How the Americans View Friendship

史迪仔妹妹

How the Americans View Friendship

Steve and Yaser ‵first met｜in their chemistry class｜at an American university. Yaser was an ‵international student｜from Jordon. He wanted to learn ‵more｜about American culture｜and hope that he and Steve would become ‵good friends. At first, Steve seemed ‵very friendly. He always greeted Yaser ‵warmly before class. Sometimes he offered to study with Yaser. He ‵even invited Yaser｜to eat lunch with him. ‵But after the semester was over, Steve seemed more distant.①The two former classmates｜didn’t see each other very much｜at school. One day Yaser decided to call Steve. Steve didn’t seem ‵very interested｜in talking to him. Yaser was ‵hurt｜by Steve’s change of attitude. “Steve said we were friends.” Yaser complained, “and I thought friends were friends｜for ever.” Yaser is a little ‵confused. As a foreigner, he doesn’t understand the way｜Americans view friendship. Americans use the word “friend”｜in a ‵very general way. They may call ‵both casual acquaintances｜and close companions “friends”.② These friendships are based on ‵common interests. When the shared activity ‵ends, the friendship may ‵fade. Now as Steve and Yaser｜are no longer classmates, their “friendship”｜has changed. In some cultures｜friendship means a ‵strong life-long bond｜ between two people. In these cultures｜friendships develop ‵slowly, since they are built to last. American society is one of ‵rapid change. Studies show｜that one out of five American families ‵moves every year. American friendships develop quickly, and they may change｜just as ‵quickly. People from the United States｜may at first seem friendly. Americans often chat ‵easily with strangers. But American friendliness｜is not always an offer of ‵true friendship. After an experience like Yaser’s｜people who’ve been in this country for only a ‵few months｜may consider Americans to be fickle. Learning how Americans view friendship｜can help non-Americans avoid misunderstandings. It can ‵also make them｜make friends the American way.