Case study Case 1 A female neurologist from Beijing was working on a research project in a Toronto hospital. She shared a small office with a young Canadian physiotherapist who loved peanut butter. He was so fond of peanut butter that he kept a jar in the office. One day he came into the office and exclaimed, “Who took my peanut butter?” The Chinese woman immediately felt accused. After all, there were only two of them in the office. She was deeply distressed, but she said noting. Later that day she was working in a room where the physiotherapist was treating a patient who had suffered paralysis of his legs and arms from a motorcycle accident. The physiotherapist moved one of the patient’s legs in a way that caused him pain. “Ouch!” he cried. “Oh, I didn’t do that,” said the physiotherapist. “It was that doctor over there,” and he pointed to the Chinese woman. “How could she have done it since she’s on the other side of the room?” the patient asked. “Ah, she has three hands,” the physiotherapist replied jokingly, expecting the patient to be amused by his fanciful explanation for his pain. At these words the Chinese doctor became even more upset. She was very disturbed. She waited until the patient had gone and then said to the physiotherapist, “I’ m very upset by what you said.” The physiotherapist was taken aback. What had he said? “You said I had three hands.” The doctor finally choked. “You think I took the peanut butter.” Questions: 1) Why do you think the Chinese doctor felt accused when she heard the Canadian say, “Who took my peanut butter?” What did the Canadian mean by saying that? 2) What was wrong when the Canadian told the patient that the Chinese doctor had three hands? Case 2 An American university student Tom is active in a foreign student club at his university and has several good friends from different countries. One of them tells Tom his parents and sister will be visiting, and he asks Tom if he would like to meet them. Tom invites all of them to visit his home one afternoon. They arrive and present him with a nicely wrapped gift, which turns out to be a very pretty vase from their country. He thanks them again. He senses some awkwardness and realizes that he has not offered them anything to drink. “Would you like coffee or tea or a soft drink?” he asks. They all refuse. Things seem more awkward now. But he talks a little about their country, about studies at the university, about the cost of living, and eventually the father whispers something to his son. “I think we must be leaving to return to the hotel,” he says. Everybody stands up, shake hands, and they start t to leave. “Please come and visit again,” Tom says as he stands and watches the family walk to the door, open it, and disappear down the hall. Two days later, in a very indirect way, Tom learns from another friend that the visitors thought he was a rude host. Questions: 1. Why was Tom considered a rude host by his visitors? Try to figure out at least three things among the following Tom did that might be regarded impolite. a. Tom invites them to visit his home but does not invite them to have dinner with him. b. Tom opens the gift as soon as he is presented with it. c. Tom thanks them only twice for the gift. d. Tom does not make a second offer of drinks when they refuse the first. e. Tom talks about the cost of living in the U.S.A. f. Tom does not ask them to stay longer when they say they must be leaving. g. Tom does not go out to see them off. h. Tom does not promise to return them a visit later. 2. How can you explain the fact that Tom is misunderstood when he actually wants to be kind and kindly to the visitors?