Cultural model Amelia Walter-Dzikowska cites in the Q&A. Coconut cultures (e.g. Polish, Scandinavian) are hard on the outside — people don't smile much at first contact — but once you break through they become direct and form strong, lasting bonds. Peach cultures (e.g. American) are soft on the outside — easy initial friendliness, 'let's make friends' — but have a hard pit inside: closer cooperation often hits a wall and the apparent directness turns out to be surface-only. Useful frame for why cooperating with Americans can feel direct at first and indirect later.