Tuesday, October 04, 2005

How's the weather?

The most usual question I get these days from people abroad is: "How's the weather in Brussels?"

An more and more I say: "It depends!"

Because that's the truth... It depends on the minute you ask, or on the street I may be, or on the window through which I look outside. It may even depend on the shadow of a tree: freezing wind under the shadow, which is not so bad if you get some sun.

Therefore, when leaving home you can never say that today looks good or bad, because it will just change. The best option is to be prepared for all the possibilities you have here: cold or not so cold; rainy or not so rainy; because that's Brussels!

But most of all, it depends on one's mood!

So you understand that I don't know how the hell to reply to such a simple question as

"How's the weather?"

Today? A bit cloudy! Ah, you mean outside !? It depends...

7 Comments:

Blogger Lino Gomes said...

In Porto it is shunny and hot, and it's October

2:49 PM  
Blogger ice breaker said...

From the list of questions that I never know how to answer: how was your flight!

Oh what a question. As usual? A bit late? I slept? Crappy food? I mean, it will always be the same answers, and even if they might slightly differ, who cares?

I know that people want to be friendly, but if for a change something different to always happens, I promise to tell you. And for the meantime, my flight today was just as every other flight!

Being a bit creative even in small talk does not do any harm.

12:19 AM  
Blogger Pedro said...

But you, more than anyone, should know that those may be great ice-breakers :-)

And we couldn't survive in Brussels without these little "conversation unlockers".

It's the same with: Do you enjoy living here? How long do you live here? What do you do? How long will you stay here?

You also have for phone conversations the famous "Where are you?", but the top of the tops is someone, which calls you late at night or very early in the morning, starting by "Are you sleeping?"

By the way, give some ideas on how to be more creative in small talk...

2:53 AM  
Blogger ice breaker said...

I propose:

Where did you buy your beautiful earrings? (compliment included)
Did you start to work out? (equals, you look splendid)
What do you think about the european constitution? (intelligence test)

but you are of corse right, we need those little ice breakers, but i prefere the ones you have mentioned about: what do you do, where do you come form, what are your plans with the current job...

all better then asking bout the flight!

12:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I alked about the weather for 45 min with someone westerday.

sometimes talking about the weather is the only solution!

8:36 AM  
Blogger /me said...

Ah, maybe that's why i always think it's lovely in Brussels, whilst a friend and colleague of mine thinks it is dreadful!

1:55 PM  
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8:52 PM  

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