Feeding Frenzy

Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the biggest holidays in Chinese culture, is upon us. We had a M.A.F. celebration last night, which I helped organize (as a member of the Employee Committee). We had a KTV (karaoke) contest, as well as a buffet, on the 7th floor of our building. It was a busy day, getting things prepared for the 6:30pm start. The catering was poorly timed, as the first shipment of food arrived at 5:30pm, but the second shipment hadn't arrived at 6:30pm. Not long after 6:30pm, there was a trickle of a few employees arriving... and the crack turned to a hole as the entire company flooded through the staircase and elevator doors.

The second shipment hadn't arrived, and we didn't have any plates or utensils. Now here's where things got interesting. We have a company of 200+ people... mainly computer engineers and highly-educated... but lacking in sophistication. As they arrived, they headed straight to the food. Seeing that there were no plates, they just started picking with their hands. The saran wrap hadn't even been taken off the food trays!! Most of the food could be considered finger food, but not all. Everyone swarmed the buffet table instead of filing in a line working from left to right. It was like a pack of wilderbees coming across a river in the Serengeti during a drought. Very very surprising how lowly these people looked, picking at food with their hands. Eventually, the cupboards were opened and we had people use small plates, small bowls, and cups to eat. I saw some employees using their own tupperware as bowls. It was one big mess of people. Good thing I ate before we started. :)

As AC says, Taiwanese people have too much freedom; so much that they cross the line to having no rules or manners. Ain't that a fact.