I had the best class today. Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In Intro to Conflict Management we discussed non-verbal communication, and just how much that communicates. The exercize we did to prove this was fascinating and quite fun!! The prof had us pair off with the person we knew the least in the class and sit knee-to-knee with them. Then she had us close our eyes and get a sense of this person sitting across from us. From there we opened our eyes and began studying them and seeing what they "said" about themselves from their artifacts (earrings, clothing, hairstyle, accessories, etc.). Once we had spent a fair amount of time looking at each other we would take turns to say what we had observed..."I see this, so I assume this". These things varied from age, to what kind of pets we think they like, their political views, what kind of food they like. We were to say it without having any sort of confirmation from the person we were speaking about, until we were finished.
They would then correct what we got wrong or confirm what we got right. I nailed my partner right on! Everything I said about her was right. It kind of freaked her out actually. She didn't get me at all. That same old question about my age threw her off, and she pegged me at about 20...I figure I should just take the average between my real age and what people actually think I am and begin stating that as my real age. That would put me at about 23.
Anyway, basically we came down to this: people say alot about themselves without actually saying anything at all, and our assumptions of people can often be wrong. We need to get to know people rather than writing them off because of our snap judgements of them...just because people dress differently than us, and are interested in different things doesn't mean that we can't learn from one another. People are fascinating. Sit in an airport and you'll see more differences than similarities, but you'll also see the hand of God. He has made us diverse because he is diverse.
I can tell that people are praying because I'm not so much afraid of my classes anymore, but rather excited about this learning process. THANK YOU!!!!
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4 comments:
seriously, I wish I could take a class with you. Trying to reckoin what you look like in a classroom situation is making me chuckle to myself as I sit at this computer.
Jessica,
Your post is very true. I hope you get a chance to see my blog, there's a very nice picture that you'll like (not me). & a cute story. I also posted a little opinion piece called "Free Your Mind" which you might be able to agree with. it's
www.vince-s-ithaca.blogspot.com
You know, I liked the class, I still don't think that my smile was creepy though, I think it was the fact that I just kept on staring at Nitra..
That'd do it to anyone, my eyes are pretty giantly powerful
furtney, you were a creepster that day. i think nitra died a little on the inside with your 'check out' glances. i just wish you had a stache to complete the picture.
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