Yang Ming: You must be excited about leaving for China tomorrow, Steve!
Steve: Yeah, but I’m a little nervous, too.
Yang Ming: Why?
Steve: Well, for one thing, I don’t know how to use chopsticks very well…and I don’t know how to behave at the dinner table.
Yang Ming: Oh, I see. Well, one important thing is that you’re not supposed to start eating first if there are older people at the table.
Steve: That’s interesting. In the United States, it doesn’t matter.
Yang Ming: Yeah, I know. It’s also impolite to stick your chopsticks into your food. You shouldn’t point at anyone with your chopsticks, either.
Steve: Oh, OK.
Yang Ming: Oh, and there’s one more thing you need to know. You’re not supposed to talk when you’re eating dinner. Only parents are expected to talk at the dinner table. Children are not allowed to speak.
Steve: Wow! That’s…that’s unusual!
Yang Ming: Haha, I’m just kidding!