Eric and Chen first met in their Math class at an American college. Chen was an international student f China. He wanted to learn about American culture and hoped he and Eric would become good friends. At first, Eric seemed f. He always greeted Chen warmly before class. Sometimes he offered to study with Chen. He even i Chen to eat lunch with him. But after the term was over and they were in different classes, Eric seemed more distant. They didn't s each other very much at college. One day Chen called Eric, But Eric didn't seem very interested in talking to him, Chen was h by Eric's change of attitude（态度）. "Eric said we were friends." Chen said. "I thought friends were friends forever. As a foreigner, he doesn't understand the way Americans view friendship.

    Americans use the word "friend" in a very general way. Their friendship is based on common i. When the shared activity ends and they have no the same interests, the friendship may die. Now as Eric and Chen are no longer c, their "friendship" has changed.

    In some culture's friendship m a strong life-long tie between two people—friendship develops slowly, since it is built to last. American friendship develops q, and it may change just as quickly.

    Learning how Americans view friendship can help non-Americans remove misunderstandings（误解）. It can h them make friends in the American way.