Steve and Yaser first met in their chemistry class of an American

university. Yaser was an international student from Jordan. He was excited

to get to know an American. He wanted to learn more about American

culture. Yaser hoped that he and Steve would become good

friends.

At first, Steve seemed very friendly. He always Yaser 【M1】__

warmly before class. Sometime9 he offered to study with Yaser. He ever【M2】__

invited Yaser to eat lunch with him. But after the semester was over,

Steve seemed more near. The two former classmates didn’t see each 【M3】__

other very much at school. One day Yaser decided to call Steve. Steve

didn't seem very uninterested in talking to him. Yaser was very hurt 【M4】__

by Steve's change attitude, "Steve said we were friends," Yaser【M5】__

complained of. "And I thought friends were friends forever." 【M6】__

Yaser is a little confused. He is an outside to American culture. 【M7】__

He doesn't understand the way Americans view friendship. Americans

use the word "friend" in a very general way. They may call both casual

acquaintances and close companions "friends". Americans have

school friends, work friends, sports friends and neighborhood friends.

These friendships based on common interests. When the shared activity【M8】__

ends, the friendship fade. Now Steve and Yaser are no longer 【M9】__

classmates. Their "friendship" has changed. American friendships develop

quickly, and they may change just quickly. 【M10】__

【M1】