Americans often have short conversation, callet smoll talk, with strangers they meet. Such chats occur at bus stops, on buses, in elevators, while waiting in line-almost anywhere that strangers gather close together. These short verbal exchanges are a way to say hello and express friendliness. They usually cover a broad range of topics. These may include weather, customer service, movies, TV shows, or consumer products. Personal question about money, family, religious beliefs and politics are off limits during these conversation. It's best to ask open-ended question. If you ask visitora whether they like your city, they may say simply, "Yes." But if you ask "what do you think od our city?" they will have more freedom in answering. This type of question also shows that you are interested in their opinion. If you appear interested in what people are saying, they feel more comfortable talking with you.