Glad you brought it up -

It is hard when you are from a culture that frowned upon young women having opp gender friends - not only that it could even lead to a bad reputation - I don't know why - it is much easier to have opp gender friends in the US but then again I am single so I have to be mindful with my married guy friends - because their wives (who are also my friends) may frown upon that as well - sigh