It wasn’t a big deal when I lived in Edmonton. I’m not sure if the reason why is because of the general multicultural company I kept, or that I just hung out with a bunch of punks, hipsters, and nerds, but it was never an issue. Either way, for the most part, the majority of people I ate out with at oriental restaurants knew how to use chopsticks, no matter their cultural background.

Life in Vegreville is different.

Everyone is always telling me how amazing it is that I can use them, and it’s probably because I grew up with them. I’m not really insulted, I”m just having a hard time fathoming why it’s such a big deal. It’s like, I am the master of some sort of mythical force that enables me to put two sticks together in one hand, and it transforms into a power device that can deliver your consumables to the mouth for my eating pleasures.

Vegreville has three Chinese eateries so you’d think they’d know how to use them… oh.. oh wait. I usually have to ask for them specifically. Except at Chin’s, where the lady knows we want chopsticks.

The other crazy thing I have is reusable chopsticks. Yes, you know, they don’t come in a paper wrapper that you can fold into a chopstick holder. And when you are finished, you can wash them, dry them, put them away and reuse them. A cleaning lady at work just about threw mine out because she thought they were disposable. Another co-worker was amazed that there are reusable ones. I find these kinds of things amusing.

Is chopstick use really that astonishing? Maybe to some, but to me, it’s just a part of everyday life.

I made sure to follow it perfectly.

I can follow directions!