i mentioned one time before: one article from an IT trade journal reported that many in the san francisco bay area are not very good with table manners (this is not talking about new immigrants but the whole IT group on the whole)
an started the paper by saying “you can dress them up, but you cannot take them any where”

the artcile pointed out that at the time (IT bubble time) many companies paid to have consultants train their executives’ table manners. one CEO of a very well known IT company licked the silver on the table. the training want over and asked what did he think he was doing. the CEO said i thought you wanted us to keep our knife and fork clean…? the trainer asked back: what do you think the napkin is for? the CEO said oh i thought it would be rude to make those cute little napkins dirty. the trainer said well signal the waiter and ask them to bring you another set…

so this is not just about us, from a society of different protocols.

in fact, many americans dining in europe may be considered rude there simply because talking too loud. also our body languages: how to seat properly without opening up the legs or to even put one leg over another…

what many new immigrants from asia may not have been told before comign to this country are somethign else:

don’t stand up and grab what you need from table, quitely ask your next seat neighbour, when he/she is not busy or talking to others, to pass that on to you, and return the same way back, with appreciation. you may say:”woould you please pass me that…” “thank you, appreciate it!”

you should cut the stuff in your plate in small pieces so you do not have to open you mouth too big to the point scary or not so “elegant” while pay attention you do not want to make noice either. if you cannot handle shrimp or chicken, just leave them ther don’t touch it. people think you do not like thos ethings, that’s fine.

tricky for asians: when you drink soup, make sure you do not slirt it and make noice. the good way to do it:
tilt your soup bow a bit with your left hand, send the spoon streight into your mough in 90 degree with your face, not in paralell with your mouth. this way the spoon can dump the entire spoonful of your soup in your mouth, not for your mouth to seek the soup from your spoon.

it is very distrubing for others to hear your slirting soup or pasta into your mouth.

to handle your pasta, use your left hand to put the big spoon in the center of your plate, then your right hand would swirl around the pasta with your fork and make a small bundle all around your fork (not too big bundle or you will look very interesting to others) and send to you mouth. don’t take on that challenge if you did not practice to the point you can handle it without noise

in fact, try at home, start with picking on shimps to de-shell them with knife and fork. de-bone chickens…

then play with your pasta with spoon and fork…

try the way on your soup and let me know how you are doing

pictures would help

bon appite (i am not sure about my french…parislady can teach me that)