Communication is vital when conducting specific
research on subject matter experts. In this case, I had the opportunity to
interview Mr. Luis Cruz. Listening and transposing our conversation accurately,
directly correlates with effective communication.
Mr.
Louis Cruz
The individual that I chose to interview is someone that not only do I
respect as a person and for what they have accomplished in their life but also
for his daily actions. Louis Cruz is and has been my civilian boss for two
years now. Not only is he a great boss but he also has been in my shoes. He is
a retired First Sergeant form the United States Army and has a wealth of
experience not only in our current field of work but also in the challenges I
will face throughout my career. On the first day when I arrived and reported
into to meet him he told me that although he was the team lead or boss that he
considered himself more of a team member. To this day I still have found this
to be true. We have become what I consider very good work acquaintances with an
open flow of two way communication that results in quality products. His
diversity across multiple plains will give great insight into communication
differences across subcultures, age in workforce gap, nationality differences,
language barriers of communication, and so much more! Simply speaking, Puerto
Ricans encounter the issues when it comes to communication within their
subculture as we all do in our particular subcultures. The barriers or
challenges may differ and their customs, habits, and practices may differ but
in the end the main goal of their communication intent is to send and receive
effectively just as Americans do. Mr. Cruz explains how what that communication
flow is like and how it has changed over the years.
Mr. Cruz was born in
Loraine, Ohio in 1964 to his parents who actually emigrated from Puerto Rico in
1950. Selecting him to interview opens many doors and looks into multiple
subcultures. First, the obvious of being of Hispanic nationality will allow
insight into a completely different culture. Second, because Puerto Rico is not
a state but a territory this makes for an interesting learning experience when
it comes to political differences from where is from and now lives which is
Virginia. Also he is technically from Ohio he frequented Puerto Rico often
because that is where 90 percent of his family is from. Even his sister who was
raised in Ohio alongside him now resides in Puerto Rico. He said that he tries
to go back there at least twice a year if he can and sometimes more often. He
is very close to his family and said “I really feel as if I got the best of
both worlds growing up in a Puerto Rican household in America.” He got to
experience both cultures simultaneously.
The
information gathered for this paper was obtained but conducting an interview
with Mr. Louis Cruz. Below is a list of questions I intend on asking Mr. Cruz
during the interview:
1.
What was your country of origin like in
terms of geography, government, transportation, economic system, and education
system? What were these aspects of life like during their childhood?
2.
What do you recall of the communication
with members of the dominant culture? What barriers to effective communication
did you encounter?
3.
In the United States today, what is
different in your life in terms of language, religion, family customs, diet,
recreation, and work, as compared to childhood?
4.
What are the cultural differences in the
way you were raised compared to how you raised your children in the American
culture? Do you wish you had altered the culture in which you raised your kids?
5.
What is the difference culturally speaking
in your native tongue versus in English?
6.
What role did the news media play in your
life and in either supporting or contesting your views your culture? How did
the media influence your individual beliefs and opinions about males and
females, masculinity and femininity, and other aspects of gender belief systems
and views about race and ethnicity?
7.
What are some of the most significant
differences in day-to-day life in the past versus today dealing with cultural?
Examples such as how elders are treated, customs and courtesies, and your
native cultural versus the cultural in which you now reside.
Mr.
Cruz said where he grew up in Loraine, Ohio it was truly a melting pot of
subcultures. He said “there were Croatians, Serbians. Pollock’s, Germans, and
many more ethnicities. There was a strip
of businesses on the main street where each ethnic group had a store front”. He
said the international festival they had every year went a long way in helping
him identify with other cultures. He got to partake in their native food and
see how their family values were. When asked did being Puerto Rican and
American help him to better understand and relate to the other cultures he
answered “absolutely”. While interviewing Mr. Cruz he began speaking about what
a real American was which made me recall the following “No fixed consensus
exist as to what it means to be an American because the definition of America
and thus of American identity itself are the subject of heated debate,
negotiation, and conflict. (Griffin, & McFarland, 2007). He said that when
growing up they he and all his friends classified themselves as Americans first
and of what decent second. “It was never about color or what type of American
you were. I am an American that is also Puerto Rican just like my friends who
were American but Croatian.” He said they hiring based off minority numbers,
checking the block as to what race you were, and color associated statistics is
what continues the problem of racism in our society today.
Mr.
Cruz said that growing up here in the United States is completely different
that in Puerto Rico. “Puerto Rico is a commonwealth in which there are no
taxes. Also there is no vote procedures allowed in PR. The government officials
are the ones who select the leadership. As far as the transportation; services
are provided but they are very expensive. Most of the times when he was going
from the inner city to the beach they would just hitch a ride with friends. He
also stated that “you hardly ever see large vehicles in Puerto Rico. The fuel
cost on average are .70-.80 cents higher per gallon. Minimum wage is the same
there as in the U.S and the low middle class income is $25,000 and average is
about $35,000 a year.
Even
when he goes back home to visit he could see the obvious differences. He said
“beans and rice are ate at every lunch and dinner meal every day” in Puerto
Rico. Growing up and especially raising his children there was a much wider
variety of food that was eaten. Also children communicate much differently.
They are much disrespectful and more worried about themselves as opposed to
family. “The younger culture is now a lot more Americanized which requires the
elders to speak to them a certain way to relay a point or get a desired action
from them. Even the music has changed; we play a lot all salsa and now the kids
listen to reggae tone” He said the social aspect is much more open and
expressive in PR than the United States. Although there is a high crime rate at
any given time you could show up at someone’s house to hang out and eat dinner.
Here in America people are so busy and defensive that showing up at someone’s
house without prior coordination would be viewed very derogatory.
When
speaking to him I posed the question were there any regrets in raising his
children when it came to the Puerto Rican lifestyle versus the American
lifestyle. He said the biggest thing he regrets is not teaching his kids
Spanish. Mr. Cruz stated “you know when you see the last name Cruz you expect
that person to speak Spanish. My daughter takes Spanish classes and practices
with me which is constant reminder that I should have taught them Spanish.” His
wife is black and a Christian so their food choices and religious choice
weren’t forced upon them and does not include beans and rice every day like it
would if they were living in Puerto Rico.
I
spent a little over an hour interviewing Mr. Cruz once I actually got to set
down with him. We had the interview scheduled for three different times but he
found out one of his family members were sick and he had to go out of town. As
a result I had to delay the submission of this paper but I am glad I stuck it
out and waited. I have learned a lot about not only his values and heritage but
also his views on communication. He feels that his heritage has a Puerto Rican
is completely different yet the same as any other American.
Overall,
Mr. Cruz feels that there has been a decline in discipline and respect from the
time when he was a boy till now. Growing up he was taught when being scolded or
corrected by an elder not to look them in the eye. Doing show presents a
nonverbal challenge to the elder. Not knowing this subculture tradition could
actually be misinterpreted and mistake leading to bigger communication
problems. (Jandt, 2013) Adapting this
nonverbal way of communicating was difficult for Mr. Cruz he said when he
joined the army. His superiors would always tell him to look at them while he
was being reprimanded but he had been taught his whole life that it was
disrespectful. For the most part Puerto Ricans are relaxed and have a
lackadaisical attitude towards getting things done. (Leslay University, 2005) “Touching
is common. Kissing on both cheeks is common among family members, relatives,
friends and acquaintances. Handshaking,
kissing, hugging, patting, embracing and holdings hands are common forms of
greeting.” (Leslay University, 2005) This is complete opposite of how Americans
communicate non verbally.
Americans
respect each other’s bubbles and person space where as in the Puerto Rican
culture they really done exist. It is actually considered disrespectful to take
a step back when speaking to a Puerto Rican; and even bumping is acceptable
where as it is considered a challenge or grounds to fight for Americans. (Leslay
University, 2005)
“Television
could not develop in Puerto Rico as early as in other areas of the Caribbean
region because of the island's status as a territory of the United States. As a
result of that legal condition the communication industry in Puerto Rico was
placed under the overriding control of the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), a situation that remains to this day” (Popelnik, 2015)
Mr.
Cruz said that there is a conflict of interest regarding the media. The U.S
portrays Puerto Rico as “wanting their cake and eat it too” type of country. In
his opinion the media is accurate by portraying that. He said that citizens of
PR don’t want to pay taxes but want all the benefits such as roads being paved,
imported and exported items, and other things that come from taxes. He agreed
that the media coverage is about 80 percent accurate on the coverage they
provide on Puerto Rico. The one false thing that the media portrays is that all
Puerto Ricans from NY are thugs or they all are hot headed which is not the
case he said. “While in Puerto Rico, the
media there shows that the U.S. is always trying to take something away from them
and that it is the goal of the U.S to PR a state. The media’s goal in PR is to
show the cons of the U.S. against becoming a state.” The outcome of the media and television
industry is best described from the excerpt below:
“If
the trends seen in the Puerto Rican television industry continue, further
expansion of large media corporations, acquisitions, mergers and realignments
may be expected. Educational broadcasters enjoy relative success and investment
and programming is increasing. Rapid growth will continue in the still
developing market of cable television as it increases in market penetration.”
(Popelnik, 2015)
The
communication flow has completely changed he said. His values are much more
focused on his family and spending time with them rather than obtaining
material things. He said “people are too materialistic and don’t focus enough
on family.” He was raised with emphasis on the family gatherings during the
holiday seasons rather than the gifts he was going to get. “Religion is much
more a part of the culture in Puerto Rico and is a bigger part of everyday
life” he said. Although his parents were not that religious it was still
incorporated into his catholic upbringing. When ask about his children and his
influence on them to attend church he said like his parents he was lack and
allowed them to make their own decisions.
“While
Puerto Ricans may be the most bilingual people in North America, they have a
long way to go. While they are not a shy or reticent people, many of even the
best educated among them are apprehensively hoping that we don't talk to them
in English.” (McCroskey, 1985)
This excerpt shows that communication apprehension
affects all languages. Surprisingly Puerto Ricans do not like to speak Spanish
around Americans (McCroskey, 1985) I think this is because as Mr. Cruz stated
they speak a lot of “slang” and “Spanglish” Perhaps they are afraid of looking
uneducated or get embarrassed if they were to have to search for a word and
take additional time to ensure they are speaking what Americans would deem
proper Spanish. I think this is just one barrier that everyone must be
tolerable and accepting of. The biggest take away from McCroskey’s article is
that regardless of race or ethnicity everyone encounters problems and fears
when it comes to expressing themselves and communication.
In
the end, communication has gotten worse because the relationships have gotten
worse. Technology along with disrespect has played a major role in the decline
of social communications and interpersonal relationships especially those of
different subcultures. The only way to gain ground in the right direction is
respect. Mr. Cruz stated “The communication and disrespect will get worse
before it gets better. I am not sure what it will take for it to happen but
people eyes will truly have to be opened before they are willing to change.”
His multi-cultural experience has allowed him to grow, work, maintain, teach
soldiers, and now continue to train soldiers on not only how to function at
their jobs but doing so positively with those of other subcultures. He leads
from the front in everything he does professionally and personally all while
taking everyone else culture into effect.
References
Griffin, L., &
McFarland, K. (2007). In My Heart, I'm an American: Regional Attitudes and
American Identity. Southern Cultures.
Jandt,
F.E. (2013). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in
a global community (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Leslay University (2005). ELL Assessment for Linguistic
Differences vs. Learning Disabilities. Retrieved from
http://www.ldldproject.net/cultures/puertorico/differences/nonverbal.html
Popelnik, Rudolpho, B. (2015) The Museum of Broadcast
Communications. Puerto Rico.
Retrieved from http://www.museum.tv/eotv/puertorico.htm
McCroskey,
James (1985) Don’t Speak To Me In
English: Communication Apprehension In Puerto Rico. Communication Quarterly
Summer. Retrieved from http://www. jamescmccroskey.com/publications/125.pdf
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