Chen: Hi Mark. I haven't seen you since we finished the seminar. How have you been?
Mark: I just got married recently. Let me introduce you to my wife, Esin.
Chen: Hi Azen? Am I pronouncing it correctly?
Esin: Yeah. You're doing fine.
Chen: Oh. Please say it again.
Esin: Esin. It's a little hard. Just don't worry about it.
Chen: Azin? Ezin?
Mark: Chen, Esin means it. It's alright with her if you call her name little bit differently. In the U.S. we try hard to pronounce names correctly. But, the problem is we're not familiar with all the languages spoken in this country. So, we don't always do a good job at pronouncing people's names correctly.
Esin: Chen, Mark's right. I am Turkish. It's not a big deal for us.
Chen: Well. I've lived in the U.S. for the last five years. So I know how important it's here to do it right.
Esin: Where are you from, Chen?
Chen: I am from Shanghai, China.
Esin: I've never been to China. How interesting it's to meet you, Chen.
Chen: Thank you, Azen. I feel the same.
Mark: Esin, I met Chen in a seminar on software engineering in Silicon Valley.
Esin: When was it?
Mark: I think it was in September of 2004. We clicked well. I was thrilled about his expertise on web-based software development.
Chen: Thank you, Mark. It's flattering to hear it. But, I was having a hard time to catch up with your English.
Mark: I understood you well, though. Since then the improvement you've made with your English is just incredible. I hardly hear an accent now.
Esen: Wow! You speak so well, Chen. I also don't hear an accent. I hope I will catch up that fast, too.
Chen: You already speak English so well, Azen. But, don't worry about it so much. Americans are not picky. They appreciate the improvement new comers make with their English.
Mark: Thanks, Mark. I feel differently about it, though. We, Americans, are not worried over all that because we are so much into our own business. But, I believe speaking English well for a new comer is number one necessity for a new comer to get ahead in this country.
Chen: Yeah. You're absolutely right. It's been a challenge for me to understand the American culture, to be accepted by natives. Because my culture is so different. So is the Chinese language.
Esen: Chen, in your early days was it hard for you to make new friends? Did you feel isolated?
Chen: Of course it was hard. I was isolated in some ways, but I had my family with me.
Esen: So what'd you think of Americans? Are they easy to make friends with?
Mark: Don't you know the answer, yourself? I'm an American. Did I give you any hard time?
Esen: Oh, please be quiet. I want to hear it from Chen?
Mark: Ok. I'll shut up.
Chen: Americans tend to be friendly. But, to be honest with you, they make friends with new comers if there's a mutual interest and if you are in the right place. For example, if you meet with Americans in the business world, you could perhaps develop friendship with them outside their business. But this is not the case all the time.
Esen: You mean a mutual business interest makes it easy. So, what'd you mean by not all the time?
Chen: You must have a strong common interest. Perhaps it will be easy for you, Esen.
Mark: Can I just say this? It all depends on the person. If you are positive, sociable, and have interests, then it's not hard. Was it hard for you to approach me, Esen?
Esen: No, it wasn't
Chen: Well, Esen is an attractive female, speaks English so well, and she is an engineer like yourself, Mark.
Mark: It's true. Her beauty attracted me to her in the first place, and then our common interest. But, I have friends with different interests than mine. Not necessarily it's all business.
Esen: I see.
Chen: I have to go now. Let's keep in touch.
Mark: Sure, we'll do that. You have my telephone number. Let's go out together for dinner sometime next week. I've met Sue already.
Esen: It willl be fun to get together and meet with your wife, Sue, and children.
Chen: Sure, let's do it. I'll call you next week, Mark. It's very nice to meet you, Azen.
Esen: It's very nice to meet you, too, Chen. We'll see you soon.
 

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