Beware that in India, you may be asked more personal questions than you’re used to fielding during small talk, but it’s only in an effort to establish trust. Small talk is appreciated throughout much of Asia, including in India, where it’s polite to ask about social matters, such as weekend or vacation plans. If you’re in search of a topic in one of these meetings, discuss one of your positive experiences in China, and you’ll be all set. In the business world, first meetings among Chinese associates are rarely productive, and are considered more of an opportunity to meet one another and get comfortable. Their neighbors in China, however, thoroughly enjoy exchanging pleasantries. In Russia, they prefer “easy talk” to “small talk,” preferring to discuss an in-depth hot topic rather than the score of the game or the upcoming weather. Russians are turned off by this seemingly superficial chatter. Other popular topics include the newest tech gadgets and food. Sports are a safe topic in most countries, including in Arab countries, where it is common to engage in a lot of small talk. Starting with the fact that it’s called futebol down there (and basically everywhere that isn’t the United States). Soccer is always a safe topic for chatting with a Brazilian, but only if you actually know a thing or two about it. Speaking of people who care, Brazilians are particularly fond of small talk and will strike up a conversation with just about anyone, anywhere. On the contrary, if someone asks you how you’re doing, they truly care to hear that answer. It’s not because they’re intrinsically rude, small talk is just not part of their culture. Most Swedes, Fins, and Norwegians have conversations to truly converse, not just to fill time or interrupt a silence. do, and it would be very rare to hear a conversation filled with social pleasantries. Scandinavians do not appreciate small talk the way people in the U.S. If business or pleasure takes you to Scandinavia, you’re in for a shock. It’s such a natural part of our social interactions that we expect the same exchanges with just about anyone, right? But what about when we travel abroad? Most conversations, even with friends, family members, and colleagues will start with some kind of pleasantry, ranging from “How was your day?” to “What’s up, man?” Even with strangers, we’re likely to strike up a conversation about something trivial, like the weather or sports. In the United States, small talk is a big part of everyday life. The first few sentences you exchange may set the tone for the rest of your conversation or meeting, so it’s important to start out on the right foot. Whether you’re meeting with a business partner or just trying to fit in with the locals on vacation, how you approach small talk is an immediate indicator of your cultural knowledge.
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