"So... this weather, eh?"

The Chinese do not know how to talk about the weather.

I'm your typical Canadian in that if there is a lull in the conversation between acquaintances - or if you end up squished really close to a stranger in the bus stop shelter - I just have to fill that silence with mindless chatter on the weather.

Before coming here, I had yet to meet a person that did not know the requisite dialogue on weather. This may be because every other person I talked to also lived in Canada. And after you've lived through the unpredictable weather of "The Great White North" for more than two weeks, the aforementioned dialogue magically becomes imprinted in your brain.

In China, the only reaction your commentary on the weather will garner is a nod, and occasionally a "yes" with that nod.

For instance,

Me - "I'm so glad it's warmed up a bit since yesterday, that was pretty cold, eh?" They nod

Me - "The rain here is really wet." They nod

Me - "So... how about this weather, eh? They nod I mean, this morning it was sunny..."
Chinese person nods once "Yes."
Me after waiting like, an hour for a more detailed response "And now... it's raining... wow." They nod

Me - "This weather is ridiculous, I hope it stops raining soon. I can't swim and I don't have my life jacket here. I may drown. And then you'll have to take all of my classes." They freakin' nod. What else?

If I had said any of that to a Canadian, we'd have had no more lulls or awkward silences and the conversation probably would have continued out of the bus shelter and onto the bus.

Bah, go figure.