Six Odd Things #2: Besteck

[muckefuck]

#2: I employ silverware like a reverse European

I wouldn't've known this about myself if e. hadn't pointed it out one day during a family meal. For those of you wondering what I'm talking about: Europeans tend to keep knife in one hand and fork in another. They don't switch hands, as most Americans do; they cut as they go and they don't rest their cutting hand in their lap when not in use. I'm left-handed, though, so whereas most Europeans would have the knife in the right hand, I hold mine in my left.

What I find oddest about this is that I have no idea how and why I picked it up. It's true, I did live in Europe for a while, but I almost never dined out in anything resembling a formal setting. There are European customs I adopted deliberately during my stay, like writing the date day-month-year or starting with the thumb when counting on my fingers, both of which I do to this day. But this wasn't one of them.

Both my younger siblings have also spent a considerable chunk of time in Europe and/or dining with Europeans, but my sister (who was once engaged ot a Spaniard) still eats like an American. My left-handed brother (who actually married a Spaniard) also uses knife and fork like a European, but a right-handed one. Now that's just plain weird.

Comments

Silverware

[(Anonymous)]

My mother always tells the story about how American spies used to get caught by this during WWII (at least in Italy), so I've always noticed which way people use their fork and knife.

-e

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

You tireless and patriotic efforts to root out foreign spies in the midst of our dinner parties will not go unrecognised or unrewarded!

[strongaxe.livejournal.com]

Isaac Asimov once wrote a short story in which a German spy was being interrogated by Americans. He was able to "prove" he was American by reciting all the verses to the Star Spangled Banner letter-perfect. This of course showed him up to be an impostor, since most Americans don't know all the verses.