DalaiLlama,

Thanks for the OP. About posts in general, I enjoy them when they are intelligent, thought out, decently written (unlike mine), and invite discussion. I don't have to agree with anything in the post to like the post. But maybe I'm just a bit off. My wife and I love the differences in cultures when we travel and we try to be aware of them and respect them. We don't find it funny that some folks don't switch their forks while eating, but we will try to mimic to see if we can work it too. I do wonder why there are some posters who enjoy putting down others comments and thoughts.

Thanks norrisken - the anonymity of the internet makes some people behave in ways they would not with pleasant and polite company in the same room. So it brings out the worst in some, and we all learn to live with it.
Cheers and Happy Trails

MissPrism - Just the fact that people are serving "courses" in their homes shows that you haven't been mingling with the common folk. Most people we know serve family-style or buffet if the party is large. Take what you like, leave what you don't, have seconds if you choose.

the use of the word 'please' in Dutch-speaking areas took me off guard for quite a while - when someone is thanking you for something they may just say "please"

but in a 'pils please' that please i understand and am pleased by the result. I guess i should say 'please' as a thank you to the server!

In Germany the response to being thanked is "bitte" (please); in Italy it is "prego" (I pray); in France it is the more elaborate "je vous en prie" (I pray it of you).

I take them all to be short forms of "please don't mention it". Mind you, the German expression "bitte schön" doesn't fit that supposition very well: it can be translated as "pretty please".