Man asks waiter if he can practice his Chinese while ordering food resulting in a beautiful exchange

Learning new languages can be empowering, opening doors to connect with people from different cultures. Being multilingual not only boosts communication and cognitive abilities but also enhances future career prospects. Recently, a man practicing Chinese went viral after visiting a local Lanzhou noodle restaurant and speaking the language in a truly memorable way. Canadian resident Cali Lopez, known as @calilbohemian on Instagram, shared a video of his interaction with the waitress and their authentic and curious exchange quickly won praise online.

The incident occurred in Saskatoon, one of Canada’s largest cities, with a growing Chinese community. Cali appeared anxious and nervous at the Lanzhou noodle restaurant before a waitress approached him. Greeting her in her native language, he nearly left her in shock. A text overlay on the video read, “Practicing my Chinese at a Lanzhou noodle restaurant in Saskatoon."

“Getting nervous because I’m always shy to speak Chinese in Canada,” it added. With a smile, Cali politely asked the waitress if he could practice his Chinese and began ordering in her language, asking questions about the menu. He noticed an appetizer that intrigued him and asked, “Is this sour pickle soup spicy?” The waitress replied, “Yes, a little bit spicy.” Cali, who works as an English teacher, was fine with mild spice, replying, “Oh, I just want to order one.” When she asked about his other food preferences, he shared his craving for a dish with rice noodles. The waitress then listed the restaurant’s six types of noodles, including three round and three flat varieties.

Cali appeared to struggle a bit while discussing the types of noodles, prompting the waitress to point to the menu and explain each dish’s preparation to help him order. After some thought, he chose the thinnest of the round noodles. Curious about his language skills, Cali then asked, “Can you understand me?” and waited eagerly for her response. The waitress confirmed she could, leaving Cali visibly moved. The one-minute video of this genuine and heartfelt exchange has received widespread praise on social media for capturing a real, spontaneous moment without any forced emotion.

The footage has garnered widespread attention with thousands of likes and millions of views. Among the comments, @jaemi_jean wrote, “Your smile, her reaction—everything about it was so genuine and pure.” Emphasizing how the video inspired her, @reyn.rose13 remarked, “This made my day! I’ve learned two additional languages in my life, and I always get very shy to speak them.” A woman of Chinese origin, @mizchynuhdoll said, “This made my day! I’ve learned two additional languages in my life, and I always get very shy to speak them.” “I’m always a bit shy about practicing my Mandarin. How were the noodles? Spicy and sour noodles are one of my favorite things to eat!” @mslivchen added.

You can follow Cali Lopez (@calilbohemian) for language-related and lifestyle content.