Yes, and I actually prefer it.

My dad taught me when I was a kid. I can pretty much manage, although I'm not great at it.

When I was 16, a high school boyfriend, who was first generation Chinese, invited me over for dinner at his house. He casually mentioned that they ate with chopsticks. I was nervous enough about dinner with his parents without that pressure. I made him teach me before hand, and then when I was alone practiced for HOURS to impress his parents. We broke up three months later, but I think about him fondly whenever I find myself using chopsticks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like an idiot anytime I'm in an Asian restaurant and everyone else is using chopsticks. Especially when I have to request them. I'm in my 40's, I should have figured this out by now. I'm sitting here trying to eat my lunch with chopsticks and it's very slow going. lol

When did you learn how to use chopsticks? Is it basically practice makes perfect, or are there any tips or tricks to this.

YOU feel like an idiot? I feel like an idiot- I'm Asian and I can't use chopsticks to save my life. Try being the only Asian in an Asian restaurant who can't use them. I also dislike rice and am bad at math. Might as well turn in my Asian card now...

This was ME for like 20 years. I am Chinese American and could not use chopsticks. It was mortifying. Then...something clicked in my 20s, and I was suddenly able to use them. I didn't practice or anything. Thank god.

Hmm...I'm 36. I think my time has passed!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like an idiot anytime I'm in an Asian restaurant and everyone else is using chopsticks. Especially when I have to request them. I'm in my 40's, I should have figured this out by now. I'm sitting here trying to eat my lunch with chopsticks and it's very slow going. lol

When did you learn how to use chopsticks? Is it basically practice makes perfect, or are there any tips or tricks to this.

YOU feel like an idiot? I feel like an idiot- I'm Asian and I can't use chopsticks to save my life. Try being the only Asian in an Asian restaurant who can't use them. I also dislike rice and am bad at math. Might as well turn in my Asian card now...

This was ME for like 20 years. I am Chinese American and could not use chopsticks. It was mortifying. Then...something clicked in my 20s, and I was suddenly able to use them. I didn't practice or anything. Thank god.

Practice at home. Everyone I know can use them but I wouldn't think anything of it if you can't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, although I can't eat rice (unless it is sticky) with them to save my life.

All the Japanese people I hang out with use the chopsticks to shovel rice and noodles straight from the bowl into the mouth, rather than using them to pick up food and convey it mouthward. Don't know if other cultures use the chopsticks like we use forks/ spoons, or if the shoveling is a common practice.

Koreans use spoons to eat rice. Very sensible.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, although I can't eat rice (unless it is sticky) with them to save my life.

All the Japanese people I hang out with use the chopsticks to shovel rice and noodles straight from the bowl into the mouth, rather than using them to pick up food and convey it mouthward. Don't know if other cultures use the chopsticks like we use forks/ spoons, or if the shoveling is a common practice.

Yes, although I can't eat rice (unless it is sticky) with them to save my life.

Anonymous wrote:I feel like an idiot anytime I'm in an Asian restaurant and everyone else is using chopsticks. Especially when I have to request them. I'm in my 40's, I should have figured this out by now. I'm sitting here trying to eat my lunch with chopsticks and it's very slow going. lol

When did you learn how to use chopsticks? Is it basically practice makes perfect, or are there any tips or tricks to this.

YOU feel like an idiot? I feel like an idiot- I'm Asian and I can't use chopsticks to save my life. Try being the only Asian in an Asian restaurant who can't use them. I also dislike rice and am bad at math. Might as well turn in my Asian card now...

OP'er here. My husband can do it and he has shown me. I think the problem is I havent had enough practice.

Youtube, that's a great idea!

Yes, watch a youtube video, if you are holding them wrong & they are crossing you don't have a chance.

Yes, my dad taught me. His whole experience of world travel was the Vietnam war, and it really stuck with him! He insisted that all us kids use chopsticks every time we went to our town's one little Chinese restaurant.

Have you ever been shown how? If not, ask someone to show you, and then practice practice practice. Really tough, since "practice" means eating delicious food.

We learned as children in Canada (many asian people so lots of opportunities). Our children are 2 and 4 and 80% of the food gets in their mouth.

You could probably youtube it for videos or tutorials.

I feel like an idiot anytime I'm in an Asian restaurant and everyone else is using chopsticks. Especially when I have to request them. I'm in my 40's, I should have figured this out by now. I'm sitting here trying to eat my lunch with chopsticks and it's very slow going. lol

When did you learn how to use chopsticks? Is it basically practice makes perfect, or are there any tips or tricks to this.