FRIENDS AND STRANGERS
-Margaret K. Nydell
This essay studies the intercultural differences in recreation with the concept of friends and stranger in American culture and in Arabian Culture. In Arabian culture, there is a distinct between friends and stranger.
There are certain rights and thirsty and friendship which are stranger is neither allowed for using rights nor he is offered any duties. In Arabian culture refusing a Friend is taken as work is impossible to perform a friend never of refuses it directly. His response is, "I will try my best." This response from a friend keeps the friendship alive forever.
In Arabian Culture, personal benefit is taken from the friendship. We often hear, "Do it for my sake."
But in American Culture no benefit is expected from the friendship. Even if a person is helped the other, he is not morally obliged to help him. The personal choice is so much valued that even the children are not obliged to take care of their parents.
In Arabian Culture, personal details are much more important than a person himself. They readily disclose their social and economic backgrounds in contrast to Arabian Culture, the Americans are unwilling to disclose their personal details. An individual is much more important than his background.
In Arabian culture visiting the friends is frequent without they visit their friends and stay there as long as they please. They do not feel that they are entering their personal life. Being alone is taken as either as being dissatisfied or sad. But in American culture privacy is highly valued. A person likes to have a moment of privacy. Besides, American enjoys being with the friends and they never let them cross the boundary of personal life.
These are some of the differences between the Arabian and the American concept of friendship. The Arabians have distinctly divided the line between friends and strangers but the Americans have blurred the Line.
