Sometimes I find myself eating out with Chinese people whom I don’t really know well (it’s surprising how often this happens actually).
When the food starts arriving we dig in, and these people, who’ve asked me already how long I’ve been in China etc (all the usual questions a Laowai* gets asked in fact), act all surprised that I can use chopsticks well.
They say: “You can use chopsticks?!”
Why??? Why would this be surprising to people? I’ve already told them I’ve been here for more than eight years. How long do you think it takes people to learn how to use chopsticks well?
The vast majority of Chinese restaurants only have chopsticks (and/or spoons), so if you eat out at just about anyplace that’s not a western restaurant, you’ll be using these things.
Maybe they’re just making conversation, but I’ve always hated stupid questions.
*Foreigner.
Tags: Chopsticks
