Cross Cultural Tip of the Month
How's the Weather?
Some of my clients have made the assumption that the weather is a safe topic to
begin small talk with people of other cultures. This is basically true, but I
would make a distinction between safe and effective.
In the U.K., the weather is one of the most welcome ice breakers, as
well as a topic to be discussed among close friends. In China, starting off a
conversation about the weather is not offensive, but it is strange and out of
place. In Japan, small talk of the weather is taken to new heights: e-mails
often begin with a detailed description of the beauty of the season.
If the stakes are high for your international interaction, check up on the
appropriate topics for small talk. You'll be glad you did!
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