teasing and being teased

I read a NYT article today on the social practice of "teasing" and I realized that I only start to feel comfortable around new friends when they begin teasing me. I think it reminds me of my relatives and friends who teased me as I was growing up. Of course, teasing is different from humiliation--a form of social interaction that is unfortunately quite familiar to me as well. Even though I am for the most part well-socialized, cross-cultural forms of "teasing" can be difficult to negotiate or learn, and that must be partly why it has been difficult for me to build friendships with some Americans.