The Lunch That Never Ends

In Spain, lunch does not end when the food ends. The plates are empty. The waiter takes them away. And nobody stands up. The family stays at the table and talks. One hour. Two hours. Sometimes more. Tag a friend who can talk for three hours at the table.

Nchini Hispania, chakula cha mchana hakiishi wakati chakula kinapoisha. Sahani ziko tupu. Mhudumu huchukua sahani. Na hakuna anayesimama. Familia hukaa mezani na kuzungumza. Saa moja. Saa mbili. Wakati mwingine zaidi. Mtaje rafiki anayeweza kuzungumza kwa saa tatu mezani.

This time has a special name in Spanish, sobremesa. It means the time at the table after the meal. There is coffee. Maybe a small sweet. But the important thing is the talking. Stories, jokes, family news, football. The afternoon goes slowly, and that is the point.

Muda huu una jina maalum kwa Kihispania, sobremesa. Maana yake ni muda wa mezani baada ya chakula. Kuna kahawa. Labda kitamu kidogo. Lakini jambo muhimu ni kuzungumza. Hadithi, mzaha, habari za familia, mpira wa miguu. Alasiri huenda polepole, na hiyo ndiyo maana yake.

You are new in Spain, and you do not know this. After lunch you stand up fast, because you have plans. Everyone looks at you, surprised. Your Spanish friend pulls you back into your chair and smiles. Sit down, she says. Where is the fire? The best part of lunch is starting now.

Wewe ni mgeni nchini Hispania, na hujui hili. Baada ya chakula unasimama haraka, kwa sababu una mipango. Kila mtu anakutazama, kwa mshangao. Rafiki yako wa Kihispania anakurudisha kitini na kutabasamu. "Kaa chini," anasema. "Moto uko wapi?" Sehemu bora ya chakula cha mchana inaanza sasa.