Introductions

When two people meet for the first time in the states the conversation might go something like this:

Joe: Hi, my name is Joe and you are?
Jill: I'm Jill and I work with your wife, Rachel.
Joe: Oh really so are you a lawyer also ?
Jill: No, no I'm a paralegal but I'm currently taking night classes and hope to take the bar exam in a couple years. I've been so busy lately with school, work, and my cycling classes. So what do you do for work Joe?
Joe: I'm an engineer with McDermott and Smith. We have an office uptown near the park. I have a great office with a view over the park.
Jill: So what kind of work do you do exactly?
Joe: Talks about his occupation for next 5-10 minutes
Jill: Wow that sounds amazing.
Joe: Yeah it's not too bad, so you said you take cycling classes?
Jill: Talks about cycling class, goals etc.
Joe: Well Jill it was good to meet you.
Jill: Yeah you too Joe, hope to see you around sometime, maybe you should sign up for cycling.

In the Philippines a first conversation would probably go something like this (translated version):

Lito: Hey where are you going?
Rommel: I'm heading just over there.
Lito: Where are you from?
Rommel: Barangay Putingbuhangin
Lito: Oh really I have two cousins and a nephew in Putingbuhangin. Do you know Mary Lou Gallop, Mary Chrisa Lasat, or June Hernandez.
Rommel: Yeah June is my neighbor. Are you married?
Lito: Yes
Rommel: How may kids do you have?
Lito: Four, two girls and two boys. Are you married?
Rommel: Yes
Lito: Do you have any kids?
Rommel: No not yet.
Lito: Why?
Rommel: My wife hasn't been able to get pregnant yet.
Lito: How long have you been married for?
Rommel: About five months now.
Lito: Don't worry about it, hey I'm having a party won't to come over and have a couple shots.
Rommel. Of course.

After reading this you might think that there not that different and you have similar conversation in the states. But remember that your conversing with a complete stranger. The first 50 times a complete stranger asks you where your going, where you live, if your married, have kids, and a bunch of other personnel questions it really throws you for a loop. However we have definitely grown to appreciate the straight forward ask any question you want approach. Your able to learn so much more about a person. The biggest problem is when we meet the random American here and start asking those questions. They usually look at us like are you serious. No big deal though right?