Mastering small talk: a guide to social norms in the UK, part 2
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A lot of fellow Hungarians, the exact number most likely somewhere in the realm of hundreds of thousands, have chosen to leave their country behind to temporarily or permanently stay in the United Kingdom. This article is the second instalment of the series intended to help these Hungarians in various social interactions.
Shallowness vs staying silent: the art of small-talk
Ever heard the joke about Brits and the weather? Well, it is not entirely uncalled for. Small talk is incredibly important in British etiquette. You are required to participate even if you basically don’t have anything to say: refusal to do so is seen as rude and impolite (and as we all know, politeness is everything in the UK). However, a lot of Hungarians find small talk forced and extremely shallow: so how does one deal with this situation?
As advised previously, your best bet is, unfortunately, to go along.
Be creative and find a topic that you think most people can relate to and is not hard to talk about