Though I'm American, I relate to most of this. I always hated the "what do you do?" question. The only one that I didn't know was an issue in many places is the weather.

I think some of this might be changing, even in the US. With such an insecure economy, I don't think people are as likely to ask strangers about their careers. Similarly, politics and religion have gotten to be such landmines, they are hardly mentioned unless you know the other person well.