Feel free to follow tangents. This is NOT meant to be another classroom activity for MEI Students, but a chance to talk and make an American friend. The subtle ways in which people communicate can differ between cultures. For example, Americans tend to space themselves at a particular distance from each other when talking. Other cultures tend to stand or sit much closer together.
Some cultures tend to touch each other more than others.
In many parts of Asia, people who are not friends rarely touch each other when communicating. In many Latin American countries, frequent touching, patting, or hugging is the norm. The way people greet each other differs between countries. Eye contact can differ dramatically between countries. If your partner's language is written in something other than the English alphabet, have them show you how it looks by writing your name on a sheet of paper.