One example where I reacted in an interculturally sensitive way occurred during a university group project with a teammate from Japan. During meetings, I noticed that she rarely interrupted others and often remained silent. At first, I interpreted her silence as a lack of confidence or preparation, since in my cultural background active participation and openly expressing opinions are seen as signs of engagement. However, instead of judging her behavior based solely on my own cultural norms, I reflected on the possibility that communication styles differ across cultures. I realized that in Japanese culture, communication is often more indirect and focused on maintaining group harmony, and silence can indicate respect and thoughtful consideration rather than disengagement. Recognizing this helped me shift from an ethnocentric to an ethno-relative perspective. Rather than expecting her to adapt to our style, I adjusted my own behavior by creating more space for her to contribute, inviting her to share her ideas in a supportive way, and allowing pauses in conversation instead of immediately filling the silence. By doing so, I demonstrated acceptance and adaptation—key characteristics of the ethno-relative stage of cultural sensitivity—because I acknowledged the legitimacy of cultural differences and modified my behavior to communicate more respectfully and effectively.