when cultures collide...

how do i talk to someone, who was born and reared in a culture that i find alien???
the way i would talk to you, he said, answering his own rhetorical question...
the things that some find offensive, i might laugh about...
some rites that would appall me, are everyday occurrences elsewhere...
the words that some folks say, seem strange, and suspicious...
the shadow folks running the internet created emoticons so that adding a "smileyface" to one's text would let folks know that no harm or foul is intended...

and yet, fear exists...

"have a nice day!!!"
"what do you mean by that???"

:'(