The White Elephant Gift Dilemma
In high school I played clarinet in band for a few years, and we had a tradition of doing Secret Santa gift exchanges around Christmastime. I can’t remember what gift I bought the person...
Category: etiquette
The Cheapest People in the World
Comedian Russell Peters has this joke about how Chinese people can’t do business with Indian people, because Indian people can’t live without a bargain, and Chinese people can’t give you a bargain. In another...
Lessons in Expectation Setting at an All-Inclusive Resort
“The thing about all-inclusive resorts is that the food isn’t very good,” Karen said. “And you don’t really leave the resort since you want to take advantage of the free food, so you might...
The Rules of Punctuality
“What late people don’t understand about us on-time people,” Mike Birbiglia paused for dramatic effect, “is that we hate you.” It’s a quote from his Netflix stand-up special, Thank God for Jokes. It’s hilarious...
No substitutions allowed?
A few weeks ago I was having a team lunch at Dish Dash, and my coworker (let’s call her Ashley) asked the waiter, “Can I get the tabsi falafel, but substitute the eggplant for...
The Rules of the RSVP, part 4
On Saturday evening I got a call from my friend Divya, who invited me to go on a last minute sailing trip the next day. I was torn because while I really wanted to...
To Tip or Not To Tip
Over Christmas I was catching up with a friend from high school when the subject of tipping came up. “TWENTY PERCENT? Are people really expected to tip TWENTY PERCENT on dinner?” Chiawen had been...
Don’t waste food, part 2
So I’m on vacation in Paris this week, and I was having duck confit last night at a bookstore/wine bar when I struck up a conversation with the couple sitting next to me. They...
Do you like white elephant gift exchanges?
Two years ago I was the unlucky recipient of the worst white elephant gift ever: rollerblades in men’s size 8 / women’s size 10. Below are a few of the reasons I strongly disliked...
“Where are you from?”, part 3
So I got a lot more data/feedback after part 2 of “Where are you from?”, and figured I’d write a follow-up to my follow-up. 🙃 “Where are you from?” In case you missed it, my...
I recall Nahm in Bangkok (your rec.) a great value. Delicious and memorable, but not life changing. But I doubt…