examining cultural differences in verbal and non-verbal communication

 Here in Mexico, there are several cultural differences in verbal and non-verbal communication. Wonderful. Because I'm already so good at verbal and non-verbal communication. Because I have yet to master the art of communication in the United States, it has not been easy experiencing the Mexican cultural differences—that is when I have actually been able to notice that a cultural difference is occurring.  I have only spent four short weeks in Mexico and I know that I have hardly progressed through the U-curve of culture shock and cross-cultural adjustment.  Only last weekend did I feel myself leaving the stage of cultural euphoria and into the stage of cultural confrontation and homesickness.  Now there is no time for cultural adjustment and adaptation. 

The other day in class, my teacher Silvia assigned for homework essay corrections, test corrections, and worksheets for trips to the Casa de Artesanias and a traditional dance in downtown.  It is quite a lot of work considering the amount of corrections needed (I know that one is my fault) the amount of travel time needed, and just the fact that we had already spent half the day at school when during my study abroad time, I'd love to just experience the culture of the country and practice my Spanish--not sit around doing grammar exercises in my room. 

My classmates and I put a lot of time and effort into our work.  At school the next day, my teacher did not ask for any of our assignments and instead we spent the entire day at school watching the Mexico vs. Uruguay game and making piñatas for Thursday’s end of term party.  The expectations for assignments and due dates was not communicated clearly.  I feel like these miscommunications in my class happened somewhat regularly.  For example, if I tell my teacher that I think she is assigning too much work for one night she takes it as me complaining about her and not as a sincere, not lazy concern.  I am used to idea-oriented communication in which a disagreement is directly stated and only the idea is wrong, not the person; whereas, in this situation it appears that communication is more relationship-oriented in which disagreeing with an idea is viewed as being the same as disagreeing with the person who originated it.

            I have noticed other non-verbal cultural communication differences as well.  For example, the “rules” of eye contact seem different.  During one of my first few days here, I caught the eye of a man in a department store window and smiled at him.  He immediately looked away and didn’t look back.  I later learned that it was not appropriate for me to make eye contact and smile at a strange man.  I didn’t mean anything by it since the eye contact was accidental and the smile was only friendly, but my actions could have been interpreted as inappropriate.  Waiters rarely make and keep eye contact with customers, but yet they hover around your table almost out of sight waiting to serve you. 

            Personal space is a very different idea here.  It almost does not exist.  Public transportation is beyond crowded and in general people are okay with being very close to each other.  During my placement exam, I remember sitting very close with the teacher who was talking with me—a lot closer than I have sat with any professor at Meredith.

            Although my time in Mexico has been short and I have not been able to read cultural adaption and adjustment but I can at least say that I’ve had a taste of the Yucatecan culture.