tea bowl

tea bowl and whisk made of bamboo
 
Did you know that the tea bowls in Japanese tea ceremony have a front face? The host serves the bowl with its front towards facing the guest. The guest should turn the bowl twice not to dirty the front before they drink. The rule is not difficult. However doing it smoothly and naturally is another thing. One day a European student went to a Japanese-style cafe and did that. An old Japanese lady next to her got surprised and asked, "How many years have you been in Japan?" Actually, she had been here only two weeks. I imagine her movement was very elegant.