2/06/2017; Lesson 06: Response to "Differences in Emotional Expressivity"

"Emotional expressivity is one of the most easily misunderstood things than many other things in cross-cultural differences," said the BYU teacher. I have never thought about it in that perspective,  I have been judgmental. Now I see it better at least the teacher's explanation is helping me to see that. First, I want to say while I was finishing this assignment, I did not save the previous changes I made yesterday at night, so I have to type again my thoughts from last night.

I want to share and experience when I came to Lima after a while and as a "normal person" not as a missionary, as I would call myself. While in the mission, for one reason or another, I clearly noticed the leadership position I was, It took me time to realize that. I noticed that people would listen to anything I was going to say. somehow, people was waiting for my words.

I remember once, I was sharing the gospel with a family, and I felt that whatever I was going to say to this family they were going to believe it and act or accept any invitation. it gave to me goosebumps, After that I was very careful with the things I was saying to people and I always treated with respect to anybody with the only purpose of letting know to the people that I was looking to teach in such a clear way, allowing others time to think and meditate before making any decision. I was always paying attention not only to my words but also to my actions. Since then, I was trying to be not only understood but also I was trying not be misunderstood.

Something else that I would like to discuss is how some people manipulate the idea of speaking clearly with speaking big bad words. Other people mistreat others in a "polite way" so when the mistreated person realizes or react to the mistreatment, They are accused as anti-social.

Thanks to the analysis after watching the video, It made me think about the way emotional expressivity may affect. When you visit my hometown, you do not need much formality, people can smell to distances when someone needs help or when someone is trying to take advantage of somebody that they do something to prevent the abuse.

In my hometown is easy to reply an emergency. That is key. We are discriminated because we do not have the appearance of having much, but if you see the map of the country, we have it all. We are the people from the biggest natural region of the country, Inkas, terrorist, Spanish conquerors, Invasive soldiers from other countries, nobody was able to penetrate the country. But we lost territory because the corrupted presidents just gave up territory that has the blood of our ancestors, Fujimori among others.

I did not want to go political but it is our every day these days. People from the jungle are misunderstood and mistreated, especially the girls. Because they are very nice and friendly, people from other places do not understand that or do not want to believe it. especially when they are rejected.

As I said at the beginning, I was not aware of all this complexity until now.