Don't lick your fingers Anne!

That's what my dad used to say to me and there were echoes of my dad in Sri Lanka for me last week. I decided that "anything you can do, I can do better" and thought I'd join with the Sri Lankans I was on a workshop with and eat with my fingers. Yes I know, I'm bad enough with a knife and fork but you know, it didn't look that hard and I used to do it as a baby which was not THAT long ago, so I thought I'd give it a go.

It was okay apart from a few snorts of derision mainly coming from folk with knives and forks I have to say. Anyway I got through the meal eventually (great for a diet because it takes so long) and was licking my fingers clean when I heard my boss say "don't lick your fingers Anne". Apparently it's considered rude and apparently the way I was doing it - one finger in my mouth at a time is generally thought to be suggestive at best and filthy at worst. Oops, you see how easily folk can get the wrong impression of you in another culture!!! I'm back to using a knife and fork and I've stopped licking the plate in case that also means something.