Culture

All relationships are to a certain point cross cultural.  Both parties are from different types of families and strive to become one unit and understand their differences and learn to accept and respect them.  Culture is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time. : a particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc. : a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization. "  In order for a cross cultural relationship to survive, both parties need to have constant open communication and go through various steps to have a harmonious relationship.  These steps include : understanding - each person should learn about the differences and similarities between the two different cultures.  This can include books, movies, articles, history and even music.  Avoiding  stereotypes - especially the negative ones.  Judging a single person by what society says of an entire culture will hinder the success of the relationship.  Making an effort - learning the language or spending time with family members at social gatherings.  Thinking positively about the cultural differences - this enhances the relationship by always learning something new about one another.  Blending values and expectations - doing this includes compromise and enables there to be a happy medium.  Miscommunication will most likely occur, that's where persistence comes in.  

Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, body movements and posture, gestures, eye contact, touch, space and tone of voice.  All of these can be misinterpreted. When nonverbal cues are misinterpreted, it tends to create conflict in a relationship.  On the other hand, it can enhance a relationship when not misinterpreted by reinforcing or emphasizing verbal communication.   Interpreting non-verbal communication is not an easy task.  And it can be more complicated if the non-verbal communication is culture specific.  There is less concsious control in messages that are non-verbal than what is actually being said (verbal communication), therefore, the non-verbal message should be the one that is understood.  

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