I want to improve my social skills. I thought by way of stepping out of my comfort zone. So here’s what I thought:
Try and make conversation to a random person, location or occasion be damned, at least once per week. With saying more than two sentences be deemed sufficient. If the other person does not initially respond amicably (to the first sentence), I leave them alone.
It’s normal here (Florida US) “wow that’s a big watermelon”. “Looks like you are having a party!” “Hey, I haven’t tried that, it’s good?”. Or just weather or OMG your baby is so cute, or whatever. General small talk.
I remember once a lady saw me buying a diet coke and asked “does that work?”
I think the US is sort of a middle ground on random conversations. Not super friendly but not aloof.