https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs List TWO key differences that you noted in the video. Be sure to say WHY you found them interesting! Be sure to include your name! en-us 2016-11-29 04:35:18 UTC 2025-09-27 02:37:10 UTC hello@padlet.com grant_marvin https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140543828 I thought it was very interesting how the fork always stayed in the left hand in the European style and vegetables are scooped onto the meat with the tines facing down, which seems inconvenient. I guess this intrigued me because I've never thought of eating this way, probably because I'm American and want to eat as much food as possible as quickly as possible. Also, it was different that in America the hands stay in the lap, but in Europe the wrists stay on the edge of the table. I've never seen someone eat like that. Interesting video. ]]> 2016-11-29 15:53:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140543828 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140549173 I found it interesting (and unnecessarily complicating) that the European style has you put the vegetables and soft foods on the back of the fork. Won't they slide off? I feel like that won't end well, even though it's working for them, I guess? 
I recently went to an etiquette dinner so I knew about where the napkins go, how to signal whether you're finished with your meal or just taking a break, but we did not learn about (or, at least, I don't remember learning about) what to do with your hands while taking a break. So in the European style you're just supposed to rest your wrists on the edge of the table? But also no forearms on the table? I think I'll stick to the American style. :)]]> 2016-11-29 16:06:53 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140549173 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140596917 What I thought was interesting was the fact they have two different napkins. I didn't know that the dinner napkin crease had to face towards you. I just kind of put it on my lap  however it falls (neatly of course though). Also, I never out my fork on the corner of the plate. I usually put it beside my plate. [I commented about these two because everyone made comments about the two obvious ones and I didn't want to reiterate them for a third time.] The video was really interesting and I am not shocked that we have different etiquette styles because our cultures are different.

]]> 2016-11-29 17:57:44 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140596917 rachelmariev123 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140652635 Something I found interesting and never realized was the fact that lunch napkins and dinner napkins are different sizes. I also didn't know that you were only supposed to open dinner napkins halfway on your lap. That makes a lot of sense though, now that I think about it. The other part that I found interesting was the signals you can give your waiter with your fork and knife. I usually just keep my fork on the edge of my plate no matter what, but it is helpful to know that you can put them in different positions to let people know whether or not you are finished with your food. Then, the waiter never has to ask if you are done or not.]]> 2016-11-29 20:13:35 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140652635 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140675399 I thought it was interesting that in the European style they keep the fork facing down the whole time and scoop the vegetables on to their meat with the knife. Another think was that I found it interesting that the two were so different on where to put your hands. The European style makes you keep your hands on the table and in the American style you put your hands under the table. I also thought it was odd that the utensils have to be at right angles in both styles to tell the waiter you are taking a break, even though with the American style they are at a right angle with the edge of the plate. ]]> 2016-11-29 21:48:24 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140675399 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140676537 I attended an American style etiquette dinner this semester and it was really interesting to compare the different eating habits.
The first thing I found interesting is the habit of leaving the fork in the left hand instead of moving it to the right. I think it is strange than Americans move their fork when it is much simpler to leave it in the left hand. I have always eaten European likely due to my parents' European influence.
The second thing I found interesting is the placement of the wrists. Americans hide their wrists when not in use and Europeans rest them on the table. I find myself doing a little of both, but have generally heard that wrists on the table is proper. I'll be eating European style, merci!]]> 2016-11-29 21:54:32 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140676537 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140689405 I found it interesting the difference between how we hold our fork and knife. I have seen both ways used here in the United States, and I always thought it was a matter of preference and comfort. I didn't think there was a right or wrong way to hold utensils in any culture as long as it was doing the job efficiently. I use my fork and knife the way that she demonstrated in the American style, but I always did it that way because it was comfortable to me. Now I'm wondering, though, if I have been conditioned to do it that way by seeing other people do it.
I like the different ways you show the server you are finished or just taking a break. I have never seen these customs practiced in the US. I've never heard of putting your utensils in a certain place or sitting in a certain way that shows you are at a certain point in your meal. I have actually never given so much thought to dining customs. I like the placement of utensils to show you are finished, however, I feel like everything else is overthinking it a little. As long as you are not obnoxious and messy, I feel like people should be able to eat however they are comfortable, but that's just me. I think I'll do the Pavlovian thing and stick with American style!]]> 2016-11-29 23:44:41 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140689405 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140692081 One of the things I found interesting was the difference between what hand the fork is in when you place it in your mouth. It seems as though American's make more work for themselves by setting the knife down and switching the hand that the fork is in to eat. I wonder why this and if it might have something to do with the perceived use of the left hand? I also found the placement of the hands while one is taking a break from eating to be interesting. It seems as if it would be a bit uncomfortable to leave the hands above the table for the European style. I am really curious as to how these varying styles developed and the reasons for their differences. ]]> 2016-11-30 00:20:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140692081 https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140707600 I recently attended an etiquette dinner in which I learned a lot about the European and American dining styles. However, one thing that was new to me in this video was that they will more typically eat with the fork "upside down". That was something I didn't know before, and I found it interesting! I also think it's cool that they can do so much with their left hand! I could never!]]> 2016-11-30 03:28:18 UTC https://padlet.com/jengelhardt2/ya5au4t7ryhs/wish/140707600