Nonverbal communication--assignment 3

During this summer holiday, I went back to China for my vocation. One day, I hanged out with my best friend JY. When I was talking about my life in America, she suddenly pointed out that I added too many body gestures, and she made fun of the distance between her and me because I stood too far away from her which seems that she got swine flu. Then, I realized that I changed a lot in nonverbal communication after I have stayed in American for four months. There are plenty differences in gestures, eye contact, and body space between China and America due to diverse traditional culture, but now I am used to using American style. In China, when people communicate to each other, we always prefer just talking without so plenty vivid gestures. On the contrary, Americans love expressing emotional feelings directly by active body language. Moreover, Chinese will try to close to the person we talk to, which shows friendliness and intimacy. Nevertheless, Americans will choose at distance with other people for the reason that they believe it’s a polite to respect each other’s privacy. However, no matter Chinese or American, eye contact plays an indispensable role in a conversation. All of us believe that eye contact is one of essential respectful action that shows interest and trust.