对话文本
Liu: (having lunch with Joseph) have you ever been invited to a Chinese feast?
Joesph:sure. Beijingers are distinguished for their warmth and hospitality.
L: as far as you could see, is dining at a Chinese table a distinct experience? To what extent does it differ from that in your homeland?
J: to begin with, I have to use chopsticks.
L: but you look quite proficient in using them now.
J: certainly. After all, I've been here for two years. It's not much uphill work for a foreigner to get used to Chinese dinner utensils. Though, I do feel hazy about how to behave appropriately at a Chinese dinner table.
L: yes, table etiquette. There are a multitude of rules that foreigners might never know until they were told. Some practices even appear somewhat awkward or rude to Westerners, while they are the norm in China. Hey, your chopsticks, old silly! You should not stab them vertically into the rice bow!
J: anything strang about that?
L: maybe you should have palced them horizontally over your bowl or plate. They resemble two incense sticks used at sacrifices. It's very inauspicious, and might enrage all present.
J: oh, sorry! There's a long story even with a mere pair of sticks.

参考翻译
你吃过午餐吗?
当然了,北京人的热情好客是出了名的.
你觉得跟一桌中国人吃饭是不是很不一样?跟你在你自己的国家吃饭有哪些不同呢?
首先,我得改用筷子.
可是,你看起来用筷子用的很熟练嘛.
当然了,怎么着我也在这里呆了2年了.我们老外庸官中式餐具倒也不是什么难事,但是在中国人的餐桌上,我经常感觉到无所适从.
不错,餐桌上的礼仪.吃饭时,有很多规矩,我们不说,老外们就不知道.其中有一点,在中国早已司空见惯,可是对于老外来说,有点让人不舒服,甚至有点粗暴无礼.喂喂喂,老兄,注意你的筷子!直插在米饭里可不好!
这个有什么不对吗?
也许你应该把它们平放在碗或者盘子上.要不然它们看上去就像2根香烛,不吉利,在座的所有人都会不高兴的.
对不起,对不起!没想到连一双筷子都有这么多奥秘.

核心词汇
Feast: a large or special meal, especially for a lot of people and to celebrate something 盛宴;宴会 formal
a wedding feast
婚筵

Proficient: able to do something well because of training and practice 熟练的;娴熟的;精通的;训练有素的 adjective ~ (in/at sth) ~ (in/at doing sth) written
She's proficient in several languages.
她精通好几种语言.
He's proficient at his job.
他的工作效率很高.
I'm a reasonably proficient driver.
我开车的技术还算不错.

uphill: an argument or a struggle that is difficult to win and takes a lot of effort over a long period of time 漫长而艰难的,费力的(战斗、斗争、任务等)

Utensil: a tool that is used in the house (家庭)用具,器皿;家什 noun
cooking/kitchen utensils
炊具;厨房用具

hazy: of a person 人 uncertain or confused about something 主意不定的;困惑的
I'm a little hazy about what to do next.
我还有点拿不准下一步要做什么呢.

etiquette: the formal rules of correct or polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession (社会或行业中的)礼节,礼仪,规矩 noun uncountable
advice on etiquette
在礼节方面的忠告
medical/legal/professional etiquette
医学界的／法律界的／行业规矩