> apparently, my astonishment was considered insulting If you feel astonished that someone is unfamiliar with something, that is an emotion best kept to yourse

> apparently, my astonishment was considered insulting If you feel astonished that someone is unfamiliar with something, that is an emotion best kept to yourself. I have learned this the hard way when people reacted poorly to my own expressions of astonishment. Consider how someone might feel after hearing you say something like this: "What??? You've never heard of tiramisu???" (I'm not saying that's how you put it, just giving an example of an astonished reaction.) Instead, meet them where they are and explain without judgment the unfamiliar term: "Oh, tiramisu is a delicious Italian dessert. It's made with ladyfinger cookies, mascarpone, and coffee. Mascarpone is a soft creamy Italian cheese, often used in desserts, sometimes in savory dishes too. Would you like me to send you a tiramisu recipe? You will be in for a real treat!"