EY Y04 L29 Meeting New People

There are many professions where being able to meet and talk to new people on a regular basis is an essential skill to have. Name one. Do you think you would be good at this job?
Do you enjoy meeting new people? Has this always been the case?
Do you find it easy to make new friends? Why?
Where is a good place to go in your area to meet new people?
There are many topics of conversation that are best avoided when talking to someone for the first time. Name one. Have you ever been in a situation where someone asked you something that you felt was a little too personal or direct? Please give an example.
What topics of conversation are a safe staple in Japan when meeting people for the first time (for example at a work event or wedding)? What topics of conversation leave you feeling unengaged?

Question 1

People who work in the tourism industry are constantly meeting and talking to new people, helping them plan trips or find the places they want to visit. I think I could be good at this because I enjoy talking to people and the subject of traveling is always fun. When someone is excited about something I also get excited about it.

Question 2

Yes, I do enjoy meeting new people. I always have, even if it is for a short time. I learned the Japanese phrase "ichi go, ichi e" after moving here and I love this concept. We don't have a word for this in English, maybe "once in a lifetime", but I feel like that is more serious. Either way I really love it.

Question 3

Yes, I am always happy to make new friends! The more the merrier! You can never have too many!

Question 4

I'm still kind of new in my area, but I would say that cafes are usually a decent place to hang out and meet other regulars. Public events would also be a good place to meet people with similar interests.

Question 5

The riskiest topics are always politics and religion. Unless you're sure they will have a similar view it's best not to bring them up. As for more casual topics I would warn against asking too many personal questions such as if or when they will have children. If you don't know the person well you could accidentally offend them or remind them of a painful memory or situation.

Question 6

"Atsui desune/Samui desune" are absolute staples in Japan. Everyone loves talking about the weather here. Myself included! Small talk is big in Japan, at least from this viewpoint. At gatherings people tend to talk about the weather or their jobs. I could also say that these topics get old pretty quickly. You can only repeat them with so many people at the gathering before it becomes mind numbing.