Marsha thought things were going well with her new French friends, particularly Bertrand. He continually invited her to interesting and fun events, but he was constantly making fun of her. One day at an art exhibit, while looking at a particularly abstract piece, Marsha says that she cannot understand what the artist was trying to express. Bertrand smiles and responds, "Yes, I'm afraid French art is far too advanced for Americans to comprehend." Marsha was desperate; she really liked him and could not figure out what she was doing to cause his constant teasing, so she asked her host mother about it. "My dear," the host mother told her, "this means that he really likes you. In France, when someone feels comfortable enough to tease you, that means that you have been welcomed as an intimate friend."

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