3 Ways To Start A Conversation with A Stranger

Creative Commons picture by lakshmi.prabhala.

Chatting with the people you meet during your travels can be one of the most rewarding parts of any trip. Other travelers can have a lot of experience, and people in other parts of the world can explain perspectives that are very different from those you might find back home. Here is quick guide for conquering your initial fear and starting a conversation.

1 - The Weather

Creative Commons picture by extranoise.

As blasé as it may sound, talking about the weather actually works. The weather is something that we all experience, are all influenced by, and usually don’t blamed on strangers. A quick “I’m glad it is such a nice day” or “wow, I wasn’t expecting that rain” is a nice non-aggressive opener.  It is so good at starting conversations that I sometimes wonder if all of human society would fall apart without such a topic.

Disadvantage

You can get trapped in a conversation doldrum. Once the ice is broken you are still miles from other topics.

2 - Use Props

Creative Commons picture by Richard Moross.

Photos of my family and home town are not only surprisingly interesting to strangers, but usually lead people to talk about their own family and town. On that long train trip this can start a very interesting conversation about various cultures. It also has the advantage of introducing you as a person with a mother and a father, someone who is more than just a nationality. That is the type of person people can identify with.

Disadvantage

Like a good boyscout you have to be prepared. The props have to actually be on you when you want to start the conversation. Since I sometimes have trouble remembering my pants, this is a lot to ask.

3 - Ask Advice

You are trying to learn from these people right? You could always just ask them. Perhaps they know some good restaurants or fun sights in the town you are headed to. If you are daring enough to mention where you plan to sleep, they could even save you quite a few bed-bug bites.

Disadvantage

If you start with something big, this can come across as a bit to forward. Who really trusts a stranger’s opinion about which graduate school they should go to?

There are also times when you can’t get out of your reservations. In these cases knowing that you are trapped in a bad situation can just make things worse.

Finally, don’t discount the chance that people can lead you astray. Some people really like hookah bars others are asthmatic.

Once The Ice Is Broken

Once you start talking one of the best ways to bring the conversation to another level is to volunteer a story about yourself. That story where you mistakenly ate a frog can cause people to laugh and even offer a similar story about themselves. The ideal story for such a situation is probably a little embarrassing. That way people don’t feel threatened or challenged to a “which one of us is cooler” contest.

When to Stop Talking

If you show people a picture of your dog Stinker, but they don’t make eye contact and reply in grunts, they don’t want to talk. In these situations continued attempts to start conversations will just piss them off. It is probably best to just sit there.

Creative Commons picture by *Solar ikon*.

Starting a conversation with a stranger in a distant land can certainly be intimidating. However, it is worth it. Advice from a local can help make your trip far more comfortable. That conversation could even become one of your fondest memories of the trip.