On the issue of chopsticks

I must first begin with saying that I have my good days and I have my bad days. Today was a good day.

For me, any day where I don't drop food out of my chopsticks is a good day. I often have had more bad days than good days. However, the more I eat in Korea, the more I think the good days are going to wining out. I'm going to have a victory over this strange eastern utensil.

In the States, eating with chopsticks was a novelty. I'd do it with Chinese food or Vietnamese food, or the occasional sushi treat. I always had those wooden chopsticks and I was never very good at it.

In Korea, chopsticks are standard, and they are slick stainless steel. I was amazed at how difficult eating with smooth chopsticks could be. Wooden chopsticks provide grip which keeps food from slipping away. For the first couple of days, I have struggled with my grip, my hands hurt from the increased demand on the muscles, and I dropped a lot of food. A lot of food.

Although I spend meal times daily working on chopsticking food, I still drop a lot of food. My fellow teacher did actually compliment me on my chopsticks skills yesterday! I thought they were just placating me until I watched one of the Korean teachers. She's probably in her forties. She leaned over and said, "I think you use chopsticks well." I smiled, and watched her eat. She was much much better then me, but not perfect either. Oh well I guess this is going to be an uphill battle. 

While my chopstick skills are improving, there have been a couple things that have made life here easier.

1. It is okay to "stab" some things with your chopsticks
2. Not only is it okay to eat rice with a spoon, up until about twenty years ago, it was considered rude not to eat rice with a spoon
3. If you drop something, pretend you meant to do it. This is much easier if the food lands on your plate. Pretend you are experimenting. I have seen many Korean put random side dishes in their soup.
4. If you are having a "bad day" say this phrase with a big smile, a tilt of the head, and shrug of the shoulders, "Waygook saram ahyeahyo". It means "I'm a foreigner."