Ode to small talk in the British way — From reluctance to appreciation: a journey through British small talk
As a Chinese Londoner who has spent more than five years in this marvelous city, I’ve grown fond of one British institution: small talk. My initiation into this ritual was not so smooth. When I started my first job after my PhD in London, I faced a cultural shock. The company was extremely welcoming—I received more than a dozen coffee chat invites from colleagues in my first week. I was overjoyed, yet unease crept in. What on earth would I say? Should I talk about my research, the weather, or maybe what I had for breakfast?