Savoring Sobremesa

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Adjusting to Spanish Time

As I sit here writing this, it’s almost 3 pm, and, believe it or not, I haven’t had lunch yet… Three months ago, if you had told me it would feel completely normal to be eating lunch around 3 pm, I would not have believed you. As someone used to eating lunch in Phelps at 11 am, the Spanish schedule is definitely different.

I typically eat breakfast at 8 am, lunch around 3 pm, and dinner around 9:30 pm. When I first got to Spain, the biggest adjustment for me was not eating lunch until 3 pm…The gap between breakfast and lunch felt so long! But I’ve settled into the rhythm of eating a snack between classes or during my internship. And Spanish people do that too—the students at my internship always have a time for ‘merienda’, which is often a sandwich or pastry.

Sobremesa, which translates directly to “upon the table,” is the idea that lunch isn’t something that’s rushed here in Spain. Rather, it’s the expectation that even after everyone is finished eating, people sit and talk together. It’s beautiful and truly one of my favorite cultural experiences. I look forward to it every day.

Especially in Southern Spain, it’s typical to eat the biggest meal of the day at lunch, which means I usually eat a lighter dinner. Not only do I love my late-night debriefs with my housemate, but in Granada, it’s really easy to meet up with friends to go out for tapas in the evenings. Tapas are free, small plates of food (almost like appetizers) that come with your drink. Tapas culture exists at most restaurants, and varies depending on what type of cuisine is served. One of my favorite tapas is carne en salsa, a typical Spanish dish!

I really cherish the way Spanish people gather and linger around food. Some of my favorite memories have come from laughing with my host family around the lunch table, or 10 pm life debriefs with friends sitting in a plaza (the city still very alive around us). As I find myself one month away from the end of my time here in Granada, I’m definitely working to savor every moment of sobremesa—from my host mom’s delicious paella, to the laughter that always follows.

Here’s to learning to linger around food (even really late at night)!

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