SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

THE DESIGN SCHOOL

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT

NAME: CHUA CHANG YEONG

STUDENT ID NO: 0314044

TOOL SELECTED: CHOPSTICKS

WORD COUNT: 506

ENGLISH 2 (ENGL 0205)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: NARRATIVE ESSAY

LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA

SUBMISSION DATE: 14TH NOVEMBER 2013

Kitchen is a place where people must appear there every day to cook and

prepare their meal. In a kitchen, we can found many cooking implement and tools.

There is an interesting tool in the kitchen of my house where my grandmother will use it

every day when she has her meal. It is the chopstick.

Chopsticks are an important part of Asian culture. Their popularity and

widespread use across Asia have a long and rich history. Chopsticks are believed

originated in ancient China about 5000 years ago. They are frequently used as

traditional eating utensils in China, Korea, Japan and other country of East Asia.

In Chinese, the word for chopsticks derives its meaning from the character for

"fast", which is the way this style of fare is most often devoured. For those more

accustomed to a knife and fork, however, using chopsticks can be a good way to slow

down the scoffing, and avoid overeating.

Chopsticks are traditionally made from bamboo and are lacquered. Bamboo and

wood chopsticks are relatively inexpensive. Besides, they are low in temperature

conduction compare to the western steel spoon a fork. Nowadays, the chopsticks we

used are normally made from plastic because they are cheaper.

Chopsticks are the long, thin and tapered sticks. They are twin brothers, so that a

pair of chopsticks has totally same length of about 10 inches. When you hold a

chopstick, you will found that it is as light and a pencil. The traditional bamboo

chopsticks have a wooden and natural smell. My chopsticks are brown in colour as it is

made of wood and with gold Chinese words on the parts above the handle. The tips of

the chopsticks are taper and fine while the handles are thick blended shape of round

with a slight squaring of the faces. There is no texturing or carving on the chopsticks

tips.

Using chopsticks is not that difficult but many find it hard to learn to use. To use

the chopsticks, first, pick up the first chopstick with your middle finger thumb. Grip the

second chopstick with your index finger and thumb. Finally, open the chopsticks and

close to pick up the food. Make sure do not make an “X” as this will make it hard to pick

up the food.

It has been said by using chopsticks it can improves our memory, increases

finger dexterity and even can be useful in learning and improving skills such as Chinese

character printing and brush painting. Many Asian superstitions revolve around

chopsticks as well. For example, if you find an uneven pair at your table seating, it is

believed that you will miss the next train, boat or plane you are trying to catch. Also,

dropping your chopsticks is a sign of bad luck to come.

My time with chopsticks is interesting as I can learn the techniques to use it and it

is funny when watching someone keep fail to use the chopsticks and drop the food

everywhere. Using chopsticks can be one challenge in your life!