Hello & goodbye
When Americans meet their friends, they often begin their conversations with a greeting and then ask about the friend’s health, family, and job. Most of the time the conversation is optimistic. Even conversations about sad events such as serious illnesses, family problems, or deaths usually end in a hopeful way. People discuss special family events such as marriages, births, deaths, graduations, new jobs, and new homes. One friend will usually wish the other good luck or offer congratulations. If the news is unhappy, he or she will express sympathy and then add a hopeful comment.
There are special rules about the discussion of money. Friends like to share good news – like a job promotion – or tell about major purchases like a new house, car or furniture. But they seldom discuss the amount of money they got or spent. A friend might tell you how much an item cost, especially if it was a bargain, but it is not polite to ask "How much was it?” Friends often discuss financial topics such as the economy, inflation, and the high cost of living.
