table-culture

MealsTheusualmealsintheUnitedStatesarebreakfast,lunchandsupper.Thetimeforbreakfastdiffersaccordingtopeopleandcircumstances.Inthecaseofmostmiddleclassfamiliesitisgenerallybetween7:30and8:30.Forbreakfasttheyhavefruitjuice,thenacerealsuchasoatmealorcornflakeswithmilk.Theyalsoeathamorbaconwith'eggs,verycommonlypoachedorscrambled.Toastorrollsarealsoservedand,ofcourse,coffeeisessential.Lunchisusuallyservedbetween12and1:30.Somepeoplefinditimpossibletogohomeforthismeal,andsotheytakeitinacafeteriaorrestaurant.Thosewhoareathomegenerallyhavecoldmeatwithboiledorfriedpotatoes,anothervegetableorsaladand,attheend,coffeeorteawithadessertsuchasfreshorcookedfruit,pudding,pieoricecream.Americansdonotgoinforteawhichisservedbetweenfourandfive.ButBritisherscannotdowithoutit.WhileonlycakeorcookiesisservedwithteainAmerica,sandwithes,butteredbreadortoast,cakeorbiscuitsareservedintheUnitedKingdom.Supperisservedintheeveningandisthemostimportantmealoftheday.Dinnerisamoreelaboratemeal,suchasonepreparedforSunday,abirthdayorforsomespecialoccasion.Itmaybeservedeitherintheafternoonorevening.Inmostfamiliesthememberechangetheirclothesbeforedinner.Foodservedfordinnerdiffersdependingonthecase,butusuallyanappetizer,soup,fish,meatwithvegetables,salad,dessertandcoffeeistheorder.Don'tsattheTable1.Don'ttuckthenapkininyourvestorputitunderyourchinlikeababy'sbid.Spreaditonyourlap.2.Don'tuseyourhandkerchiefforwipingyourmputhwheneating.Usethenapkin.3.Don'tputthenapkinonthetablewhenyoumustleaveduringthemeal.Itshouldbeputonyourchair.Thenapkinshouldbeputbackonthetableonlywhenthemealisfinished.Don'tfolditcarefully.Justleaveitinthenaturalmannerasyouhaveusedit.4.Don'tbendoveryourfood.Keeptheplateclosetoyouandpullupyourchairsothatyoudon'thavetoleanforward.Situpstraightallthetime.5.Don'tbiteasmallpieceoutofalargerpieceoffoodandreturntheresttoyourplate.6.Don'tliftyourplateorsaucerfromthetable.7.Don'tdrinkwiththespooninyourcup.8.Don'tstirtoosoonwhenyouputsugarintoyourteaorcoffee.Allowenoughtimeforthesugartomelt,thenstirafewtimesandplacethespoononthefarsideofthesaucer.9.Don'tdipbread,doughnuts,cookies,etc.intotea,milkoranyotherliquidfood.10.Don'tmakenoiseswithyourmouth.Closeyourmouthwheneating.Peoplemakemouthnoisesbecausetheyeatwithoutclosingtheirmouths.Whenyoudrinkyoursoupdon'tsipit,butswallowitallinonemouthful.11.Don'ttalkwithyourmouthfull.Ifsomeonetalkstoyou,waituntilyourmouthisemptybeforeanswering.12.Don'ttestteaorcoffeetoseeifitistoohotbytakingaspoonful.Neverblowfoodtocoolit.13.Don'ttrytoreachforthesaltorpepperinfrontofothers.Askyourjieighbortopassit.14.Ifyouareaman,don'teatwithyourhatorcaponinarestaurant.Butneverputahatoracaponthetable.Itcouldbehunguporputonachairbesideyou.DifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternTableMannersWhentheChineseasktheirgueststodinner,even.thoughtherearedozensofexcellentdishesonthetable,thehostislikelytosaysomethinglikeTherearenospecialdishestonight.Pleasedofeelathomeandhelpyourselves.Thewordsofpraiseforthedishesareleftfortheguests.ButthisisentirelydifferentintheWest.Ifyouareinvitedouttoeatattherestaurant,youmaybetoldbythehost,Thesearethebestdishescookedbythebestchefsinthecity.Ifaskingaguesttoeatathishome,thehostmaysay,Thisisthebestdishmywifecooks.Thisistoshowtheguestthetroublehehastaken.Atawesterndinnertable,theseatsarealsoarrangedinadifferentway.Generallyspeaking,thehostsitsattheheadofthetablewiththemainguestsittingtohisright,thesecondguesttohisleft,soonandsoforth.WhenthehospitableChinesehostproposesatoast,ifmuchexerted,heusuallysaysBottomupJanddrinksdownallthewineatonebreath.Thenhewantsthegueststodothesame,thinkinginthiswaytheguestswillprovetobetruefriends.IntheWest,peoplealsogivetoast.Butitisuptotheguestshowmuchtheydrink.Itiswisenottoforcewomengueststodrinkupallthewine.Careshouldalsobetakenwhenyouoffero'therscigarettes.Inwesterncountries,thehostonlyleavesthecigarettesonthetableandletstheguestsmaketheirdecision.Ifyouofferyourguestsonecigaretteafteranother,theywillfeelembarrassedinsteadofthankingyouforthat.Chineseeatwithchopstickswhilemostofthewesternerseatwithknivesandforks.Somewesternersmaybequitegoodatusingchopsticks,butmostofthemarenot.Insettingatableatwhichwesternersareentertained,itisalwaysadvisabletoplaceknivesandforksalongsidethechopsticks.Chinese,atdinnerparties,eatfromdishesplacedinthemiddleofthetable.Westernersarenotusedtoreachingforsomethingoverthetable.ButinChina,itisusualtohelponeselftothefoodplacedatthecenterofthetable.Theforeignguestsshouldbemadetounderstandthisdifferenceintablemanners.AtaChinesedinner,thehostalwayspressesmorefoodontotheguest'splateassoonashehasemptieditofthe.previoushelping.Thatoftenmakesaforeignguestfeelveryawkward.Hehastoeatthefoodevenifhedoesn'tfeellikeit,becauseitisconsideredbadmannersinthewesttoleaveone'sfoodontheplate.Onthecontrary,aChinesesitsat,say,anAmerican’sdinnerparty,heveryoftenrefusestheofferoffoodordrinkthoughinfactheisstillhungryorthirsty.ThismightbegoodmannersinChina,butitisdefinitelynotintheWest.IntheUnitedStates,itisimpolitetokeepaskingsomeoneagainandagaintoeatmorepresssomethingonhim