What is there to talk about with Europeans besides politics?

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Please don’t say “soccer”.

Culture
Music
Art
Architecture
History
Underrated places worth visiting

you're an American? Do you have a number of internet pen pals on the far the side of the pond?

There is pop music.

Movies.

Travel destinations and interesting places in both of your respective countries.

I was on a cat site, and I talked about cats with people from all over the world. Pets are a good thing to talk about. A lot of my cat site friends were from England and Germany.

Technically anything except America unless you're going to explain things to them which is always nice. But don't assume they know American pop culture (especially TV) or local knowledge.
Culture actual culture like art (and literature for us Brits or the Irish or if you're clever enough to talk other languages).
Pets and hobbies.
Tell them interesting things about America but make it a give and take and ask them about their country too.
If they're not English (even if they're Welsh/Scottish/Irish) they could maybe teach you their language. Then you could get into their books.

How do you know them? That's always where to start, even if you know them through being on holiday or them being on holiday. If they're on holiday, talk to them about America and your local area. If you're on holiday, ask them directions and if there's anywhere interesting off the beaten track.

If they're aspie, you could go beyond politics if you both enjoy politics and have simply run out of things to talk about and talk about philosophy. I wish my pen pal would do this.

My immediate interest in Europe is the the refugee situation. But they don’t want to talk about that. So then I have to come up with something else, and I can’t. I don’t watch European tv shows or care about their sports. Politics is basically all I have to talk about.

Well people on here have given you plenty of alternative ideas for discussion.

I don't think you can really pigeon hole a continent , every person is different. It might be best asking this question to the individuals you wish to converse with.

On the cat site I mentioned, we talked about everything: sports, politics, history, literature and of course, our pets, the number one reason we were there.

their countries

Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, fashion, wine, architecture, weather, games, hobbies, food, travel / tourism, and rugby.

^ hobbies is a good one

unless your hobby is a little weird

The weather? Likes and dislikes? Favorite music and movies, maybe?

electrical outlets

Monarchs, Royalty, and Nobility.