Post #2: An Interpersonal Conflict Situation

Here is a situation which becomes more and more common in this globalized world:

Eight months ago, Saori began her four month student exchange program in North America. One guy in a school club asked her out. They went for several dates and decided to get more serious.

Still in North America, Saori was excited to tell her parents about her relationship. Her mother’s first reaction was “Do not fraternize with those foreign boys”. Her mother was worried because the values and ideals about relationships in their two cultures are different, and sometimes disagree. Her dad did not want to disappoint her; he said “Just hang out with him, do not go further. I do not want to have a son in law who is a foreigner. Find a man who comes from our country.”

Saori was so frustrated because her parents did not care to know about her boyfriend’s personality. They wanted her to end the relationship immediately just because he is a “foreigner”. Saori thought that her parents should be more open minded.

Her parents thought that they would lose their daughter if she is serious and decides to marry the guy. By conservative Asian tradition, normally a girl would have to live with her husband's family. Saori attends a university which is far away from her hometown. Her parents want her to move back to live with them after she graduates. It is scary for the parents to think of the scenario where they have to live alone in their senior years when their daughter is on another continent. By no means would her parents let it happen.

Both sides were angry, stubborn and frustrated; they would argue about the relationship whenever it was mentioned.

How could they reach an agreement?

Post #1: Why professional communication is important to you?

One recent incident which has made me appreciate the importance of effective communication was just few months ago. "Why do you come home so late" I asked my roommate when she finally got home at midnight. I was concerned about her safety because we were living in a not-so-safe community in Hangzhou back then. To my surprise, my roommate seemed to be upset. "I do not want to talk about it. I want to keep my privacy" she answered reluctantly. I was shocked because it looked like she misunderstood my question. However, it was late so we both went to bed. The day after, I still wondered about why she reacted in such a negative way, and finally I talked to my boyfriend. He suggested that the question could be perceived as a nosy question, and reminded me since English is not my first language, I should carefully phrase my ideas so that it would reflect exactly what I intend to say. From then on, I determined to strengthen my communication skills.

Indeed, with powerful communication skills, leaders could motivate a whole team or a nation to achieve great goals, scientists and engineers could exchange their ideas and knowledge to accelerate the technological development, and people could build strong, long lasting and trusting relationships. In a nutshell, effective communication is inevitable.