讀書會|英文讀書會|快樂英語讀書會|中華民國快樂英語協會

20140419, Minutes, by Nathan Gee

Dear Happiers,
"What a pleasure to have a friend come from afar!" Confucius said. We are happy not only having a friend, Ryan, who comes from Kaohsiung happy English club, but also meeting an old friend, Rio, who never shows up more than one year. We are also pleased to meet a new-comer Styfan, and to see a second-time friend Clair. To our surprise, Our gourmet expert Aiyun brings his sister Shelly to join us.

Different countries and ethnic groups have different cultures. They eat different foods and have different ways to eat. We explore different 15 international food etiquette rules. Thanks to Joey for sharing a story about how his friend was toasted in a mountain tribe even though she had never drunk any alcohol. In Taiwan, it's very common occasion that we need to respond to be toasted even though we don't drink or we are reluctant to drink.

Thanks to Jasmine for explaining the metaphor "Do you know the Bishop of Norwich?" When we go to England next time, we can directly pass the decanter to our left. There's no need to ask "Who is he?"

How do you prepare your red envelope when you are going to attend a wedding banquet? Everyone shares their experiences. It seems a public secret that every family has a small notebook that records each red envelope they have received. It also is a common sense that you need to prepare more than you received. For some young people, it's a big burden in monthly expenditure.

I'm very glad to see a lot of new and old friends come to join today's meeting. I'm also excited that we have a lively chatting time. Thanks to each member for automatically and enthusiastically speaking with each other in our first session. Even though we have more than ten members in the meeting, I can find more than five different small groups talking with each other simultaneously. I hope we can keep this energetic meeting each time. Although it seems loud as a market, it is full of fun and happiness.

Come and join us, you'll know.


Nathan Gee

Dear Taichung Happiers,

Is there any eating habit not permitted by your Grandma but still worth some experiments? Stephen King made an alternative suggestion: "Reading at meals is considered rude in polite society, but if you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. The least of all should be polite society and what it expects." (On Writing: A Memoir of the Craf) Please don’t be mad, Grandma. At least, we read.

The most influential writer of 19th-century America Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) embodied the notion “Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.” Beautiful, isn’t it? Our 4/19 topic reminds us to have the courtesy to acquire the knowledge and practice of international food etiquette rules. It takes works. In any cross-cultural society, it will show respect for others and, in turn, merit a pleasant interaction.

Our eating behaviors are influenced by a number of factors including cultural, social, familial, individual factors, and so on. Etiquette is heavily dependent on culture. For this reason, food etiquette rules can differ greatly between distinct cultures and countries. For example, in contrast to the American style, people don’t do the “fork switching” in Europe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0w1-fVoG5c

Culture is the most subtle but powerful force that connects us as human beings. We are looking forward to having a vivid sense of Club identity by solidifying our Club culture. Thanks a lot to Nathan for explaining how he hosted the free-talk session for 4/19 gathering. In his Minutes, Nathan told us about the great time we had and what made it great. We really appreciate the connection with all Happiers. Also, it is hoped that our conversations can encourage some innovation.

Together, we eat and drink. Together, we talk and laugh. Together, we can behave with courtesy on the journey of finding the missing pieces. Thank you all.






Best Wishes,
Jasmine