This paper presents an open-ended variety of critical incident exercises (CIEs), called an ‘encounter exercise (EE),’ and examines what facets of intercultural competence systemic use of these exercises helps construct. It is argued that EEs help learners shape the ensuing habits of thought: (1) being mindful of the interpretation process in intercultural communication conditions, (2) consciously reviewing plural interpretations of enigmatic or awkward intercultural meetings, (3) paying alert attention to factors possibly influencing the interpretation of awkward intercultural meetings, in particular factors that impact feelings or interpretation rules, and (4) paying alert attention to the ‘benefit-of-the-doubt’ matter.