Communication is a basic need of every person in the world. Socialization is one of the most critical stages of a child’s growth as it has a significant impact on the formation of character and behavior patterns. The environment has a strong influence on the attitudes or opinion-forming of a human. For the reason of diverse cultural backgrounds, people of different nationalities may experience difficulties in establishing relationships with personalities from other regions or countries. To organize an interview, I decided to have a conversation with my Russian friend and ask him about contact and social rules established in his country, and the specificity of verbal and non-verbal communication.
The interview was well-structured and organized: I decided to start with more abstract questions and then move to more particular ones. The first part of the conversation was focused on the communicational specificities in Russia. For example, when someone wants to ask a question on how to get to the place, it is necessary to say hello and then apologize. On the opposite, in Puerto Rico, people prefer to concentrate on the topic without any introductory words. My friend told me that this approach might be perceived as rude in Russia, especially by the representatives of older people. What is more, politeness in terms of communication in Russia varies significantly from the rules established in my native country. Humans rarely hug or kiss each other when they meet for dinner with their friends. They use words and introductory phrases instead of non-verbal communication. The situation in Puerto Rico is the opposite as we usually skip the questions about the day, working process, or well-being of the relatives.
Another crucial difference between the Russian communicational rules and traditions established in my native country is the way the use of formal language. The inhabitants of my friend’s land prefer to talk in a formal style with everyone except for their close friends and relatives. In many other states, people use standard types of communication, only speaking to a respected personality. It is common in my country to address someone on the street in an informal way.
Non-verbal signals are underestimated in Russia as people pay more attention to the words and actions instead of analyzing the language of the body. My friend proposed the idea that this specificity is correlated with the climate, which is severe in the majority of regions. Wearing three or four layers of clothes makes it a challenging task to hug another person in a comfortable way. Moreover, it is hard to investigate and examine the gestures of other humans as their slight moves are hidden under the coat. Nevertheless, my friend highlights that the situation is changing nowadays, as Russian citizens begin to travel more after the collapse of the USSR. They analyze the behavior patterns of other nations, which are more concentrated on body language. However, adults and older people still remember the USSR’s past and cannot change their habits in such a short period of time.
Russian people have a diverse mindset in comparison to the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. For example, in case of a conversation about someone’s problem, they prefer to propose particular actions for the solution of the issue. In my country, humans would analyze the reasons and provide emotional support before discussing the final decision. Russian citizens perceive the help of the other person as something practical, while in Puerto Rico, care about the feelings is more important for the participants of the dialogue.
This interview is advantageous for my knowledge of the world because it would help me establish communication according to the needs of another person. When I would meet someone from Russia or other states, I would think more about being tolerant: I would use formal language at the beginning of the conversation, use introductory phrases before starting a dialogue. I understood that I should pay more attention to the personal boundaries of my companion. What is more, I am convinced that it is a normal practice to ask a person about his behavior, attitudes, rules, or customs concerning communication established in his country. It would be beneficial for both sides: I would not make a mistake, and another person would feel more comfortable and relaxed.
In conclusion, it is necessary to point out that there is no unique pattern of communication for people with diverse cultural backgrounds. It is essential to be tolerant of the representatives of other countries and regions in order to establish good relationships. The interview with the Russian friend is an illustration of the fact that personal boundaries may vary significantly depending on the environmental particularities and traditions of the country. At the same time, I suppose that I should try to establish more relations with people of other nationalities as it is beneficial for self-development. It helps to broaden my horizons and learn more about the particularities of socialization in my native country. Comparing the common environment to foreign ones is advantageous for investigating the cultural specificities of Puerto Rico.