Joesph:sure. Beijingers are distinguished for their warmth and hospitality.

L: as far as you could see, is dining at a Chinese table a distinct experience? To what extent does it differ from that in your homeland?

J: to begin with, I have to use chopsticks.

L: but you look quite proficient in using them now.

J: certainly. After all, I’ve been here for two years. It’s not much uphill work for a foreigner to get used to Chinese dinner utensils. Though, I do feel hazy about how to behave appropriately at a Chinese dinner table.

L: yes, table etiquette. There are a multitude of rules that foreigners might never know until they were told. Some practices even appear somewhat awkward or rude to Westerners, while they are the norm in China. Hey, your chopsticks, old silly! You should not stab them vertically into the rice bow!

J: anything strang about that?

L: maybe you should have palced them horizontally over your bowl or plate. They resemble two incense sticks used at sacrifices. It’s very inauspicious, and might enrage all present.

J: oh, sorry! There’s a long story even with a mere pair of sticks.