However, there are ways that can prevent intercultural communication from becoming a negative experience. This happens through knowledge and awareness. For effective communication, it is very important to realize that a person from a different culture has a different way of communicating (DeVito, 2012). Being aware of these differences can play an important role in shaping the positive experiences we have when communicating with other cultures. Houman and Flammia (2011) stated that having “…respect for differences is an important element of conscious intercultural communication” (p. 27). During this incident, my friends didn't understand the reason and finally took the reason personally. As a result, they confronted my mother about it, which was, in Indian culture, a disrespectful act. The initial problem in this situation was poor communication. I couldn't explain to my Kiwi friends how important it is in our culture to celebrate with family. The aspect of a highly collectivist culture was new to my young Kiwi friends. Therefore, I should have communicated and given them more context and knowledge so they could better understand the situation. Additionally, as an Indian New Zealander, I am able to embrace both cultures equally. However, due to the extreme cultural differences at play, it becomes difficult to communicate with each other.