American and Chinese cultures are at polar opposites. An American hostess, complimented for her cooking skills, is likely to say, "Oh, I'm so glad that you liked it. I cooked it especially for you." Not so a Chinese host or hostess(often the husband does the fancy cooking), who will instead apologize for giving you "nothing"even slightly edible and for not showing you enough honor by providing proper dishes. The same rules hold true with regard to children. American parents speak proudly of their children's accomplishments, telling how Johnny made the school team or Jane made the honor roll. Not so Chinese parents, whose children, even if at the top of their class in school, are always so "naughty", never studying, never listening to their elders, and so forth. The Chinese take pride in "modesty"; the Americans in "straightforwardness".