After moving to Taiwan from America, I noticed that asking about someone profession is an American thing. Not once has anyone asked me what I do for work after moving here. Except from Americans.
We ask that question, because flat out asking their net worth is impolite.
We need to place them on the income scale, above or below us, so we know how to treat them. This is exactly what is happening, but no one will admit it.
I think it’s more a conversation starter. Some people who work might have interest in their job and might get them to open up faster. In Taiwan, it deters people from opening up.
After moving to Taiwan from America, I noticed that asking about someone profession is an American thing. Not once has anyone asked me what I do for work after moving here. Except from Americans.
We ask that question, because flat out asking their net worth is impolite.
We need to place them on the income scale, above or below us, so we know how to treat them. This is exactly what is happening, but no one will admit it.
I think it’s more a conversation starter. Some people who work might have interest in their job and might get them to open up faster. In Taiwan, it deters people from opening up.
I’m just shit at small talk and it’s an easy opening.
It’s just small talk. Work is a huge part of most Americans identity so it’s natural to look for similarities in other people’s work
Ya, I think American associates their work as their personality. I find this interesting.
It’s more like they associate work with your value as a human being and aren’t shy about it.
Happens way less often in the mid west vs SF Bay Area
Quite refreshing to have no idea what a lot of people do for a living
I learned the hard way. The first few times I asked someone in Taiwan I just met, the awkward silence and the ambiguous answers made me stop asking.