Clash of Styles

The American style of communication, which is more direct than that of many other cultures, can affect your relations with host country nationals. Can you think of any times thus far in country when, in retrospect, you might have come on too strong, been too blunt, blurted out what was on your mind, or otherwise disturbed the harmony of a situation, or caused someone to lose face? Can you, alternatively, think of any examples of host country communication which, in retrospect, might have meant other than what you took it to mean? Note such incidents in the space below:

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