Manners at table

The customs(习惯)in different countries are rather different. If I have dinner with a Chinese host(主人), he will put more food onto my plate as soon as I have emptied it. That often discomforts(使不安)me greatly. I have to eat the food even if I do not want to, because it is considered(认为)bad manners in the West to leave one's food on the plate. I have also noticed that when a Chinese sits at an American's dinner party, he often refuses the offer of food or drink though he's in fact still hungry or thirsty. This might be good manners in China but it is not in the West at all. In the United States, it is impolite to keep asking someone again and again until he accepts your offer.

Americans have a direct way of speaking. If they want something, they will ask for it. If not, they will say, "No, thanks." When an American is served with beer(啤酒)by the host, for example, he might say, "No, thanks. I'll take some juice(果汁)if you have." That is what an American will do. So when you go to the United States to deal with us, you'd better remember the famous saying: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.