Case Study: Intercultural Communication

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Hamid, a student at State University has received his Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and is currently in the final year of completion of his PhD. During his attendance at State University Hamid utilized the Foreign Student Advisors Office where he developed a close relationship with the advisor of that particular time. During the following years the student advisor was replaced by another student and the relationship between the advisor and Hamid was in its early phases. While not being a close friend, they were in fact friends. Hamid assumed that the role of a friend was to employ favors for one another. The ideal of doing nice things for each other in return for friendship was assumed on the part of Hamid.
The definition of friendship according the Webster’s Dictionary is, “the state of being friends, the relationship between friends, friendly feeling or attitude, kindness or help given to someone.” (Merriam-Websters Dictionary, 2014) In the case of Hamid and the Foreign Student Advisor, Hamid assumed that this definition proved to be true. In asking for help to get his “brother” admitted to the University Hamid tested his friendship and asked the favor of admittance. Although this definition does include that friends “offer help” this idea is not necessarily true in the case of a dishonest friend. Hamid was dishonest in his account of the situation and was in fact seeking to save his family friend from military life as well as fulfill a promise to the boy’s father. When finding out that his friend would have to follow proper school procedure of the admittance policy Hamid became upset saying, “Since I have been a student here I never asked for a favor. This is the only favor I have asked and you won’t help.” (Cardot, 1998)...

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...ommunications open and see them through to the end. An apology is something that can be very challenging for some and something that can easily roll off the tongue for others. I believe Hamid not only should issue a full apology to the advisor but should also apologize to the father of his friend and the friend. I understand that different cultures view apologies in a different light, so Hamid should act accordingly to not only his culture but the culture of the advisor.

References:
Cardot, J. &. (1998). DYNAMICS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION. Boston: McGraw Hill.
Daniel J. Canary, M. J. (2008). Interpersonal Communication: A Goal Based Approach (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins. Retrieved January 30, 2014
Merriam-Websters Dictionary. (2014, January 30). Retrieved from Friendship: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/friendship?show=0&t=1391110360

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