Americans like to chat. It is not uncommon for them to strike up conversations with complete strangers. In Britain or Australasia you would be considered somewhat abnormal to behave this way. I like it. I suppose the theory goes that if you're still conversing after 5 or 10 minutes then there is a mutual agreement that neither of you are crazy?! Or possibly that both of you are crazy in which case you'll be lifelong buddies. Americans love to socialize. It is an endearing and largely inherent American character trait in the Yankee makeup. The problem I have with Americans abroad, and for that matter any nationality who speak English as a first language, is their general expectation of foreigners to automatically speak and understand English regardless of where they are in the world. Yes, it
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