'Oh, you're so good with the hashi!'

The Japanese will often compliment foreigners on their amazing hashi (chopstick) abilities the first time they see them use them (or in other words, eat). I know, I know... we have them in America and even a 5-year-old can use chopsticks. But this is more of an ice-breaker than an actual compliment so the Japanese consider it polite.
Compliment or not, though, I really do think I am getting better at using hashi. I taught myself to hold them in a really strange way when I was a kid, and have now - finally - caved in to correcting my form so I hold them the 'correct' way. I guess I am not trying to brag by listing all of these little accomplishments (if you can call them that); I just find it interesting to observe progress and change in subtle ways.
I also learned last week that there are about 8 main rules regarding chopsticks. I know not to let my chopsticks rest IN the food (like sticking in the rice - they do this at funerals!) or pass food between chopsticks (another funeral thing), but I definately picked up some ettiquete this week that I have been blatently going against since I arrived. I know not to 'spear' food with them either, but licking rice off the chopsticks, for example, is considered disgusting. Oops.
Goes to show even 'simple' things can hold hidden meaning. I might be reading into this too much, but I kind of think the ettiquete behind chopsticks offers a small glimse into the structure and maybe delicate beauty and art in this country.