Food

As a student who has been lucky enough to study abroad multiple times, I must admit that my favorite thing about traveling is the FOOD! After giving my speech on Shanghai Cuisine, I can't deny that my mouth is already watering at the idea of eating genuinely authentic "Chinese food." I must also confess that while doing research a lot of what I read made me a bit nervous about traveling to a place where I don't speak their language, mainly due to the varying ingredients, cooking methods, and eating practices. I decided to expand my research by looking for tips on eating in China.

1. Sounds like common sense, but don't forget to wash your hands before eating!
2. Food at the table is shared. If you touch something on a plate, it's yours. If communal utensils are provided, use those. You can also use the blunt ends of your chopsticks.
   
3. Use the chopstick to grab or pinch food, do not skewer the food. Also, place your chopsticks horizontally over your bowl or plate. Do not lay them on the table, and do not place them vertically in your rice bowl.
1. "The reason for this is that when somebody dies, the shrine to them contains a bowl of sand or rice with two sticks of incense stuck upright in it. So if you stick your chopsticks in the rice bowl, it looks like this shrine and is equivalent to wishing death upon person at the table!" Chinadaily.com
4. If you have a sensitive stomach, it's a good idea to either carry some imodium or Pepto Bismol tablets with you, or to take one every morning.