New life experiences are always fun, but they can also be quite terrifying. Discovering something new is a daunting task when it seems like everyone else knows what to do and you’re just left scratching your head.
But never fear. These foolproof tips will make you look like a sophisticated traveler of the world. Many new experiences come in the form of food, so if you’re dining out, here are a few tips to make your dining adventure a little easier.
1. Use the spoon for more than just the soup part of ramen.
If you don’t like the idea of slurping your noodles (which can get messy, but is totally acceptable), use the chopsticks to lift them out of the soup and place them in the spoon. Much neater!
2. Don’t stress about using chopsticks for sushi.
If you’ve never mastered chopsticks, you can still enjoy delicious sushi; it’s perfectly acceptable to eat it with your hands. Just make sure you’re not touching your eyes if you’ve been dipping into the wasabi.
3. Don’t be daunted by formal settings.
It looks confusing, but formal place settings are actually easy — just work from the outside in. If you’re hosting something fancy, you can also get away with mismatched plates; it’s considered chic.
4. Use your napkin like a human.
Don’t rub the napkin wildly across your face, because you’ll just smear food everywhere. Instead, press it firmly to your face and let it soak up the mess. Keep it on your lap, and don’t stuff it into your collar because you are not two years old. And don’t you even think about blowing your nose with it.
5. Don’t give yourself a bath with a hot towel.
Hot towels — the kind given out on airplanes and in some restaurants — are for your hands, not your entire body. Keep hot toweling to your hands. After all, you’re in public.
Other times, you’ll want to know what to do even when you’re in private. If you want to feel put together, it also helps if you look the part. Simply knowing how to use beauty products properly is a huge step.
6. Don’t be scared of the bidet.
Bidets, used in many parts of the world, are used for washing off your bits after using the toilet. Many people consider them to be more hygienic than using paper alone, as it’s like taking a mini-shower for your bum. It’s more time consuming, though, and you have to take off more clothes. After doing your business, sit on the bidet and use the water to clean yourself off, then pat dry and be on your way.
7. Don’t be scared of liquid liner.
Liquid liner looks daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. To get an even line, draw a dotted line on your lids with quick, short strokes, and then fill it in. It will be easier to create a line with a guide already in place.
8. But don’t be overly friendly with lipstick.
With lipstick, less is more, and will also stay in place better. Instead of applying it from the tube, which can leave too much on your lips (causing a mess and wasting your lipstick), try applying it with a small brush. You’ll have more control, too.
9. Don’t goop on the nail polish.
If you apply a thick layer of nail polish, it will look uneven, take forever to dry, and chip off more easily. It’s better to apply two thin layers, letting the first one dry completely before adding the second. If you don’t have a top coat, dip your nails in ice cold water when they’ve dried. It will harden and set the polish.
Finally, we have one for if you ever get an injury and require a little help walking. This one is really useful because it will actually help you recover faster!
10. Walk with the cane on your good side.
If you have an injury and need to use a cane, walk with it on the side of your good leg. Your left arm swings with your right leg and vice versa, so the arm on your good leg’s side will be supporting your injured leg.
We hope these tips have boosted your confidence for all things new. Of course, if you’re really stumped about something, there’s really no shame in simply asking. It’s better to own up and ask rather than pretend you know what you’re doing and mess up, and people appreciate the honesty. That said, get out and go have some new adventures!
