Cognitive Area

Communication is intentional and unintentional. The principle states that we send messages to people whether accidental or intended. One such incident is when I was in class, and the teacher began talking about the Aboriginal Australians. Being an Australian, he assumed that I knew all the details. When he asked me a question, I was dismayed and had a surprised look. However, the teacher thought he had offended me and emphasized that he was not picking on me because of my roots. Conversely, I did not have a response to his question. Unintentional and intentional communication can lead to mixed interpretations.

Communication is irreversible, as once a person has said something, it is impossible to retract those words. As an international student, I have encountered stereotypes relating to my culture. At one point, when I was queuing for lunch, my friend told me that I would not enjoy the school meals because there was no vegemite on the menu. I was not impressed by her statements because I felt stereotyped. Although she apologized and we put the incident behind us, it resulted in cautioned communication between us, which is at times uncomfortable. I once called my classmate dumb for failing a question that I had taught her. We used the word stupid on each other all the time, but on this day, she felt offended. Although I explained that I did not mean to offend her, we did not talk for two days. Since I have few friends, the two days felt like months. Indeed, the irreversible nature of communication makes it impossible to take back what we have said.

Metacommunication affects meanings. Talking about talking affects one’s interpretations of communication. When I first began school, my teacher noticed that I was lonely. I had no friends and hardly catch up with the learning style employed in class. One day after a test, the teacher asked that I remain behind. Her first words when we were alone were, “Amelia, we need to talk.” Immediately I thought I had failed the exam and I tensed. However, he advised me to join several school activities so that I could be more social. Moreover, she wanted to congratulate me on passing my test. Every time I hear the phrases “see me” and “Can we talk,” especially from my teachers, I fear that I have done something wrong, which is not always the case. Indeed, metacommunication adversely impacts my expectation of communication.

Effective Area

I would request my best friend Emma for a student loan. I would select her because she is also an international student and has experienced financial difficulty at one point in her life. Furthermore, she would give me the money at no rate because she understands how difficult it is to raise money to pay back the loan owing to the high interest rates, especially for international students. Due to her experience, Emma would be my perfect candidate.

I would ask Sonia to advise me if my relationship with a disliked boyfriend ends. Firstly, she would have supported my relationship given that she understands how important it is to for one to connect with someone in a foreign place. However, since Sonia is Australian, she can easily convince me that the man is not good for me based on our cultural perspective. She may be more effective in persuading me to let go of the relationship than my parents. Sonia, a fellow Australian, would be the best choice.

If I needed someone to help me move on the weekend, I would ask Sonia and Emma. They would reschedule their plans to assist me without much thought. As my closest friends, they will not only help me pack but also organize the new place. I trust them because they will handle my property with care. Sonia and Emma are perfect for moving activities.

I would call my mother to come to pick me up if I am stranded. My mother always says that I can rely on her in case of an emergency, and being stranded far from home is one such scenario. She not only has a car to come to pick me but also she would not make fun of my situation. My mother is the most reliable person should I be stranded anywhere.

I trust Emma’s opinion when selecting an outfit for an interview. She is a fashionable lady and is not afraid of being honest about my appearance. If she tells me that the clothing is suitable for the occasion, I trust that I am okay. However, if she disagrees with my choice, she will help me find the perfect dress. Emma is an honest friend with a real fashion sense.

I realized that she is the closest friend I have, and she is present in almost all my scenarios. Although I trust Sonia, Emma would still be involved in all my undertakings. I have realized that my relationship with my friends and mother help me to cope in a foreign country. Since I have people I can trust, it makes my stay tolerable, enjoyable, and worthwhile.

Behavioral Area

I want to work on my trust issues, as I have a problem trusting new people, which is made worse by my current foreigner situation. I have a few intimate friends, who I believe in but I cannot say the same about others. I know that I need to build trust with my schoolmates and neighbors to improve my social skills. I will turn to my sister, as she is more outspoken than me. I will also greet and create small conversations with my classmates and neighbors. By interacting with them, I can slowly start trusting them, and they will believe in me. I will also be cautious not to reveal intimate details about my life until I am sure I can trust the other party completely. Although it will take time, I will work on my trust. Trust is essential in interpersonal communication and is something I should master.

I must work on my acceptance. I still struggle with the different cultures between my friends and me. I find their eating mannerisms, openness, and attitude strange. On multiple occasions, I have voiced my indifference and imposed my beliefs on them. Consequently, we have had numerous conflicts. I must teach myself to accept others to safeguard my current and future relationships. It is also essential for me to accommodate others’ opinions because I equally need their acceptance to forge friendships. To improve my skills, I will turn to Emma who has overcome her culture shock and is open-minded. As a true friend, I know that she will help me improve my acceptance skills. On my part, I will stop imposing my beliefs and mannerisms on them. Instead, I will learn to appreciate that people are diverse and remind myself that I am also not perfect. Acceptance is essential in sustaining my relationships.

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