Comments on: Creatures Of Our Cultures

By: Pearl

Pearl — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:35:58 +0000

Interesting. It might be a way to deal with eating with my folks then. In that case Dad and I always struggle over who pays the bill. If I go preemptively…hm.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 02:42:09 +0000

@fathima — In addition to the pang of pride, seeing it happen is rather humourous.

@Pearl — Now you know that it’s polite to fight over the bill. I have a Chinese friend who would eat out with his Caucasian friends and always offer to pay the bill. His friends would always accept. My friend eventually curbed his offers when it was obvious they didn’t understand the subtle culture differences.

In a sense, the fact that your friend paid for the bill on the way back was a preemptive act to avoid a scene, and she was assuming that you were going to fight to pay it as well.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:27:01 +0000

oh, that’s handy to know. I had a meal with someone who slipped out to washroom and paid for the bill on her way back to the table. (We hadn’t got to the point of finishing eating.) I had no idea she did it or why. I saw it as power / control dynamic. (She’s not Chinese but could be different culture of money.)

By: fathima

fathima — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:13:10 +0000

that was a pleasure to read, if only because i am now imaging in my head various aunties and uncles duelling it out and spilling the sauce over everyone and everything.