Another View
Sunday, December 21, 2008 04:38 AM
Opinion250 has invited Ning Ma, a Chinese student studying English at UNBC, to write a weekly article for us. We thought this would be helpful to Ning as he strives to improve his English skills, and helpful to us as we can see how others view Prince George, B.C. and Canada. Consider this an educational opportunity for all involved, and that is why we won't be inviting comment on this weekly submission. We are interested in your thoughts on things Ning should experience and write about. We are also providing the same article in Mandarin as an opportunity for Ning's family and friends to learn more about us.
-Elaine Macdonald
Differences about “eating habits”
When I was in China，I know that the Chinese restaurants are all around the world and that they are very popular. Chinese people attach great importance to “eating”. "Eating" in China is described as an important component of the culture. This is why I decided to talk about the differences about “eating” between China and Canada.
Almost all Chinese people do not use individual servings, and this system has a long history. In the 6th century AD, Chinese people received this system into their lifestyle, which remains to today, as an ancient rite.
Chinese people are aware of the shortcomings of their eating system though. One shortcoming is that different people’s chopsticks put into one bowl will inevitably transmit diseases easily. However, the Chinese peoples’ eating system is a deep-rooted habit. In 2002, "atypical pneumonia" spread all through China. Some of the restaurants at this time period implemented the individual serving system where one person would eat from his own bowl, but when the disaster passed, people returned to the old eating system.
The first reason Chinese people think the old eating system is better is that they consider people eating together as a sign of trusting each other. Second, when many people have food together they can all test more varied kinds of food. Chinese people have been accustomed to the traditional way to have food for thousands of years, so it is hard to change.
In Canada I do not miss the Chinese system because I like the Canadian eating system. It is healthier than Chinese system. In China, in order to express affection and care for others people will pick up food with their chopsticks and move it to other people’s dish. This means, “I would like to help you”, but It is not a clean way to eat. I do not like this way of people showing care, but it is hard to refuse because the person trying to help intends respect and good feelings.
The Canadian individual serving system is my preference. The common Canadian serving system includes more than two people eating food that is on the entire table. The person who orders can only estimate how much food they need and usually it is hard to be precise, so people often waste food. People who are accustomed to ordering for themselves know how much food they will eat, so this might help reduce waste.
I think it is hard to say which system is good or bad. We should respect difference people’s habits and culture. China and Canada have many differences about “eating”. Next time I will talk about this again and tell you more interesting things.
关于吃的差异
以前我在中国时就知道中餐馆是遍布全世界的，中国人对吃的的问题可以说是倾尽了心血。“吃”的文化可以说是中国文化的一个重要组成部分。所以这次我决定针对“吃”来谈谈我对中加饮食文化不同的认识。这次我决定先从餐制上谈起。
在中国近乎所有的家庭都是实行共餐制，而且这个体制已经有了悠久的历史，在公元六世纪左右中国人普遍的接受了共餐制，并且至今未变。
中国人是知道共餐制的弊病的，不同人的筷子伸进一个碗中必然容易传染疾病，但是中国人对于分餐制的习惯是根深蒂固的，尽管在2002年“非典”这样的传染灾异期间（后经证实，“非典”传染并非与共餐制有关），一些饭店在此时期内实行分餐制，但是当灾害过去，共餐制就再度兴起，因为中国人认为大家在一起吃饭是信任的体现，并且热闹，可以很快拉近人与人之间的距离。而且众多人在一起吃饭可以品尝更多种菜肴。当然最重要的是传统习惯已经深入人心，自然不好改变。
但是我来到加拿大后也没有对分餐制感到不习惯，我喜欢分餐制。第一，分餐制更加卫生，在中国一些人为了表示亲热与关心，喜欢给别人夹菜，当然他用的是自己的筷子。我并不喜欢这样，但是见于礼貌也不好推脱，所以我个人更喜欢分餐制。第二，分餐制更加节约，因为共餐制是多人吃一桌菜，所以点菜只能估计要多少，经常有浪费的现象。然而分餐制是自己点自己的，多少自己心里清楚，所以浪费可以减少。
对于餐制的好坏，是很难说哪个好那个坏。但是只要有人喜欢这个习惯我们就应该尊重。中国的“吃”与加拿大还有很多的不同，下次我会进一步给大家介绍我所发觉的不同。
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Posted by: hartbooks on December 21 2008 8:37 AM
Well I have to agree with Ning Ma about preference to having my own serving and not the communal bowl. If you seen the large size of spoon I eat with you'd know why....