If someone says “How are you?” in the US, and probably most of Canada, the most they expect is a “fine.” It’s not even really a question, it’s mostly a formality.
I have heard a lot of people from Russia and Eastern Europe have had trouble with that when they came over here, because apparently you are expected to *actually* say how are doing when someone asks. I mentioned this to a Russian woman who was getting her doctoral degree over here, and she said “Oh, that’s why I don’t have any American friends.”.
I have heard a lot of people from Russia and Eastern Europe have had trouble with that when they came over here, because apparently you are expected to *actually* say how are doing when someone asks. I mentioned this to a Russian woman who was getting her doctoral degree over here, and she said “Oh, that’s why I don’t have any American friends.”.