This is what a common conversation is like here (most people know key phrases in English):
Other Person: hello! where you from?
Me: USA
Other Person: where in USA? New York City or Hollywood?
Me: I grew up near Chicago.
Other Person: Ah yes! Obama!!!!
Or when someone is trying to sell you something – first they ask where you are from. I told one woman that I am from the US but I don’t want to buy anything. One lady said, “No! You buy!” I told her that I wasn’t going to buy anything but her stuff was beautiful. Then she laughed to her friend and shooed me away with her hand saying ‘Beautiful, yeah, yeah, yeah, beautiful. Ok!’ She was like, whatever – keep walking. I looked back and started laughing- sarcasm is universal!
marschmadness 