Or they want to talk about the weather......

As Tom Waits asked in a song: Why do strangers talk about the weather?

In Merica, we be free slaves, by the rockets red glare Baghdad it! We ain't having no fureign talk round here! FREEDUMB!

In the US as people moved west and population was sparse, when a stranger showed up it was a natural inquiry, because people wanted to know what you could contribute to the community.

Cultures are different. In Europe people had no problem asking what you earned and other things we think are very personal. In Germany they were often very nosy. Germans relish their privacy but are always looking at what others are up to. Walk down a street and look up; you will often see a person looking down to see what is going on and if you do something they don't like they will call on you.

I was walking with my 4 year old daughter down a crowded street one day and carrying her on my shoulder. I got tired and put her down and said she should walk with me. She said no and stood her ground. I walked on but would stop and look to see what she was doing. Finally, she came running and took my hand. A German woman was watching and said to me "you are a terrible father"!

I have also noticed how others are shocked by how little America values family. To a foreigner, Americans love their families, and try to show it, but they take a backseat to bills, that is, here we tend to prioritize money; Not that I agree with it entirely, but my ex is Philippine, and those were her thoughts. Personally I think it’s a status check, making sure they are good enough. I feel ashamed telling people what I do for work because I know they are judging my entire worth on it.

No idea. I deal with a lot of europeans and one question I get a lot is "where were you born?" That one always throws me. Why would you want to know that? Its not a secret but it just seems like an odd thing to ask. I used to wonder what made them ask it before I figured out that it was just pure chance and stopped wondering.

Sometimes a cultural oddity is just an odd thing, sometimes it has a deeper meaning. For the work question I am leaning towards oddity.

American persona is primarily about work: dr, lawyer, janitor, teacher, landscaper.... Americans want to pigenhole you so that they can act accordingly. You don’t treat a lawyer like you’d treat a barista.

We are so materialistic here-someone's job gives an idea wha tyour income is,what your lifestyle might be, what your habitat looks like, where you may live.

Legacy of Puritanism: you're only as good as the quantifiable good you do for the community.