americans, chopsticks, and chopstick holders

[Dave Finkelnburg]

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Late commenting on this because I've been out of the country and just got
this far into my e-mail. In Korea chopsticks are placed vertically into a
bowl of rice only at a funeral, because it's considered a sign of death.
For a diner om Korea to store their chopsticks that way is incredibly bad
form! Perhaps something like that is why Chinese consider a similar act to
be rude. Curiously, Korean tables have no good place to put chopsticks
either. They seem to be held in the left hand when not being used, if one
is right handed and taking a drink or using a spoon.
Dave Finkelnburg in Idaho, recently returned from Korea

-----Original Message-----
>In China, I observed that chopstick holders are commonplace on tables.
>
>In America, most folks have never seen the little
> holders and there is no clean place to put your
> chopsticks. They either lay on the table or roll
> around on the plate, hence the "need" for the dents
> and holes in the rice bowls. I think they are a nice
> addition, but the traditionalist in me likes the
> decorative holders, too.
>
>Side note: it is considered rude to rest your
> chopsticks by stabbing them like an x into the
> remaining food on the plate. Not a big deal, but
> rude nonetheless (or at least as I understood the
> customs- I try and go with the flow regarding
> local customs when I can get a clue).
>
>
>Elizabeth Priddy