Bridging the Gap: Intercultural Friendship between Chinese and Americans

This research aims to explore Chinese and American students\u27 intercultural friendship experiences on a U.S. campus. Twenty-five Chinese international students and twenty-five U.S. nationals participated in the study. Q-methodology was adopted in this research. Three of Hosftede\u27s cultural dimensions (low/high power distance, individualism/collective, and masculinity/femininity) and Hall\u27s concept of low/high context culture were used as a theoretical framework for this study. First, qualities that Chinese and Americans consider important in their friendships in each of their own culture were identified. Then this study found out that long-established expectations and understanding of friendship of both Chinese and Americans were challenged while communicating with people from the other culture. In addition, the elements that enhance intercultural friendships and the challenges American and Chinese are facing in their intercultural friendships were discovered as well. Recommendations for future research were also discussed