When I commute and take the train to go to work, I sometimes take the train that eventually goes to the airport. So in the morning, whenever this is the next train that I can take to Ostbahnhof, I encounter interesting passengers who would be going to the airport, with their luggage. For the most part this is an uneventful affair, but sometimes, I hear passengers who immediately give away the fact that they are Americans.
I suppose it is a true stereotype that Americans are on the louder side of things. Somehow, this idea of private voice doesn't exist. But there's this other aspect which I find fascinating. They seem to be very friendly, and would volunteer information that you otherwise didn't ask for. I have witnessed it several times, when Americans would just ask random fellow travelers, who are otherwise strangers, regarding their travel plans. Or they themselves would volunteer their travel plans and tell it to their neighbour, who is otherwise a stranger. There seems to be this innate desire to just talk and share information.
A few weeks ago, when we were on our way to Japan, in the train, we witnessed a single guy, American, initiate a conversation with another single guy, who turned out to be from London. Questions that perhaps for me, I would consider as borderline intrusive, were asked and answered. Thankfully the British guy had some patience. And the other day, as I was heading to work, I heard a conversation between multiple passengers, who all turned out to be Americans, yet nevertheless are not traveling together. Information not just about their travels but also about how to buy property in Germany was even exchanged.
Perhaps the USA is a land of extroverts? Or maybe I am just an introvert that I really don't like talking to people, hence I find these rituals strange.
