Madra Dubh wrote:

> "Helen Ramsay" <r@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:buific$hfbou$1@ID-207901.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > "Madra Dubh" <ccaine@worldnet.att.net> wrote
> >
> > > My grandchildren and I are off to Musashi's for lunch where I shall
> > teach
> > > them the proper bow as well as a few words of Japanese.
> > > We shall then feast on Udon and Osoba and Yaksoba and many other such
> > > delicacies.
> >
> > So how was lunch?
>
> It was fantastic!
> The staff at Musashi's really appreciated our efforts to teach a little of
> the Japanese culture to the Grandkids.
> My daughter and granddaughter did not like Miso Shiru but the boys did.
> All enjoyed the short grained Asian variety of rice as well as chicken
> Teriyaki.
> I feasted upon Katsu Don.
> .

Some friends and I have been frequenting a Chinese restaurant about 30 miles
from here. Bit of a drive but the food is far superior to the Chinese
restaurants in this area...
ANYway, we started out by asking the proper pronunciation of "Xie Xie!" -
"Thank you." and how to say "Hello".
And progressed to learning a few new words in Chinese each time we visit.
About once a week. The staff suggested that we learn Mandarin vs. Cantonese
and have been very helpful.
And generous!
We've noticed that our "take home" plates are just as full as the dinner that
was served!! They add extra to it. "Not enough! You wait."
I guess the other patrons wonder about it since most of the servers end up
around our table.
And all from inquiring about how to say "Hello" and "Thank you"...
now we are friends who come to dinner.