Lunch with Strangers

Today I went to lunch with Simon, who is Chinese and head manager of the Plaid “ Far East ” office. I told him lunch was my treat, and he went to find a table where we could sit and enjoy a meal of pork, eggplant, rice, and bok choy.   

When I finished paying, I looked and saw him sitting at a small round table with another Chinese man eating his lunch. Think fast food table – perfectly sized to fit 4 friends or family members. I wondered if they knew each other since they were sitting so close. When I walked up and raised my eyebrows and smiled for an introduction, Simon mentioned that the man was almost finished, and we could have his table when he was done. The guy looked like he still had a lot to go before finishing, and I’m certain Simon did not consult with him first, but I sat down as instructed. 

Within 2 minutes, a new guy sat down across from me. He did not know Simon or the 1st gentleman either. Our food came and we started eating. The 1st guy got up to leave and within another minute, another stranger was in his place, close enough to me to bump elbows.

I laughed out loud and told Simon that I doubt something like this scene would happen in the U.S. , except in unusual circumstances. As an American, I’m used to enjoying a much larger amount of personal space around myself. I would probably eat my food standing up or walk away and find a bench to sit on instead of sitting down in a mall food court at a small table next to a complete stranger. In China, personal space is practically nonexistent.