Communicating differenty with different people

I found myself responding differently to different groups and cultures.  I realized that I speak my carefully and take more time to respond to cultural groups that different from me.  For example, I have a friend who is Middle Eastern and we began to speak about religion.  I almost came out and called God, Allah, to her but then I realized it would've been wrong.  She didn't tell me she was Muslim and I didn't want to assume because of her appearance (she wore the head dress most Muslim women wear).  So I kept saying high power but when my Christian friend joined the conversation I began to use the name God. 

I wish I had just said God from the beginning because it cause there to be an awkwardness between my Middle Eastern friend and I.  She noticed the difference and became less responsive with me.  If I could change it would just had use the word, God, from the beginning. 

Watching TV with no sound

The television show I decided to watch was Polygamy, USA, or the National Geographic Channel.  My big aha moment was the fact I was completely off about how the characters were feeling.  When the volume was off I made assumptions based on their facial expressions.  Most of the wives, or sister wives, looked miserable.  I thought they were saying how awful it was to be in a plural marriage.  Then all the men looked happy.  They were ones smiling and laughing.  When I turned the volume back on I was wrong.  The wives were expressing how much they love being a part of a plural marriage and the men were expressing how difficult things are being married to more than one wife.  It makes me wonder how true are the words they were saying.  Then it makes think about how children interpret what I am saying when my face says something different.       

A Great Communicator

The one person who I try to model when it comes to communication is my mother.  She is leader at her church and serves on many different auxiliary boards.  To me, she always shows respect to others by listening to them and addressing any concerns.  Also when situations began to get hot and frustrations begin to show, she speaks so calmly but at the same time she commands the room without yelling or screaming.  I want to be able to do that.  That's why to me she is a great communicator.