( Having lunch with Joseph ) Have you ever been invited to a Chinese feast ?
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user
Sure . Beijingers are distinguished for their warmth and hospitality .
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assistant
As far as you could see , is dining at a Chinese table a distinct experience ? To what extent does it differ from that in your homeland ?
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user
To begin with , I have to use chopsticks .
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assistant
But you look quite proficient in using them now .
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user
Certainly . After all , I've been here for two years . It's not much uphill work for a foreigner to get used to Chinese dinner utensils . Though , I do feel hazy about how to behave appropriately at a Chinese dinner table .
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assistant
Yes , table etiquette . There are a multitude of rules that foreigners might never know until they were told . Some practices even appear somewhat awkward or rude to Westerners , while they are the norm in China . Hey , your chopsticks , old silly ! You should not stab them vertically into the rice bow !
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user
Anything strange about that ?
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assistant
Maybe you should have placed them horizontally over your bowl or plate . They resemble two incense sticks used at sacrifices . It's very inauspicious , and might enrage all present .
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user
Oh , sorry ! There's a long story even with a mere pair of sticks .
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assistant