To build strong intercultural relationships, the very first requirements are language skills, job skills, and other practical or technical skills as well as necessary social skills. Such skills increase the likelihood of success in intercultural encounters.
We are often attracted to and tend to like people who are similar to us. However, similarity is not based on how we are actually like them, but on the discovery of similar traits. Do not strive to be like them, the similarities can be discovered from our insides. When people think they're similar, they have higher expectations about future interactions.
On the other hand, at other times we might seek out people who have different personality traits and therefore provide balance in a relationship. This person's pros can compensate the other's cons and this one's cons can be compensated by the other one's pros.