In most Western restaurants, the idea of sharing a table with someone you don’t know seems so foreign. But in Chinese restaurants, sharing a table can be quite common.
I had dinner tonight in a cha chaan teng (diner) and Dad and I found ourselves sharing with four other people. Besides the often degraded service of shared tables, here’s what else I noticed.
I often minimise my conversation when sharing a table with strangers. However, this is often an indicator to the other party to talk as loudly as they want. This makes it seem like you are listening in to their conversations, as it is often loud. Besides that, the usual rules apply; don’t talk about sensitive topics and don’t make a fool of yourself.
I’m really tired now. I don’t know why I wrote about this, but I wanted to get something out. Good night.
