Clueless Americans

Lunch on Friday was an entirely different experience than the day before. Upon entering the restaurant, we were ushered into a private room containing a single table with space for eight. The wait staff swarmed about us, unfolding the large napkins and placing one corner under the plate so the remainder dangled in our laps, taking the set of chopsticks out of the bag and placing them on the plate, serving tea, etc. They even brought out forks, much to Deb's relief. She has not mastered chopsticks yet.Angela ordered several dishes which were all placed on the rotating glass in the center of the table: chicken wings, dumplings, chicken soup (broth with nearly an entire chicken in it, bones and all), and various beef and pork dishes along with a bowl of steamed rice for each of us.

If you avoided the little black peppers in the bean dish, the food was great.

David, being more of the creative type soon discovered that the chopsticks could be stuck straight up in the rice, and would remain there, looking much like a flagpole on a small hill.We read in our China survival guide later on that chopsticks should be left on the table when the meal is done. It is considered bad taste to leave them lying on the plate, and one should NEVER leave them sticking straight up in the rice, as it is a reminder of incense sticks for the dead.

Oops.

He will not be doing that again.