Eye Contact

Yesterday I’ve read an article about eye movements. It analyzes the functions of the eye movements and how they influence communication. “The eyes are regarded as the most important nonverbal message system,” said the essay. Basically, the messages communicated by the eyes depending on three main elements: duration, direction, and quality. The average length of gaze is 2.95 seconds; that of mutual gaze is 1.18 seconds. Direction is then very depending; it counts on who you are and what you are doing. If you are now talking to your friend, your most acceptable direction is your friends’ eyes. However if you are now delivering a speech, you should scan the entire audience. Last, the quality is how wide or how narrow your eyes get during interaction.

In my opinion, the most interesting part is that merely with an eye contact, you can have the magical power to change the physical distance between yourself and another person. After last summer’s Chinese Program I joined, I have learnt to look into not only foreigners’ eyes directly but also the people around me. I’ve noticed that it’s quite common for westerners to look straight into other people’s eyes while they are having a communication. Contrarily, we Taiwanese are not very used to this style, especially when we are talking to a foreigner. Maybe it’s because we lack of confidence when speaking English, or maybe it’s just our habit. Most of Chinese don’t look into the other’s eyes directly while speaking; we look away regularly. But why? Is that our education taught us that looking into others’ eyes is rude?

Actually, I’m quite happy that I’ve change my old habit and become more comfortable and confident to look straight into others’ eyes while I’m talking to them. After my changing, I’ve found that my eye contact has helped my communication with others. They seem to have more reaction and show more interests in talking to me. Even my friends would tell me that I look different because of my eye expression has changed, which is more confident and brighter. I think this is what I gain from the experience of making friends with foreigners. I appreciate that sincerely. It helps me both substantially.

Memorizing the Dead

Recently I’ve read a news about memorizing those more than 4,000 dead in the war Iraq. The U.S. president Bush vowed to insure his words to a myriad of the sacrificed, of those who have died. “I hope their families know that citizens pray for their comfort and strength, whether they were the first ones who lost their lives in Iraq or they recently lost their lives in Iraq. Every life is precious in our sight,” said President Bush. During the past five years, NPR news has interviewed hundreds of those dead’s parents, spouses, children, friends, and those who knew then well. Then the following parts are a few of the voices of the interviewees, recalling their love ones.

“I have a hole in my heart. That’s the only way I can describe,” said a gentleman. Trying to imagine what if one day it was you who lost the closest family, how you will feel. Losing someone you love is like tearing a part of your heart apart from you, and throwing it to nowhere. It’s gone. Never will it come back. Emptiness surrounds you. “I feel lonely… without my father. He played with us; he sees movies with us; he teach us how to speak English,” said a little girl. In the war, children lose their dearest parents, lovers are separated, and parents lose their beloved kids. Wars bring nothing but separation and isolation. The most ironic is that numerous of innocent lives die just for few people’s greediness and hatred. War is the last thing I wish to happen on earth. I wish that human beings can someday learn how to love and how to forgive. Make this beautiful earth a heaven of peace.

Attitude-depended

I’ve played volleyball since I was very little; therefore, I’ve met lots of kinds of sportsmen. I can still remember the very first time that I found the humblest person was always the most outstanding person with great skill on his or her field. I was quite shocked. They didn’t clamor; they didn’t show off; they were clam and not showy. You could only find them when you saw them play on the court, and then, you were amazed.

Recently, baseball player Jian-Ming Wang has played a role of the representation of Taiwanese. His great skill and humidity attracts not only Taiwanese hearts but also foreigners’ respect. He speaks little. You can even say he is not a good speaker. However, he plays hard. He works more then he talks. Even when he’s now so successful and is admitted by the public about his excellence in his profession, he keeps staying low and works still hard in improving himself. To be honest, I am never interested in baseball, but I’m still touched by him and proud to have him honor Taiwan and Taiwanese.

Contrary, the other famous player Zhi-Sheng Lin is totally an opposite example. Now the hottest news is that he offended a referee right on the court during the play. I don’t really know what the problem between he and the referee is; nevertheless, I still consider that as a professional player, he should be more mature and be responsible of his deeds. As a public and famous person, he should know his every action might has a great influence to this society. Besides, no matter how mad he was or how unfair the referee was, he should have sportsmanship in his heart. How can he react so rashly? This is very unusual for me to see a master of sports has such kind of action. Maybe, this is just the reason that makes him not a master at all.

Even though it seems to be unfair to judge an athlete by his deeds but not his skills, yet in playing sports, sportsmanship has always been a basic but essential element. Only when players know how to respect each other can they have a harmony and also an interesting game. I hope every sportsman in Taiwan can have some reflections after seeing the news and be vigilant ever after.