Here is the story related to the two pictures. After finishing your reading please be ready to answer the questions.

A Chinese MA student who studies International Communication in Maryland, USA, is a lab assistant who works from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m. on workdays. She shares her bedroom with an American roommate on campus, however, they have never talked with each other in their room as they have a different time schedule for their study and sleeping time.

Every time when the Chinese student goes back to her bedroom late in the evening or sometimes in the early morning, her roommate is having a sound sleep. Then the Chinese student would take a shower before going to bed. American student, however, gets up in the morning, and then she would take a shower before going to class.

Due to their different times for showering, their conflicts occur every time one takes a shower, and the other is having a sound sleep. At last, the American student starts to “communicate” by posting a note on the fridge, stating“Do not take a shower while I am sleeping!” When the Chinese student gets up, she sees a note on the fridge, and then she posts another note on the refrigerator, saying “Do not take a shower too while I am sleeping!”

The Chinese student shares her story in her Intercultural Communication course and asks her professor for his intercultural advice. By following the professor's advice, their intercultural conflicts are very soon resolved. Since then, they have become very good friends. They have become such good friends, her American roommate often takes her Chinese roommate to her home for the weekends.

Then finish the reading and learn why we need to study IC.

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