I wish that I could have friends: The Intercultural Friendship Experience of Omani Students at US Universities

Abstract

The domain of intercultural friendships between international and host national students represents a pivotal aspect of international higher education and intercultural communication. In response to the evident research gap within this realm, we conducted a phenomenological inquiry to explore how eight Omani students establish friendships with US host students and the factors that might either facilitate or impede these intercultural friendships. Through our interviews, we discerned four key themes: Adjustment (involving social integration and seeking part-time jobs), Acceptance (embracing new cultural norms and utilizing social media), English proficiency (being proficient in the language and displaying friendliness), and Similarity (finding common ground in country of origin or shared interests). Our investigation identified participants falling into distinct categories: some anticipated forming friendships with both local and international students, while others realized that lack of commonality, either in their home country or shared interests, limited their interaction and socialization with host students. Additionally, some expressed that nurturing friendships demands significant time and effort. Our research yields insightful conclusions on methods to enhance intercultural friendships, including the promotion of meaningful interactions between host and international students.