Signals , Symbols , and Vibes : an Exercise in Cross - Cultural Interaction *

AMONG THE TOPICS usually covered in introductory sociology courses, culture may be the most far-reaching and immediately relevant. Not only do cultural concerns cut across virtually every other topic in introductory courses, but the increasing diversity of the American population and the trend toward globalization demand that students understand the challenges and rewards inherent in cross-cultural interaction (Schmid 1995). As cross-cultural contact continues to increase and the boundaries among cultures become less and less clear, the skills needed to negotiate a culturally complicated world will continue to grow in importance (Sleek 1998). When concepts about culture are taught in an introductory sociology course, an ideal teaching moment is created for exploring cross-cultural interaction. Further-