It's late to be thinking about this. We will be in China next wk. and neither of us can use chop sticks. We have tried to no avail. Would it be extremely rude to take plastic forks w/us. Otherwise we could probably starve.

No problem. I've been to China several times with people who cannot use chopsticks. At times our business hosts would ask the restaurants to buy a fork for my colleagues. At that, your hotel will have silverware that I suspect they will lend to you if you dine at places that do not have it.

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. It is such a relief to hear that other people have needed forks/spoons. It truly would be bad if I tried chop-sticks. Don't know why I hadn't thought of this before.

As noted above, it's not a problem. You may use one of the spoons, which may be a little awkward, but will work. They always have them. Or bring a set of your own plastic forks. They will smile, but who cares? Or bring one metal set and keep washing it.

Thanks for responding. I gather they will like us using real dinnerware better than plastic forks. I can cross that one off my worry list.

You will find that they will watch you as you begin to eat. If they see you struggling they will bring over a fork or spoon. <BR>Not to worry, I dont think they expect you to be able to use chopsticks. I find them more suprised when they see that I can actually use chopsticks.

<BR>Rita,<BR><BR>You didn't say your China trip is with an organized tour or by yourself. If you are with a tour, there shouldn't be any concerns about the availability of dinnerware. If you are on your own and plan to venture outside cities, you might step into restraunts having no experiences with western dinners. Spoons should be available anywhere but you might want to take a few plastic forks with you just in case. However, even in this type of restraunts, they will be thrilled to see you as their customers so just ask whatever you may need and everyone will have a good time.<BR><BR>By and large, China is not a country with a lot of formalities. Just take it easy and enjoy your trip.

Thanks everyone for responses. I envy you that can use chopsticks but will have to take my plastic utensils. I'm sure I would have lost some weight if I had nothing but chopsticks, and this would be good!

I had this fear before I went to Japan earlier this year. I had never been able to master chopsticks before that trip but the chopsticks given at the restaurants in Asia are rough wood which help to hold the food easier and the food is cut into small pieces. Also the rice is sticky rice and put in small bowls that you pick up to eat from which makes it fairly easy. I used chopsticks for 2 weeks and I can tell you I did not starve or loose any weight(darn). <BR>Take plastic but give the chopsticks a try, I think you will be surprised.

not to be a contrarian re the last post, but chopsticks are different all over asia. i think japan in particular specializes in easy-to-use, disposable wooden ones at restaurants. korean ones tend to be made of steel and are very flat. chinese ones are blunt-tipped and made of slippery plastic. i've used chopsticks all my life and when it comes to which kind are most difficult to use, find it a tossup btwn korean and chinese. i guess my point is that china wdn't be a good place to learn to use chopsticks.

I agree with Mari. Chinese and Korean chopsticks are somehow harder to use than the Japanese ones, when you are not to used to them. Wooden ones (both disposable and non-disp.)are already easy to use but also many Japanese chopsticks of today are made with anti-slip treatment.

Thanks Mari and Kite. I did not know the chopsticks were so different in the different countries and now I will be prepared when I travel to China.

Please give the chopsticks a try. Just bring the bowl close to your face so it doesn't have so far to go. Observe what other eaters (Chinese) are doing - you will find that they have little tricks for holding the food securely. When in China try as the Chinese do.