Discussion 1

From the characteristics mentioned in the chapter, identify qualities that you believe are most important for a friend to possess. Is there a characteristic that you consider important that is not mentioned in the text? Do you embody these same qualities? If not, which do you need to practice more?

As you are thinking of your friends' characteristics, share an example of a relationship in your life that is in the stable stage. Based on the chart on page 210, identify why this relationship is in the stable stage and how this will be maintained over time. Next, share a relationship that is any of the other stage (initiating, exploratory, etc.)

Discussion 2

Complete some brief research about verbal and/or nonverbal communication in at least two foreign countries (Egypt, Japan, India, France, Spain, etc.). To do this, open a search engine like Yahoo or Google and search "business etiquette and France" or "nonverbal communication and Egypt" or "eye contact and Japan." These are just a few examples...be creative and enjoy learning about intercultural communication in different countries and cultures during your investigation. Then, in your response to this question, discuss some things you learned about communication in these two countries. Explain potential intercultural communication problems that might arise based on what you learned in your research.