples of Interpersonal Communication to share when I get back.

No Capes

We've talked about Culture quite a bit in the class and the things that make a culture, like uniforms, jargon, traditions, and beliefs.  While watching The Incredibles this past weekend, I realized the super heroes in the movie are one culture while trying to live undiscovered in normal, American life was another culture.  In this clip you see examples of both jargon and uniforms.  You also see some paralanguage with the phrase: No Capes!

Silence!

My son is a big fan of Teen Titans Go! One of my favorite episodes (yes, I like the show, too) uses a lot of silence as well a paralanguage (especially volume) to send interpersonal messages.  The silence creates tension for some, while it brings comfort to others (Raven).  In Chapter 6, we talked quite a bit about the messages silence can send.  One character in this episode is a whisper, and the lower volume sends messages and sets a mood for this episode that is different from other episodes, connecting to our studies of nonverbal communication.

Here is a clip from the episode, although it isn't the full episode:

Silent Movie Teen Titans Go!

Too much? Not enough? What are your thoughts.

I realized in class yesterday that I use a lot of self-disclosure in Interpersonal Communication compared to my other classes.  I think it's important that this class in particular gets to know me beyond just the teacher leading the class; I think that's why I am more willing to share more about my life outside of the classroom in this class. As we derailed talking about my Christmas presents yesterday, it was hard not to wonder if sometimes it's too self-disclosure much?  What do you think?