Lesson 14 Key Conversation It's Our Custom

Eun-Shil: Clement, could I talk to you?

Clement: Uh oh. From that look, I think I did something bad again, didn't I?

Eun-Shil: It's about last night. My parents were very offended that you decided to pour your own drinks and that you disagreed with them openly.

Clement: Oh. Well, I was kind of thirsty, and I didn't want to burden them by making them serve me. We always pour our drinks back home.

Eun-Shil: In our country, it's our custom to pour each other's drinks. If you pour for them, it shows you respect them.

Clement: OK, noted. And you say I disagreed with them, but I thought we were having a great discussion.

Eun-Shil: Clement, you must understand that my parents are very traditional. If someone is older than you, you should respect what they have to say.

Clement: But what if I disagree with them? It would be wrong of me not to say something then, wouldn't it?

Eun-Shil: You might want to think twice before doing that in public. It could cause them to lose face.

Clement: I just wish I knew all of this before, you know?