Recall from Chapter 1 that one of the fundamental assumptions about intercultural communication is that it is a group phenomenon experienced by individuals. Especially during our initial encounters with people from cultures different from our own, we tend to see them according to their group memberships, rather than as individuals. We tend to see the Saudi guy rather than Ahmed, or the Japanese woman rather than Michiko. To an extent, this is fine and appropriate because Ahmed is from Saudi Arabia and Michiko is Japanese, and those data provide us with valuable information by which to reduce uncertainty and interact appropriately. But to become competent interactants and develop meaningful relationships with others, we need to recognize not only the other person’s group memberships but also his or her unique individuality. We need to learn how to tailor our messages to that person’s cultural and individual identity.