Language Choice

One of the concepts that may need a farther discussion is "Improving Language Choice". (p.97)
As most of us know, "Language is a powerful tool"! We use language to influence, regulate, persuade and dominate others. Sometimes we create ideas with words and tend to believe in their truthiness although they are only words, and may have no hold in reality.

Nevertheless, sometimes "we mean more than we say and say less than we mean". So, both as transmitters and as receiver we should be aware of the language choices that we make. As it stated on page 98:

Making language choices is no simple matter. It requires sensitivity to others, a clear sense of one's own communicative intent, a great deal of social knowledge, and an overall understanding of the communication process.

Who is Building? What?

Too many interesting concepts to choose from, but I did it. I picked the concept that suggests that we "construct our worlds through communication". We understand the world based on the way we communicate with others.  If we accept this idea, than we must also realize that it is only to our benefits to communicate responsiblly . In other words, we need to be aware to the things we and others say and to the ways in which we communicate with others.

After all, if communication is the act of world's construction, than we must be aware that with communication we build something that is "larger and more lasting than we realize". (p.29) this is even farther emphasizing the importance of research and the study of how communication affects our world and us as individual. Individuals, as part of the world, are being created through communication. It is clear that our beliefs and actions reflect the informations that we comunicate and that is being communicated to us.

Experimental Research

 One of the research methods that I find to be very interesting, and also appears as fun to conduct is Experimental Research. I think that the part that I like the most about it is the "hands on" testing that can be design to answer very specific questions. The information that is being gathered through this kind of research can serve as a basis, factual information for the construction of theories. Another reason that I find it interesting is the direct relation of this type of research to people's behavior.

One of the questions that can be researched is: do people's beliefs are based mostly on assumptions or on facts? To answer this question one may use a mixed of research methods that involve Rhetorical Criticism for the purpose of studying the topic and examine the strategies. A survey research can also be used for collecting data for analyzing, and also experimental research as well for collecting data.

Emotional Tools

It is interesting to look closely look at the different uses of media. It appears that all four mediums, Newspaper, Radio, Magazine, and Television, are used to "pass time" and for finding/receiving some kind of information. Yet, more uses of these Medias are specific to each one of them. Newspaper is specifically used to "identify self as reader". Magazines are used to "gain access to valued subgroup".  The radio is used to "regulate moods". And finally, as strange as it may sound, Television is used as a companionship.

As it appears, we largely use Medias as a tool for dealing with our emotions and the self-value.  It is important to understand that the way we use the media is directly related to the effects of the media on us. Therefore, there is a risk for emotional harm that can be caused by using Medias. Although very important, emotional harm is only one of the many ethical problems that "media communicators face on a daily basis".

Cyberfriends

As far as I can remember, besides interaction with other students in online classes, I have never made friendships that exist exclusively in cyberspace.  I think that the reason I have not formed any such relationship is because I don't visit any kinds of online forum or such that allow this type of connection to accrue. It is obvious that I have no interests in such; otherwise I would have try it. But I think that the main reason is that after spending so many ours on the computer for research and school work, I like to spend the rest of my time communicating with others face to face.

Nevertheless, If we can consider the communication in an online class as "friendship", than I made many friendships that exist only exclusively in cyberspace. This kind of friendship is different in a way that it is not so personally as other friendships.

Medium = Message

McLuhan's theory, "the medium is the message", appears rational.  While looking at the different medias is seams that there is a specific logic for each one, and that these logics effect the way we perceive the world.

Based on this theory there are:
linear logic – information is being transmitted in order. (Print media)
Mosaic logic – "bombarded us with changing bits of information", and it is up to us to place the pieces in the puzzle. (Television)

Television is considered as a cool medium; "it demands that viewers fill in details". Yet, so much information is left out, and therefore viewers are forced to pay attention and create their understanding only on the information that was chosen by someone else. Not everything can be visualized; the things that cannot be visualized are being left out and therefore become less important. For example, the information that we receive while watching the news is largely influenced by the type of information that can be visualized. It is true that there are also discussions about other things that cannot visually be presented but most of the time, when other things are being discussed the same few clips are being viewed, again and again.

Fitting In

One of the interesting topics in this chapter is the organizational culture; the "logic and legends about organizational life and the organization's identity" (p.217) Trenholm suggests that when one is new to the organization, he may experience something similar to a culture shock. Our needs to know and to make sense out of the organization can cause confusion and surprise. Most of us can agree that it takes a while to feel that you are part of an organizational culture.

The culture of organization is the common understanding and perception that the group of people that work together share. Therefore to be able to make sense of situations and behavior, the new guy needs help.  It suggested in the book that "by linking new comers with mentors and instituting early appraisal meeting in which superiors give newcomers feedback, organization can eliminate many transition problems."  Another thing that can ease the transition is when a newcomer is ready and anticipates that there will be surprises, and actively asks for help.

A More Responsible Communicator

To become a more responsible communicator the book suggests few etiquette rules that we should follow. To begin with, I find it distracting and disrespectful to talk on a cell phone at the movie theater, during a concert, church or any other public place where people need to focus their attention on something specific. As for Answering Machines, I also feel that the message needs to be clear; jokes can cause misunderstanding and so weird music. To continue, when sending a fax, I agree that one should "call the would-be recipient's' office first and get a permission to send it"; also, the material being sent should not be confidential or too long. In addition, business communication should be done at an appropriate business time and locations. And, as for screen names and ring tones, I was present at few situations when people's phone rang and the ring ton made other uncomfortable and therefore the phone owner also felt uncomfortable. Finally, I think that it is rude to put people on hold; it as if you tell them that their time is less important than yours. If one must accept another call, he or she should explain, apologize and ask the person if you can call him back at a later time to continue the conversation.

Organization and Environment

The book explains that organizations are linked to their environment just like living creatures link to their environment; they both effect and are being affected by the environment; "Organization cannot survive without a healthy environment".

As an organization, Sierra College put forward many events that are open to the community and intend to communicate and deal with the issues that rise and affect the community/environment.  Furthermore, many of the programs, which are offered by Sierra College, were created in respond to the unique interests of the people in the local community.

Besides the obligation of a college to consider the special interests of the local community, some of the ethical obligation that a college or university may have to the local community is to have an open communication with the community members while still maintaining individual's confidentiality. Also, performing activities that advance social goals and working for improving life qualities.

Duck’s Theory

To begin with, I feel that the only way I can answer this question is to base it on my personal experience. It appears to me that Duck’s theory is relevant as long as a person consider being part of a group in a way that is more important than her individualism. It is clear to me that due to certain limitation, we spend most of our time in one place (city, county, state, etc.) and therefore chances are that we will meet only the people that also spend their time in that area. However, Duck's theory is being tested when one meets someone from outside her demographic zone.

I can't remember a time that I eliminated the option of relationship based on sociological or incidental cues. I admit that I have used demography as an excuse to strength a decision to end a relationship, but there were already other and more important reasons that lead me to make the decision to begin with.

Identities and Saving Faces

An interesting and important topic in chapter 6, "Respecting Identity and Protecting Face", brings the awareness to the effects of communication on identity.  Trenholm explains that our identity or "Face" is who we "try to be when we are with other people". (p.138) It explained in this topic that we feel threatened "whenever people criticized or disagree with us" (positive face), and "whenever others impose on our autonomy" (negative face).  Once we understand and respect the identity of others, we can communicate more effectively. When people are threatened they get in a defended mood and focus their attention on protecting themselves (their identity) rather than openly listening and evaluating other ideas and opinion.

Although I always felt that to be polite is a choice that makes life more pleasant, still, it is interesting to learn that politeness "is more than a social nicety. It is a way of acknowledging others' identities and saving face."

Patterns of Two

I think that the most difficult pattern to change is the rigid complementarity, for the reason that not only that each one of the partners "know their place" (most of the times), but also one of them is used to be in power over the other.  For the situation to change is takes the person that is dismissive to step up and take power over the other; however, since this situation is also the most potentially damaging to the self-esteem of the dismissive individual, it will be a great challenge for him or her to change.

Yet, the most damaging to a relationship (rather than to an individual) is the competitive symmetry because at all-time both partner want to be in charge. At all-time both partners want to be the one that make the decision. They both expect the other to be submissive and want to feel power over the other, a situation that causes an ongoing conflict.

Culture Shock

An interesting topic from chapter 12, which I can very much relate to, is "Cultural Anxiety and Withdrawal" (p. 340). I moved to live in the U.S. 12 years ago and through the years I went through few brief periods of culture shock that largely resembled Youg Yun Kim's "draw-back-to-leap model". At these period times, I felt as an absolute stranger; I missed the language and the culture that I was so used to back at home. I missed the unique interaction and communication that I experienced while I was growing up. I lost confidence in myself, in my ability to function the way that the new culture requires me. It was almost as if I didn't know who I was anymore, and I felt that the only way I will be able to be myself again is by going back to where I was from, to where I felt that I belong.

The last time I felt this way was about three years ago; at that time the culture shock I experienced was sever and it lasted almost a year. I felt that the differences between the two cultures were so extreme that there was no single person in this new culture thatc could truly understand me. Even more, I felt that my inability to understand others put me in a major risk. I was very helpless and lonely. It took a year of counseling to bring me back on my feet and to gain the confidence to face the challenges.

Saved by Culture

Anthropologist Ruth Benedict says:

                From the moment of birth the customs into which [an individual] is born shape his experience and behavior. By the time he can talk, he is a little creature of his culture, and by the time he is grown and able to take part in its activities, its habits are his habits, its beliefs his beliefs, its impossibilities his impossibilities. (p.325)

I believe that Benedict is right; people perceive the world and behave the way they do because this is what they learn from the environment. People are dependent on others on the environment.
Growing up in a different country and into a different culture than the one I am part of today, I can recognize many habits and beliefs that are different from one culture to the other.  For example, many people, in the community that I live in today, believe that forgiveness to wrongful actions can be granted by accepting Jesus as a savior.  However, I grow up to believe that wrongful actions are experiences that only by taking responsibility through the process of understanding and correcting, one can be forgiven.

Rationality, Perfectibility, and Mutability

It may be correct to say that to a certain degree most people are capable of thinking logically, they can analyze situation and events, but I don't think that "most people are capable of discovering the truth through logical analysis." Although institutions such as democracy and the justice system based their conduct on the idea that most people through logic can discover the truth, I still think that many people can easily be persuaded by others, the way they perceive things is largely depend on their personal experience, and they can easily be deceived by their senses.
As for the perfectibility premise, I also cannot agree. I think that people are born as a "blank paper", and therefore, the mutability premise is the one that make the most sense to me. Our behavior, which include the sins and the goodness is "shaped by environmental factors and the way to improve human is to improve their physical and psychological circumstances." (p. 334)

The Chicken or The Egg?

On page 124, Trenholmse tells us that "people have strong reaction to body shape and appearance." She suggests that there are three main body types:

1.       Endomorph body shape – short, round and fat.
Endomorph characteristics – placid, contented, affable, generous, and affectionate.

2.       Mesomorph body shape – average height, muscular and athletic.
Mesomorph characteristics – energetic, enthusiastic, competitive, reckless, and optimistic.

3.       Ectomorph body shape – tall, thin, and frail.
Ectomorph characteristic – self-conscious, precise, shy, awkward, serious, and sensitive.

It is again very interesting to realize that, to a certain degree, we have no control over some of the nonverbal messages that we sencommuincate to others. This topic also remind me of a previous realization, that it is impossible to not judge other people. As it suggested, we unconsciously make judgment about people based on their body shape.
I can't help but to wonder, which came first, the chicken or the egg? ; is body shape and characteristics are genetically tie together? Or is it society and cultures that condition individuals, with a specific body shape, to adopt specific characteristics?

Speak No, See No

My mother in-law's nonverbal communications often leave me confused.  I usually feel confident about interpreting nonverbal behavior, and if I am not sure, I gently respond in such a way that triggers a feedback that clarifies the message to me.
Anyway, this is far from being the case when it comes to my mother in-law. I know her for 12 years now, and yet, every time after I share information with her, which is solely about me,not including her son or grandkids or anybody else, (such as, what classes I am planning on taking next semester, or that I am thinking about dying my hair darker, or that I got my blood tests results…) every time she respond to me with silence, and she also avoids eye contact.

This nonverbal message is very much open to many interpretations. After 12 years, I am still unable to decide what this message means, what is she telling me?  Sometimes I think, maybe she did not hear me, but if I right then say something about my kids, she responds immediately. Sometimes I think that she does it because she does not like me, but she always seems to enjoy talking to me; she shares her information with me, and she even asks for my opinions and advices.

It was finally few years ago, when I decided to just stop trying to interpret this specific nonverbal behavior, and since then I accept it the way it is; I mainly hold back from talking about myself when I am around her, but if I happen to do so (which as I said always lead her to be silent and to avoid eye contact), I just acknowledge my confusion and leave it at that.

A Strange Smile

Smile is a nonverbal message that, many people may think, carries the same meanings in all cultures; but as a matter of fact, different cultures interpreted smiles in different ways. It is true that when a smile is used as a nonverbal message between friends and family, in all cultures, it can mean happiness, joy, fun, or other positive feeling towards a person.

Yet, Americans also use smiles, as a polite gesture, when they see a stranger in an elevator, on the street, or at the store. But, in Israel, smiling to people that you don't know, just to be polite is unacceptable; in fact, if you smile to an Israeli person that you don't know, he or she may assume that you are crazy. At first, they may think that you know them from somewhere and they just can't remember you, but once they realize that they have never met you before, they will become confuse and think that you have either mistaken them with someone else, or you are just crazy. They may even feel intimidated by you.

Cultural Language

One of the topics in chapter four that I find to be very interesting is "Language and Cultural Difference".
Since I was born and lived in Israel for the first 26 years of my life, it is still difficult for me to understand how people communicate here, especialy in areas such as: "the directness with which thoughts can be expressed, the amount of emotional expressiveness that is appropriate, and the extent to which formality is expected." (p.91)

Even more, I was surprised to find out that the United States considered being  a low-context culture, because, I feel that people here are less "strait forward" than in Israel and much more formal.  In other words, I feel that It is more important to Americans to not hurt one's feeling so they, most of the times, hold back from speaking the truth. They don't say what they really think about each other or a situation to someone's face, but some still do it behind their back. Americans are likely to think that Israelis are very rude. In Israel the most important thing is that you speak the truth. If a person is trying to be polite and just give hints, they will strait forward tell him to just say it the way it is, just get to the point.

Gender Talk

Men and women experience life differently, and although they use the same words and phrases, they reference them differently, and therefore, they use language differently.

Trenholm says that "we are the victims of gender expectations from the moment we're born" (p.86), and from the moment we start learning the language, we also start learning how to use it. Even though we learn the same words, we (men and women) learn to use it in different ways.  A female grow up to become specialized in "relationally oriented talk" whereas men grow up to be specialized in" task-oriented talk" (p.87). In addition, women learn that to live life in fulfillment ,she need to be a part of a community, while men see themselves as an individuals, survivors; therefore, through her life, a female practices her social skills, and on the other hand, a male practices competitiveness.

Nevertheless, Trenholm informs that scholars may argue that "we do not use language the way we do because our gender, we create gender identity through language". We feel that we need to express ourselves in a way that considered being a norm for our gender; for example, a man needs to talk like men, be assertive and sound "strong".

Because men and women hold different needs and values, they use language differently. Yet, "One of the things that make language so interesting is the way it changes to meet the needs and express the values of its users". (p.73)

Logic Judgment

It is impossible to perceive others without some way of judging or categorizing.  Judging and categorizing are natural and even biological processes. They are a necessity to our survival.
From the day that we were born, we have been creating memories (personal "knowledge"). Our knowledge is being built in layers; as information from our senses arrives at the brain, it is both, consciously and unconsciously, being analyzed, compared with previous experience, sorted and stored. Since we constantly sense information from our surrounding, information is constantly arrived and compared with knowledge already store, and many times we are not even consciously aware of it.

 Yet, I think that to make our perception of others more fairly, we need to question our old personal "knowledge". We need to pay attention to the assumption that we make and check what we based them on. It is a hard work, but it is possible to stop sometimes, and try to understand why do I judge this person this way? What is the logic, reasoning or experience, if any, that led me to make this judgment?  

Rookies

I decided to compare between the most influential speaker and the least influential speakers in chemistry class. I must note that for most of the students in this class, it was the first experience in public speaking.  So, I will start with the least influential speaker, because it is easy; I simply don’t remember him or her. Actually, after calculating how many presentations I watched and how many I can't remember, I figured out that there must be three of four presentations that I can't even remember the subject. As for the most inflectional one, it is one student that was very enthusiastic about the chemical process taking place when one developing pictures in a dark room. Although the process was way too difficult to understand at this level of chemistry, he was still able to deliver the main idea. I think that the reason I remember it so well, is because he was so excited to share his knowledge.

Obama (!?)

It has been almost four years that I've been observing our president, Barak Obama, and I am still confused.

I must admit, one of his distinctive characteristics is his attractiveness, his ability to finds ways to relate to individuals on a personal and comfortable level. During his speeches, he often stops to respond to comments from the audience, usually in a jokingly manner that gets the audience to loosen up. In addition, he promotes himself as a great husband and father, and he frequently brings his wife and kids onto the stage for supports.  But attractiveness it's not his only strength, Obama has power. He is great at persuading his audience to believe that they must agree with him or else the world is likely to go to hell in a hand basket. He claims to be the only one that knows the right direction and gives the impression that he has the power to affect each and everyone's life individually. He also increases his power by claiming the rewards for the killing of Osama Bin-Laden, finishing the war in Iraq and many more.

However, Obama's credibility was all along his weakness. Although he successfully captures my attention and make me want to believe in his prediction, still, every time, after his speech is over, I just can't bring myself to trust him.

Thousands of Beliefs, Hundreds of Attitudes, and Only Few Values

"When audience members come to hear a speech, they bring prior beliefs, attitudes, values and the life experience with them." (p.243)

Public speaking is, little to say, a very complicated task. Nevertheless, the part that I find to be most challenging is the speaker's needs "to rake into account what audience members may already be thinking", especially in a diverse society, such as the one we know.

As Milton Rokeach suggests, beliefs, attitude, and values are the three structures that organize human perception, and they all connect with each other. Beliefs are the trigger of one's attitude towards a situation. In her book, Trenholm, like many others, suggests that, "an individual may have thousands of beliefs and hundreds of attitudes, but only ten or twenty values". In addition, values are common ideas that are largely shared by individuals in a society; therefore, a "reference to a cherished value can be a powerful way to touch an audience.

What Communication???

I found the "exercise" in table 2.1(p.19) to be entertaining. I choose the second definition, "communication is the discriminatory response of an organism to a stimulus." I choose it because when I think about communication it is not only between peoples; I also think about the communication between the neurons (cells) in our brain. They communicate with each other through the releasing and receiving of chemicals, and when a neuron become stimulated it responds in various ways.

The entertaining part was to realize that I excluded machine communication, but I included "behaviors of living organisms" (p.19) and also to realize that there are "two ways to think about the world" (p.18). The first way is like I always believed that, there is only single correct definition, and the second way, which I find to be very interesting, is that "the test of good definition is not its absolute truth but rather is practical use."(p.18)

Playing The Game

As long as we can recognize communicational patterns, it only make sense to look at them closely and find out how they contribute to the interaction between individuals. Communicational patterns are the products of interdependent behavior. Therefore, the pragmatic prospective suggest that we should pay our attention to patterns rather than to the particular behavior of each individual. Additionally, patterns may signal to a misunderstanding or a conflict between the communicators, and by introducing new and different "moves", partners can break off the pattern and ultimately communicate more effectively.

It takes at least two to communicate. When one acts the other reacts and the reaction also triggers another reaction and the cycle continues. The pragmatic prospective perceives it, just like the interactions between partners that are playing a game; players make their moves based on the actions of the other player. However, when we communicate, the game is about us, it's not about the two competitors in a game with limited options to move, a clear set of rules, and a target. There is much more to the game of communication; while playing it, we communicate our thoughts in every "move". Thoughts are very complex and reflect personal perception, needs, desires, beliefs, and cultures.

The pragmatic prospective can certainly help in cases when communication is broken down due to specific, ineffective pattern, but for a complete understanding of communication there is a need to also view the contribution of the individual's behavior to the interaction.

We Build Worlds

Considering the social constructionists perspective, we "build worlds" based on concepts that we share with others, such as language, culture, values and beliefs. In other words, we "build worlds" through the interaction with others, and the acceptance and adaptation of what become common ideas.

One idea, which has been intensely discussed in our culture, is Freedom of Speech. Freedom of speech is a powerful tool that allows individuals to express their opinions and ideas with others without government interference or punitive actions. The exchange of views gives people an equal opportunity to participate and influence decisions related to their life. 

Freedom of speech is known as the basic foundation of democracy; however, the use of it is not always positive. While practicing their freedom of speech, people sometimes say things that we don't like, disagree with, and even things that offend us. Unfortunately, freedom of speech also includes hate speech, which can cause the receiver depression, fear, and in extreme situations even to suicide.

Francis and The Idols

One of the many interesting topics in chapter 1 is The Four Idols presented by Francis Bacon. Francis believed that there are four idols that prevent people from thinking clearly and therefore causing them to bring assumptions and prejudices to scientific research:

The Idols of the Tribe
Bacon claims that our perceptions are not the truth and we can't trust it. He explains that our senses cannot measure things, since everyone senses things differently. Our senses work simultaneously and therefore trigger our imagination.

The Idols of the Cave
People thinks that their experiences make them wise, but Bacon thinks that our experience prevents us from thinking clearly. We collect information from school, books and events that happen in our life, which are constantly being reflected through our thinking.

The Idols of the Market-place
People things that language and words make them more knowledgeable and superior, but Bacon argues that people use words, and understand words based on their purpose and abilities, and sometimes the use of a word or the misunderstanding of a word can give an idea a whole different meaning.

The Idols of the Theatre
People tend to take scientific theories and philosophical assertions as facts and hardly challenge them. Bacon claims that coming into scientific research with these kinds of assumptions takes away a great part from the explorations.  

Orator's Truth

To be an orator, one requires having some kind of a purpose that he or she wishes to achieve. In a perfect world, all aspirations, intents, and desires, which motivate someone to speak in public, would have been based on the ultimate truth and goodness.  But, as we all know, our world is far from being perfect.

Through history to current time, there have been many orators that mastered the art of public speaking; some of them follow the Greek belief and considered to be morally good; however, others follow the concept that the end justifies the means. Likewise, these days, public speakers deliver not only for themselves, their personal ideas and believe, but they also speak the words of companies, other groups and individuals that carry idiosyncratic goals.

 To clarify, I do believe that if we wish for a better world, an orator should be an individual that is morally good, but this wish, at this time, is far from reality.

ethos, pathos & logos

Thinking about public speakers, Jill Bolte Taylor is the first speaker that came to my mind. There is no doubt that she succeeded in getting my full attention and delivered her message. For those of you who do not know who she is, Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroanatomist, brain scientist that experienced a massive stroke in her left hemisphere, the left side of her brain. Jill, a graduated Harvard Medical School, in her speech (and through her book "My Stroke of Insight") takes the audience to a step by step journey of the lost of cognitive abilities; a journey which she claims to be the best thing that could have happened to her.   
Jill's pathos, her ability to arouse emotions, is her strongest quality as a public speaker. Jill uses her personal story and experience and brings metaphors that are easy to relate to. She acts her story out, stimulates the audience and makes them feel the emotions with her. However, Pathos is not her only quality; Jill masters the ethos and the logos as well. Her background as a brain scientist gives her the expertise and makes her trustworthy, while at the same time, the use of plain words makes it easy to follow her. She also brings s a real human brain to the stage and holds it against her own head (brain) and shows pictures of herself from when she experienced the stroke. At the end of her speech she clearly voices her message.
If you know anybody that experience stroke and wonder what it feels like, or if you just wander how it feels to lose your cognitive abilities? I attached a video of Jill's speech and encourage you to watch it.

As for my personal abilities to persuade audience, I think that logos is my strongest quality. I analyze and present things in logic ways, and I always search for the words that are most accurate and befitting. In addition, I have some pathos in me; I can't hide my emotions, they are clearly being displayed when I talk, and therefore, they trigger the emotions in others. In regards to my ethos abilities, I believe that I am trustworthy; I always put myself in someone else's shoes as I search for true meanings, and I shy away from making assumptions or speaking on things that I don't have enough knowledge about. However, I realize that an objective view on this one must come from the observer.

 

Jill's Speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU

Introductory Post

Hi everyone,

My name is Sunshine and I am a full time student (16 units this semester), but first of all I am a mom and a wife; I have a ten year old daughter, a six year old son and a wonderful husband that is also my best friend.
 My major at Sierra College is Natural Science and by the end of next semester I will be transferring to Sac State for a major in Health Science.
I love spending my free time at the ocean, rivers, lakes…Yes, I love water!! My favorite activity is scuba diving but unfortunately I don't get to do it much lately. However, I also love fishing and I go fishing all the time.
I was born and raised in Israel and moved to live in CA at the end of the year 2000, when I was 25 years old. I arrived in LA and traveled up the coast. On the third day I stooped in Sacramento for the night and there I met my husband. Traveling as a tourist in a different country, with different culture and language, is an interesting communication experience; however, becoming a resident in this country is not only interesting, but also a very challenging communication experience. In any case, the "communication story" I like to share with you took place in 2000 when I met my husband. At that time my vocabulary in English was very minimal, but it didn't bother me that I wasn't able to understand much of the things that my husband (boyfriend at that time) was saying. I also didn't care that I was not able to worldly express myself.  I remember; I just looked at his facial expressions and his body language, and smiled. that's all I needed.
As for my experience in Communication Studies, I have none, but I am looking forward to gain some in this class. My goal for this class is to complete all assignment to the best I can, and I hope that at the end of this class I will be able to have a better understanding of the communication process.

I am very excited to start this semester, and I am looking forward to meet you and read your blogs.
Cheers to an enjoyable and successful semester!