Mind Your Manners
Around the world, people have different ideas about what good table manners are. In India, for example, people only eat with their right hands. You take food from one dish on the table, usually a kind of bread or rice, mix it with food from another dish and then put it in your mouth. Your left hand stays still. Eating with your left hand is very rude!
In western countries, people do not usually share the same dishes. Everyone has his or her own plate of food. You eat with a knife and fork and you should not wave them around when you are not eating. In addition, you should try not to be noisy when eating.
When you go to some restaurants in different parts of the world, it is important to know what people think is rude. For example, in China it is OK to be noisy in a restaurant. In fact, if a restaurant is not noisy, you may think it is not very good.If a table is too noisy, other customers might notbe happy.
In China, one person usually pays for every one. In western countries, when friendseat together, they usually share the cost. This is called "going Dutch". In addition, when westerners pay the check, they usually leave some money for the waiter. This is called“leaving a tip." Not leaving a tip is very rude. In US, it's common to leave tips of 10%, 15% or 20% of the check. The amount depends on how good the waiter was.
The way people eat food is different around the world, but you can find the same kinds of food in many countries.
A. Good waiters can get a lot of money!
B. People think that is bad table manners!
C. Guests usually leave the tips under the plates.
D. Paying for the meal is also different from country to country.
E. However, in many western countries, restaurants are quiet places.
F. Chinese and Italian foods, for example, are popular all over the world.
G. Although good manners always make you look good, you can always follow your hosts if you're not sure what to do.
