Back in the UK, every Monday morning this question used to be the opening line for a detailed discussion where everybody contributed (sometimes more sometimes less) with their own stories.

Here it seems that contributions depend on how big the group of colleagues is. A week ago we were a group of six and when I asked that said question no one said anything! I tried to lighten things up a bit but I didn’t quite succeed before I then changed to a neutral topic and started talking about computers and all of a sudden everybody joined in (cars would have done the trick too, but I don’t know anything about cars). However today we were a group of four (the same people as last week) and were happily discussing this past weekend.

Do people here not like to talk about their weekends in larger groups?

You will quickly find out, that a lot of people here are socially inept...and for them having small talk is probably equivalent to walking on blades.

I think it is like walking out in public without their clothes on, more like!

When I first started out at my job, I would walk into the office, and do the usual "hey, howyadoin'? How was your weekend?" type of thing....I quickly stopped after getting single word responses. At first, I just thought the don't like me...well, it turns out, they're simply weird (and probably don't like me).

how is the weekend not a neutral topic? maybe all your co-workers are busy shagging each other at the w/e?

but since you ask, my weekend was freakin' awesome! i took friday off and so spent both thursday and friday partying. then i stuffed myself stupid with food on saturday. on sunday, i went for coffee and cake in the morning, had a very nice walk through a few parks, then went to the design messe in zurich and then had tea with friends and stuffed my face again with sushi in the evening.

Browsed (again) at my favourite car dealer on Saturday - before shopping for tiles, edging, adhesive and grout - and believe it or not it was no more expensive than the UK

Tiled on Saturday afternoon - fondue in the evening

Sunday - went for a 90minute run in the sunny mountains - then brunch. Grouted the tiles in the afternoon - and then relaxed.

My weekend was good too. Apart from the usual housework I went for a very successful Christmas gift shopping spree on Saturday followed by coffee with a friend and a nice home cooked meal by my husband . Sunday started out lazy but with a nice walk in the afternoon to the Goldberg in Winterthur followed by drinks with friends and an enthralling Tennis match on telly in the evening.

I could arrogantly claim that my 8 catches, three touchdown grabs and one interception return in our football game were highlights. So I will. And beautiful company at the Marillion concert Saturday in Pratteln made for a truly great rock show.

With me it might be a gender thing. I am one of two women who works as construction Project Manager in a thirty or so strong company. On top of this I am the youngest .

Most people don't warm up to everyone in office generally.
We have such folk here as well. They always reply in monosylllables and barely ever smile, much less laugh, at a stupid joke.

But luckily we also have some who are as crazy as me and who talk about nonsense all day. It did not take long for us to get along.

I guess its just a question of finding some common ground.

PS: Weekend was good.
On Friday, was a late dinner and movie.
Saturday was in the city, walking around among the crowd looking for cr@p to buy.
Sunday was basically chores around the house.
Dinner with some friends in the evening and then turn in for the night.

Almost did not want to wake up to go to work this morning.

I had a lovely weekend. On Saturday we celebrated our first wedding anniversary in a restaurant. It coincides with our coming to Switzerland, which was exactly a year ago today.
Sunday was sunny, so I went for a long run in the woods. Then we hit the town again to do some ‘Advent’ shopping.

On the topic of small talk, I find the Swiss that I know (I don't want to generalize) quite similar to the Poles. When asked how they are, they tell the truth: not very well, slightly unwell, tired, overworked, busy etc. Must be shocking for Americans.

will have to chat. i will probably be doing a bit of tiling soon....

Horrid job - everytime I do it I ask myself why. The best bit of advice is do it in a house where nothing is level/flat - that way the bodge won't look too bad

I hate to state the obvious, but this might have something to do with the industry you're in

It's not just at the office that typical US/UK small talk seems to be a social faux pas.

Around the neighborhood such universal topics as the weather, compliments on the garden, the adorableness of the baby being pushed in the stroller are just not done.

Small talk is limited to 'Gruezi mitenand', a nod and a half-smile. Even 'Wie geht es Ihnen?' is an overly familiar question and could cause offense. 'How was your weekend' would be considered tantamount to stalking.

Took some getting used to...

(My weekend was delightful, thank you - we went to the Weihnachtsmarkt in Einsiedeln, just lovely. Oh yes, it's quite child-friendly - is your little one looking forward to Samichlaus' visit? By the way, I've been admiring your garden - how lucky you are that your roses are still in bloom. Gosh, isn't it nice that the warm weather has held on so long into November? )

It must be your neighbourhood - it's not like that at all where we are. People are really friendly and in and out of each others homes a lot for coffee or to help with some task or to borrow something.

As for the garden thing, I was in a neighbours garden recently which they had just spent a lot of time improving and an old lady walked past and commented on how nice my garden looked. Of course I thanked her and told her that hard work always pays off.

It's not really any different to what it was in the U.K. except it's probably friendly here.

I was on holiday this past week in the UK

Went to Polyball with the most wonderful girl. Had a great time.

Congratulations on your anniversary!

I find that the swiss can be at both ends of the spectrum. One time you tell them that you speak very little french and they just keep talking (in french) trying to make you understand! On the other side at the bus stop you comment in french on the weather and they will completely ignore you! even though these same 4 people see you every day at this same spot. It very hard to figure out, but it probably goes to show that we should avoid sterotyping any of the cultures

Yes that is certainly true but it still surprises me that in one on one situations most my colleagues seem to relax and open up quite a bit .