Monday, February 1, 2010

Won't Miss #118 - "can you use chopsticks?"


When Japanese people don't know I've been here for a long time, they tend to ask, "can you use chopsticks?" I'm pretty sure that they don't know how condescending this question comes across as, but their lack of awareness doesn't make this question any less irritating. It is essentially like me asking a Japanese person if they can use a knife and fork properly. While it can be marginally tricky at first to eat with chopsticks, it's hardly an amazing feat of dexterity.

I won't miss being asked if I am capable of using two sticks to shovel food into my mouth.