School Requires Chopstick Proficiency Test
Posted by Cottontimer on 18 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: Knick Knacks
The Histagakuen Sasebo Girls’ High School in Japan requires their applicants to demonstrate chopstick profiency if they want to attend the school. Entrance requirements include a test to see if the applicant can transfer marbles, beads, and beans from one plate to another. It’s believed that improper chopstick use indicates poor lifestyle habits, sloth, and greed. (OK, I added the last two.)
When my mother-in-law was a young girl, her mother smacked the children if they held their chopsticks the wrong way. When my mother-in-law saw how awkward I am with chopsticks, she asked why my mom never taught me to use them properly. My mom said she figured if I could feed myself, it was fine. And I can certainly feed myself and then some!
I’ve long since given up on using chopsticks in any particular fashion. I’ll even use them to stab food, which is a big no-no. If you don’t want to commit the same faux pas, see this illustrated guide.
Do you use chopsticks properly?
via Weird at Metro.co.uk
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My Twin Tyrants are fairly certain that chopsticks are primarily used as props for Vlad Impersonations.
Marbles??? I think I might be able to do beads and beans, but marbles are a bit beyond my proficiency.
I remember reading a newspaper biography about a Chinese woman cook, as a five-year-old she was told by her mother she could attend an important dinner if she learned to peel shrimp with chopsticks. She taught herself how and was allowed to go. That’s another one I can’t imagine mastering.
I’m proficient with chopsticks, but I use them improperly. My grandfather (who is Japanese) wanted all of us (my cousins and I) to know how to eat/use chopsticks correctly, but using them properly is too cumbersome for me, heh.
People here often ask me where I learnt to use chopsticks. The assume when I was in Singapore or when I came here. But I really used them in Hawai’i - everyone knows how to, whether you are Asian origin, European origin or whatever else.
But actually I learnt using chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant in Paris back when I was 12 years old!
People often also ask because it seems I hold it the right way! I guess the Chinese restaurant taught us well!
Thank goodness I don’t go to that school. Even though I’m part Japanese, I can’t use chopsticks very well.
I love trying to use chopsticks. I do okay. If I could eat only with chopsticks, I would not starve, but it definitely would not be elegant. I stab things. I drop things. I get frustrated and pick them up with my hands.
Chopstick proficiency experts would be appalled.
Actually, I do use chopsticks properly. *g* I remember watching Karate Kid and thinking how cool it was that Mr. Miyagi could snap the fly with his chopsticks. And later in college, I liked to have lunch at various Chinese and Thai restaurants, and didn’t want to look like a clueless idiot. So I learned. (and was a big enough nerd to carry a nice pair of chopsticks in my purse because those cheapo ones, the ones you have to snap apart and roll briskly together to remove splinters? those suck)
mdmhvonpa: And you call yourself a parent? I’m appalled. How will they ever get into college if they don’t know how to use chopsticks properly!
Donna: Now I’m wondering if we should have some sort of chopstick challenge!
Lynn: Yes! I say eating is number one priority. Wouldn’t want to starve to death while trying to use chopsticks the right way.
Smitha: Which restaurant is this? I need to go for some lessons.
LG: Somehow our ancestors have failed us.
GetSheila: At least you have an excuse! I’m 100% Chinese and get laughed at. *sigh*
Deb: Did you graduate from Histagakuen Sasebo Girls? High School?!
Been using chopsticks all my life, so I am surprised when I see Chinese who don’t know how to use them. Why? It is the wisdom of our ancestors with thousands of years of history.
eastcoastlife: Well, it’s not like using chopsticks is a genetic trait or anything. Those of us who grew up outside of Asia don’t necessarily have to use them every day. Even living in Asia is possible without using chopsticks, no? I’m not particularly bound by tradition myself.
stabbing at food with chopsticks isn’t proper?
thats the only way i can eat sushi.
otherwise everything ends up on the floor.
it would be more elegant if i was allowed to use my fingers.
i should never be allowed to leave my house.
I can use them proficiently, but properly is another question altogether! Despite growing up in Singapore, I never really learnt to use the chopsticks till I was about 10. I never needed to! I only finally learnt to do it because we were visiting relatives in Indonesia and they all laughed at my inability to use the chopsticks and offered me a fork and spoon. So I was embarrassed into learning how to use them.
ha, I’m so tickled I think I’ll blog about this too!
laura: lol You’re so funny. I don’t go out much either. BTW, it’s actually ok to eat sushi with your fingers! Check out this sushi guide.
marianne:
I’m glad to know not every Singaporean scorns me for not knowing how to use chopsticks properly. Not like I draw attention to myself while I use them, I’m just not a textbook example.