At the margins of culture: Intercultural friendship between Americans and Chinese in an academic setting

The number of Chinese students and visiting scholars in the United States has been increasing rapidly. This ethnographic study examined intercultural friendships between Chinese nationals and American citizens associated with the University of Kentucky. Participants were undergraduates, graduates, professors, and visiting scholars. Over half participated with an intercultural friend. The other half had intercultural friends not able or willing to participate. Each participant was individually interviewed and completed a background survey. Most participants also contributed to an American, Chinese, or friendship pair focus group.; Grounded theory was used to anchor this intense exploration of the nature of intercultural friendship. Over 23 hours of qualitative interview and discussion data from participants provided a unique look at how individuals and cultures view personal relationships.; There were six general findings made that reinforce or contribute to the communication research base. First, there are fundamental differences between how the Chinese and the American participants view the basic concept of friendship. Time, listening, and helping behaviors are key elements. Second, religion plays a strong role for both sides in intercultural friendship formation. Third, talking is the preferred maintenance activity. Fourth, language differences are important, but those differences only become significant when they intersect with socialization and enculturation. Fifth, American participants report being happy with the number of intercultural friends whereas the Chinese participants wish to have more. Sixth, friendship for the Chinese participants is not supposed to end. American participants believe that this particular friendship will not end. Time and effort are the major causes of failure among intercultural friendships, but for very different reasons.; There are similarities between friendship pairs, but it is not as simple as a matter of degree. Enculturation and individual flexibility often determine the success or failure of intercultural friendship.