ChristineB WK4AS2

This is an awkward subject to write about honestly. I tend to treat people of other cultures the same as I would any other. I've never been one to group people and treat them differently, because in the end, they're people too. So on basis of culture or ethnicity, I don't feel that there are significant (if any) differences with how I speak to them than people of my own culture or ethnicity. I suppose that speaking with people older than myself, I'm a bit more reserved and quiet. I tend to view older people as people to learn from, so I get embarassed showing my age or answering a question naively. I try to act polite to people older than I am, especially people from different companies than my own, or my boss. I suppose I'm old fashioned when it comes to communicating professionally or when first meeting people outside of the work environment. I try to stay polite and kind, because I tend to believe that first impressions really do make a difference. I suppose I need to work on becoming too introverted around large groups of people, especially groups of people who are older, because sometimes I feel it really causes me to be overlooked. I'm not quite comfortable around people younger than myself, mostly because I am easily intimidated when someone younger than me shows great skill that I don't have. I try not to show that when I'm speaking, but it generally keeps me on my toes and trying to branch out and become proficient or better at that given subject. When it comes to various groups, age is really what adjusts how I speak and interact with people. I've always been around the disabled, different races, ethnicities (I have a really mixed family), so it's really not something that affects my communication skills.