What's your International Dining Etiquette Quotient?

Dining etiquette quotient? huh, Now what's dat?
The world has sure shrunk and cross cultural awareness has reached the dining table. So lets go beyond the cut-chew-swallow basics and look at some dining ettiquettes around the world, shall we?

Dining Etiquette in Germany
- It is good etiquette to remain standing until shown where to sit.
- Table manners are continental - fork in left hand and knife in right.
- Do not begin eating until the host signals to do so. It is bad etiquette to rest elbows on the table.
- Try and cut food with the fork as it compliments the cook by showing it is tender.
- Everything should be eaten on the plate.
- Indicate you have finished by lying the fork and knife parallel across the right hand side of the plate.

Dining Etiquette in Japan: - The guest of honour sits at the centre of the table furthest from the door and begins first.
- Learn to eat with chopsticks [no pointing with them, dont pierce food with them] place them on the chopstick rest when taking a break.
- It is good etiquette to try a bit of everything and keep the conversation is subdued.

Dining Etiquette in Turkey:
- Meals are a social affair. Conversations are animate and loud.
- The head of the family or honoured guest is served first.
- It is good etiquette to insist the most senior is served first instead of you.
- Asking for more helpings is considered as compliment.
- If taken to a restaurant, Turkish dining etiquette has strict rules that the one who extended the invitation must pay.

Dining Etiquette in the USA:
- The fork is held in the right hand and is used for eating.
- To use the knife, the fork is switched to the left hand. To continue eating, the fork is switched back to the right hand.
- If you are more comfortable eating in the Continental manner it will not offend anyone.
- Foods or drinks can be refused without causing offense.
- Many foods are eaten by hand.

Dining Etiquette in the Middle East:
- Guests are honoured with prime choice of meats.
- Eaten with right hand only.
- Meat is torn by holding down the piece against the dish and ripping off a desired amount with forefinger and thumb pressed together. Rice is scooped up.
- Do not be afraid of making a mess.
- If you are finished leave food on your plate otherwise it will be filled immediately.
- It is proper etiquette to compliment the host on the food and his hospitality


Dining Etiquette in India:
- Guest of honour is given the prime seat else the host takes the seat.
- Food is eaten mostly with the right hand.
- Roti (Indian bread); Meat is eaten with hands. And the spoon is saved for rice & desserts.
- If you are finished leave food on your plate otherwise it will be filled immediately.
- Burping is not considered rude and is taken as a sign that you have enjoyed your meal.
- Compliment the host on the food and his hospitality.

Now take this quiz on ettiquette and see if you are ready to jetset -
http://www.fekids.com/img/kln/flash/DontGrossOutTheWorld.swf