If you ask an American "How are you?", they will respond "Fine, how are you?". If you ask a German "How are you?", they will tell you they caught a flu and the

If you ask an American "How are you?", they will respond "Fine, how are you?". If you ask a German "How are you?", they will tell you they caught a flu and they bumped their toe on the way to the bathroom. As a German, it's hard work for me to respond appropriately to the American question. But I understand that I don't blame the American for being dishonest. It's even harder for me to work with the Indian "yes", but I understand they don't mean to be dishonest.