Etiquette is a set of traditions ,based on kindness , efficiency and logic that have evolved over time . They give you structure in which to operate. Think of them as rules of your game .
TABLE MANNERS
Table manners are actions and behavior considered to be polite or socially correct when eating a meal with other people.
Some common table manners
1:- Sit up straight-
Try not to slouch or learn back in your chair (even if you are playing cards and don’t want you opponents to see your hand)
2:- Don’t speak with your mouth full of food
Sure ,you’ve heard your mother say it a hundred times, but no one likes to see a ball of masticated meat in your mouth. If you feel you must speak immediately, if you have only a relatively small bite ,tuck it into your cheek with your tongue and briefly.
3:- Chew quietly ,and try not to slurp –
This is a corollary of rule /number 2. Making noises is not only unappetizing and distracting ,but it can also interrupt the flow of conversation.
4:- Don’t wave utensils in the air –
Especially knives of if there is a food on them . Besides the danger of knocking over glasses, piercing waiters or lounching a pea into the eye of your date ,this is a sign of over – excitedness that may be unappealing to those present. Earnestness is to be commended,but irrational exuberance goes beyond the limits of good table manners.
5:- Keep your elbows off the table-
You have also heard this one from your mother,ad infinitum ,but in close dining situations it is a vital rule . Elbows take up table space and can be danger in knocking plates or glasses. Elbows on the table give you something to lean on and tend to lull you into slouching. If you must lean on the table a good tactic is to take a roll or piece of bread into your free hand and rest part your forearm on the table.
7:- Don’t forget please and thank you –
this are handy words in most situations but especially vital at the table where common courtesies are noticed by everyone present.
8:- Excuse yourself when leaving the table – You don’t want people to think that you are tired of their company. If you must leave the table make your excuses somewhat obvious and appear to be pressing. You want to leave people with the impression that you would rather remain at the table talking with them than doing anything else, but the matter at hand is so pressing that it must be attended to at once.
TABLE MANNER GUIDELINES
1. Dishes are passed counterclockwise ( to the person on your right) .
2. If someone on the far side asks you something to be passed, and you want some when it goes by you, it’s Okay to help yourself as it goes by as long as you don’t get the last serving.
3. If you are a guest at a dinner party, it’s a good idea to wait until the hostess offer second.
4. Serving dishes and pitchers with handles should be passed with handle towards the person serving it
5. Remember to say “please” and “thank you”.
6. If you are serving a table, then serve from left and remove from right.
7. If you must leave before the others have finished, always say,” May I be excused, please?” Then say, ” I enjoyed it ” to the hostess.
8. Contribute your share to polite conversation (not illness , dental work or death ) .
9. If something is in your mouth that you need to discard, whether its a bone, seed or whatever ,spit it very delicately into your fork or palm and quickly place it on the edge of the plate. Do not spit into your napkin..
10. If it happens to be a bug or hair , quietly discard it under the table. No need to spoil everyone’s meal.
11. Don’t use a toothpick or pick your teeth with your fingers at the table . Go to the restroom if you can’t wait.
12. Sit erect with your feet on the floor and not on the furniture.
13. Never sprawl your legs out far enough under the table to encroach upon the territory of others.
14. Never blow your food to cool it .
15. Never serve yourself with your own silverware .
16. Hands in lap when not eating.
17. Do not talk when food in mouth.
18. Chew with your lips closed .
19. Do not gesture with your silverware.
20. If you have a spill-
a. In a home – ” I am sorry”. Help needed .
b. In a restaurant – call the waiter.
21. Don’t until you have swallowed your food to take a drink .
22. Don’t push back your plate when finished. Wait until it is removed or you clear it.
SOME COMMON DINING MISTAKES
*Talking with food in your mouth and chewing with your mouth open.
*Picking your teeth.
*Leaving your purse, sun glasses, cell phones or eye glasses on the table.
*Using cell phones and pagers while dining.
*Elbows on the table.
*Eating too fast or too slow.
*Pushing away the plate or bowl when finished dining.
IN- FLIGHT MANNER
Space Invader :-
You are cruising at an altitude of 25,000ft. To your right,swirl of clouds. To your left , a guy who’s boring his elbow into your ribs . So how do you maintain personal space on board ? Nobody wants body contact on a flight, unless it’s your significant other . Contact yourself a little keep those forearm in your own space and those knees in front of your.
Carry on Conduct:-
Hold your bag in front of you and low to the ground as you walk down the aisle in search of your seat. Holding it up and at your sides will inevitably knock seated passengers on their arms, shoulders and heads.
Take Care of your belongings:-
When boarding a flight, a good option would be to move your belongings out of the way of other passengers. Once seated, it becomes very discomforting for both you and your co-passenger and our co-passenger if you tend to keep on getting up to retrieve something from the overhead cabin. Alternatively, we can ensure that we have all the items we would need throughout the flight before we sit down and buckle up.
Sitting next to a person who has cold or has bad body odor,can be quite and unpleasant experience and we can ask to change seats if required. However , the same thing can happen to us too. So it is better to apply a mild perfume( some passengers may be allergic to strong brands) or deodorant just before the flight. Those suffering from foot odor or issues should refrain from removing their shows during the flight.
Travelling with children:-
Travelling with children would require us to escort them to the bathroom at several intervals. In order to minimize stress for ourselves and to the other passengers, it is recommended that we opt for seats and the back of the aircraft. This enables us to be close to the toilet in addition to enjoying some extra space to stand up at intervals for stretch our muscles.
Children tend to be naughty at times and resort to running up and down the aisle in addition to kicking the seats from behind. To ensure a hassle-free trip ,we need to keep them well behaved and quit. A good way to do this is to keep them occupied with their favorite books, snacks or even one of those popular hand held games.
Walking Down the aisle :-
The seat in front of you is not third leg when getting out of your seat. When you get up, use the seat armrests.
Yanking the seat in front of you can be unpleasant for the person sitting in it .
Copy how the flight attendants balance themselves in the aisle by grabbing the luggage compartment above their heads, rather than the seat bags.
To Recline or not:-
Although reclining your seat is technically your right, exercising it to the limit will make those around you think you are an idiot. Poke your head around and ask if it’s OK .
If the person is tall , or has a child on their lap , try keeping your seat up right out of consideration , especially if it is a short flight.
When you do recline your seat , do it slowly to give the person behind you time to react.
Otherwise , you risk bumping the head of the unsuspecting passenger behind you , who may be getting something from the bag at her feet.
Getting Off:-
When the aircraft lands , there are people who jump onto the aisle as soon as the seat belt light blinks off. Resist the urge to push your way through. Let those nearest the exit get of first. You will get off the plane eventually.
CONCLUSION
Remember! Flying can be quite enjoyable if we take extra measures to ensure that the experience does not turn sore for us and our co-passengers.
So next time we are flying to a destination, let’s keep these pointers in mind and plan things accordingly so that we can just sit back and relax!
Thanks for reading….