General

• DO NOT pick up food with your hands
• Fruit is picked up with a toothpick
  • Turn your head away from others, and use your free hands to cover your mouth
  • Women do this while chewing as cute mannerism
• DO NOT talk with mouth full
• DO NOT blow nose your at the table
• Refuse the first offering of a second helping
• Try a little of everything
  • Its ok to ask what something is
• Bones and shells should be put on the table or an extra plate
• Finish EVERYTHING on your plate
• Excessive talking is frowned on
• Try to make as little noise as possible

Age/Order

• The oldest person is served 1st
• DO NOT begin eating until the Oldest/Most senior person has been served and has started eating or drinking
• You must wait for the oldest person to finish eating before you can get up from the table

Seating

• WAIT to be told where to sit
• The most honored position is at the middle of the table
  • The host and the honored guest sits in the middle
  • The guest sits on the side of the table farthest from the door

Chopsticks

• NEVER point your chopsticks
• DO NOT pierce food with your chopstick
• DO NOT cross chopsticks on the chopstick rest
• NEVER place chopsticks across your rice bowl
• Return the chopsticks to the table when you drink, stop to speak, or after every few bites
• To indicate you are finished put chopsticks on the chopstick rest or on the table

Drinking Etiquette

• NEVER pour your own drink
  • Pour for others, make sure their glass is never empty

• When someone fills your glass hold it with both hands to be polite (this is a rule used when accepting anything)
• Turn your back to anyone of higher rank when drinking
• NEVER fill a glass that is partially filled (Don’t empty your glass if you don’t want to drink)
• A sign of respect is when a person of higher rank drinks, fills his glass and passes it to you, DRINK!

In A Home

• Remove your shoes before entering the house
• You can arrive up to 30 minutes late without giving offense

The Host

• The host greets each guest individually’
• The host pours drinks for the guest in their presence
  • The hostess DOES NOT pour drinks
  • The host accompanies guests to the gate/their car (it is insulting to wish your guest farewell indoors)

**Send a Thank You note the following day after being invited to dinner