through the grapevine
So I'm sitting here in this library and doing my thing reading articles here or there, and occasionally goofing off/procrastinating, and apparently eavesdropping on this pair of international students while I'm at it.

If that isn't multi-tasking... I don't know what is. =p

..ok, they're gone... I didn't mean to, but they were talking about experiences they've had over here and problems with conversations/the language... and help me, but I find that stuff interesting so yeah, I'm a snoop. They're both Asian (I couldn't begin to designate where), and the guy there I knew, he tutors for a few sections of math in one of the buildings, but mostly they were talking about ideas of staying here, amongst other things.

And they were noting troubles with other people using informalities (slang, etc.) in English around them, with this effectively throwing a monkeywrench into their heads and being a silent killer to the conversation. Which I can sympathize with... if you aren't being attentive to where the person you're communicating with is coming from (I don't mean geography, but you know), you very likely will fail in your effort of communication at least in part, if not in totality.

To say the least, very good communicators always bear this in mind, no matter what kind of interaction they're entering. This ensures not only that they will do their best in understanding the other's words and meaning behind them on that end, but on their own it also decreases any chances at very bad miscommunication like... people out there who want to express their displeasure with someone for doing random thing, but wind up totally doing it in an inappropriate, and/or potentially argument-causing way and gaffing it. Or simply by not electing another, equally appropriate way that would avoid territory you'd rather not venture to with someone. It is always, at baseline, of highly great use to -you- but with an even greater benefit to others as well.

To know the arts of this is more important than many and all dream. And yet it is a very delicate thing that neither can be taught, though it can be helped to a point and encouraged to those interested and receptive. Only accurate imagination and experience will serve you here while wading through the varied shorelines though. It is a thing that very literally can make all the difference in the world.