About what? In what circumstances? Walk up to people tending their front yard and strike up a conversation? At bus stops? I've tried at least the latter but people generally aren't up for it in western Europe at least
This advice article could be a whole lot more concrete
Smaller town cafes have worked for me to chat with people. People who work there especially want to chat to practice their English. But, you have to leave the large tourist cities. It also helps to go to the same place a few times, then people get curious about you.
Bars also work, because after a couple of pints everyone gets a bit chatty.
Stay in hostels and chat to other travellers. Depends on your time of life though. There's totally a gap for high-end hostels for mid-life people with some money who still want a common area to hang out in, but without staying in a crappy dorm. Hotels just don't have the same vibe.
Yes but also many hostels are rank. The last one I booked into in South America I just had to assume the bedding had been changed. And it was a good job I was waking up early because the piece of paper for a curtain was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Where would you normally talk to people in your home city or area? Would you talk to strangers tending their yard? Or would you try more sociable places like cafés and bars? So too with solo travel and conversing, people are generally the same everywhere. They'll be on their guard if a stranger comes up to them at a bus stop or in front of their lawn, but they'll be much more approachable in social areas.
Where would you normally talk to people in your home city or area?
Wanna know why I don't speak German after four years of living here? ;)
Without going out of your way for a language course, the interaction with German in Germany is limited to "by card please", "have a good evening/weekend", "a ticket to Aachen please", and forms/contracts like municipal registration, tax returns, and rental contract. Which are way too complex so you use a translator. Similar for a job in German: without first learning it, you can't get one, so you take an English job and the cycle continues.
Yes, I really need to be taking a language course like yesterday already. I'm aware, but that still would not get me chatting with locals; rather, other immigrants and a teacher or so.
Or would you try more sociable places like cafés and bars?
When we go to cafés, I'd find it super weird if someone came up to our table to make small talk. Worse than at a bus stop. Bars are afaik for people (mainly teenagers) to get drunk together at but I don't drink so I've not been to one, rather walked past outside and can't say that what comes out of that entrance looks appealing to interact with.
When It wasn't intuitive to me or for the other side, I used some sneaky ways/tricks:
Asking them if they're from here? if yes - ask a favor. and then ask some other questions about related stuff... if no - "then where are you from?" "and what are you fucking doing here?"
complementing them - on anything.
Don't care. you'll never meet them again (if something goes wrong) so if you want something, ask for it. if you have something stupid to say, say it, it's better than nothing.
I did it at the train, bus, street, hostel.
it seems that everyone in their headphones and doesn't want to talk, but people actually like to discover, to learn, to joke. It's just a mask.
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About what? In what circumstances? Walk up to people tending their front yard and strike up a conversation? At bus stops? I've tried at least the latter but people generally aren't up for it in western Europe at least
This advice article could be a whole lot more concrete
Smaller town cafes have worked for me to chat with people. People who work there especially want to chat to practice their English. But, you have to leave the large tourist cities. It also helps to go to the same place a few times, then people get curious about you.
Bars also work, because after a couple of pints everyone gets a bit chatty.
Stay in hostels and chat to other travellers. Depends on your time of life though. There's totally a gap for high-end hostels for mid-life people with some money who still want a common area to hang out in, but without staying in a crappy dorm. Hotels just don't have the same vibe.
Many hostels have private rooms exactly for this purpose
Yes but also many hostels are rank. The last one I booked into in South America I just had to assume the bedding had been changed. And it was a good job I was waking up early because the piece of paper for a curtain was about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Striking a conversation with someone at a bus stop is likely interrupting someone who has to be somewhere, so will stay rather shallow.
Try parks, bars, college campuses, maybe museums.
Where would you normally talk to people in your home city or area? Would you talk to strangers tending their yard? Or would you try more sociable places like cafés and bars? So too with solo travel and conversing, people are generally the same everywhere. They'll be on their guard if a stranger comes up to them at a bus stop or in front of their lawn, but they'll be much more approachable in social areas.
Wanna know why I don't speak German after four years of living here? ;)
Without going out of your way for a language course, the interaction with German in Germany is limited to "by card please", "have a good evening/weekend", "a ticket to Aachen please", and forms/contracts like municipal registration, tax returns, and rental contract. Which are way too complex so you use a translator. Similar for a job in German: without first learning it, you can't get one, so you take an English job and the cycle continues.
Yes, I really need to be taking a language course like yesterday already. I'm aware, but that still would not get me chatting with locals; rather, other immigrants and a teacher or so.
When we go to cafés, I'd find it super weird if someone came up to our table to make small talk. Worse than at a bus stop. Bars are afaik for people (mainly teenagers) to get drunk together at but I don't drink so I've not been to one, rather walked past outside and can't say that what comes out of that entrance looks appealing to interact with.
Maybe I'll be in Germany soon for a travel. I'd love to meet: yuvalaizenman@gmail.com
When It wasn't intuitive to me or for the other side, I used some sneaky ways/tricks: Asking them if they're from here? if yes - ask a favor. and then ask some other questions about related stuff... if no - "then where are you from?" "and what are you fucking doing here?"
complementing them - on anything.
Don't care. you'll never meet them again (if something goes wrong) so if you want something, ask for it. if you have something stupid to say, say it, it's better than nothing.
I did it at the train, bus, street, hostel.
it seems that everyone in their headphones and doesn't want to talk, but people actually like to discover, to learn, to joke. It's just a mask.