[originaltext]M: Hey, don’t look so worried.W: (whispering) I don’t know what

M: Hey, don’t look so worried.
W: (whispering) I don’t know what to do with all these knives and forks and glasses. What do I do?
M: Ah, so that’s the problem, don’t worry, it’s easy. Use the cutlery from the outside to the inside. After each course the dirty dishes and cutlery will be taken away. The different glasses are for different kinds of drink. If you get stuck, just watch someone else.
W: OK, OK. I think I’ve got it. Could you explain some more about etiquette? I don’t want to do something that looks really stupid!
M: Well, the most important thing is not to make noise when you eat. Parents always tell their children "don’t talk with your mouth full" and "never chew with your mouth open".
W: OK, so that’s a bit different. Sometimes it’s polite in Asia to make noise. What else?
M: At a formal meal, in a place like this, you should always have your napkin on your lap and don’t rest your arms on the table either. If you are at someone’s house, it is always polite to compliment the cook. I guess that last part is the same everywhere in the world.
W: Well, although you guys didn’t cook it, thanks for a great meal!
M: It’s a good job I didn’t cook it, I can burn water!
W: What do I do if I need to leave the table? Do I need to say where I’m going?
M: Don’t go into too much detail. The safest option is to just say "please excuse me for a minute".
W: OK, well, in that case. Please excuse me for a minute.