Latest News:  

English>>China Society

Learning to be a perfect lady proves fruitful

By Cang Wei and Song Wenwei  (China Daily)

09:46, May 31, 2013

Sara Jane Ho (right), founder of China's first school of etiquette, teaches her students how to use napkins. Photo by Wu Hailang for China Daily

Etiquette courses are on the rise in Nanjing.

Most Chinese are familiar with the old saying "Daughters should be brought up in rich surroundings", but spending 10,000 yuan ($1,630) a day to study etiquette is still beyond many people's imaginations.

At the Institute Sarita finishing school in Beijing, one of the skills students are shown is how to halve oranges elegantly using a knife and fork.

Sara Jane Ho, the founder of China's first school of etiquette, demonstrated the initial step to her students. She cut off one end of an orange, allowing it to stand firmly on the plate, and then sliced the fruit from top to bottom with deliberate care until the segmented halves blossomed like flowers.

"Ladies" also remove orange seeds from their mouths in an elegant way, according to Ho. She told the students they should first cover their mouths with one hand, and then use the thumb and the first finger of the other to pick out the seeds, which should be put on the side of their plates later.

"Graceful women don't make a sound when they eat," said Ho. "Displaying manners shows people that you respect them, that your individual needs and conveniences can be subordinated to put other people first in a very selfless way. And that is an important attribute for any society, Eastern or Western, rich or poor, traditional or modern."


【1】 【2】 【3】 【4】 【5】



We Recommend:

Migrant workers' sexual needs -Temporary couples

Couple say 'I do' after 35-year wait

China’s weekly story (2013.5.11-5.17)

Modern cities'
Cheongsam Style

An elegant job: private dancing trainer

Watermelon gives your summer a creative treat

Summer style girls in Nantong street

Anxious city: Crowded morning bus

Hot tempo of the city:
I love Salsa!

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:GaoYinan、Chen Lidan)

Related Reading

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. China's naval fleet continues training

  2. Future Philippine military officers

  3. Polar bear Inuka moves into new home

  4. Kids in rural areas: Fewer toys, more joy

  5. Dance for forthcoming Children's Day

  6. Giant panda pair greeted in Taiyuan

  7. Wandering the Shuyuan Gate of Xi'an

  8. Animation studio opens doors

  9. Government debt 50% of China's GDP: IMF

  10. UnionPay quickens expansion of card business in Australia

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Acquisition to sharpen Shuanghui's edge
  2. Manipulative kids seek gifts on Children's Day
  3. Japan, India eager to forge closer ties
  4. Abducted kids' return not always a happy ending
  5. Family pressure forces marriage with laowai
  6. Hot money behind rising yuan
  7. E.U. should learn from Switzerland and Germany

What’s happening in China

Smoking a 'chronic disease'

  1. Psychopaths locked in by a law
  2. Man dies after attacked by dogs
  3. Student sues card firm over refunds
  4. 10 detained over illegal medical waste trade
  5. Volunteer moms comfort left-behind children