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Features / Archive
30 July, 2008 10:51:45 | in society
A different lunch
By Larry J. Pitman
The other day I was sitting enjoying my lunch with friends and family in a chifa (a Peruvian-Chinese restaurant). We were having a very good conversation about this and that. At the end of the lunch, as I was walking from the restaurant, I pondered on the difference between my lunches in Peru as compared to the U.S.
The other day I was sitting enjoying my lunch with friends and family in a chifa (a Peruvian-Chinese restaurant). We were having a very good conversation about this and that. At the end of the lunch, as I was walking from the restaurant, I pondered on the difference between my lunches in Peru as compared to the U.S.The answer: It is the relationship that is important. Not the time. So we sat and enjoyed the time together, not thinking about what we had to do, just relaxing.
For me this is a big change. In California, lunch on a week day was almost never for pleasure. Usually it was alone. It was a sandwich taken on the run while I did some errands or rushed back to my desk. Often I would slip over to the In and Out Burger or a similar place, get my calories, and keep moving—usually in a car. By no means was it relaxing or enjoyable. Always there was a feeling of being hurried, often resulting in acid indigestion.
Alternatively, it was business—taking a client somewhere and trying to get some more business or attending a luncheon meeting at the local Chamber of Commerce. Rarely was it with a friend.
I think that we Americans often put a higher priority on getting things done than on the relationship. Ask an American to get together for lunch and you will hear: “Well, I have to check my agenda.” They flip through the pages or go to their Palm Pilot and then say “How about Thursday, three weeks from tomorrow?” For me, that is not friendship. It is just another obligation scheduled on the agenda.
In California I used to think that once in a while, I should get together with a friend for lunch. But after going through the scheduling routine every time, I would revert back to my old isolation. I don’t usually get the agenda routine here. I’m amazed, I can call up somebody on the day and say “Hey, let’s have lunch and they say OK. Where and when?
Here in Lima, when you go to restaurants at lunch -time , you will see people lingering over their meals. It may be two, three or even four o’clock. They are enjoying the conversation. They are enjoying being with their friends. Restaurants are used to this, and it is rare to have them dump the check on the table until you ask for it.
Does that mean that people don’t work hard here? Absolutely not. In fact the opposite. I often am amazed at how hard people work. The difference is that they make time for their friends.
For me this is a big change. In California, lunch on a week day was almost never for pleasure. Usually it was alone. It was a sandwich taken on the run while I did some errands or rushed back to my desk. Often I would slip over to the In and Out Burger or a similar place, get my calories, and keep moving—usually in a car. By no means was it relaxing or enjoyable. Always there was a feeling of being hurried, often resulting in acid indigestion.
Alternatively, it was business—taking a client somewhere and trying to get some more business or attending a luncheon meeting at the local Chamber of Commerce. Rarely was it with a friend.
I think that we Americans often put a higher priority on getting things done than on the relationship. Ask an American to get together for lunch and you will hear: “Well, I have to check my agenda.” They flip through the pages or go to their Palm Pilot and then say “How about Thursday, three weeks from tomorrow?” For me, that is not friendship. It is just another obligation scheduled on the agenda.
In California I used to think that once in a while, I should get together with a friend for lunch. But after going through the scheduling routine every time, I would revert back to my old isolation. I don’t usually get the agenda routine here. I’m amazed, I can call up somebody on the day and say “Hey, let’s have lunch and they say OK. Where and when?
Here in Lima, when you go to restaurants at lunch -time , you will see people lingering over their meals. It may be two, three or even four o’clock. They are enjoying the conversation. They are enjoying being with their friends. Restaurants are used to this, and it is rare to have them dump the check on the table until you ask for it.
Does that mean that people don’t work hard here? Absolutely not. In fact the opposite. I often am amazed at how hard people work. The difference is that they make time for their friends.
6 Comments
# Marisa Soto Pella says :
31 July, 2008 [ 11:31 ]
31 July, 2008 [ 03:09 ]
31 July, 2008 [ 10:12 ]
31 July, 2008 [ 10:23 ]
2 August, 2008 [ 02:12 ]
9 August, 2008 [ 12:12 ]
# Marisa Soto Pella says :
31 July, 2008 [ 11:31 ]
# lourdes villaran says :I fully agree with this article, one of the many reason I am proud of my country and pleased to live in.
No plans in advance for lunch, coffee or a drink with a friend, we just play it by ear and this is what makes the big difference.
M
31 July, 2008 [ 03:09 ]
i Hi there!# Martha says :
Indeed that is a typical peruvian lunch time relax!! no time to waste, just enjoy the food, enjoy the company and be happy!!
No rush,may be we are , just some friends together and the whole afternoon will pass and be like a glimpse, MAY BE SOME MUSIC ON THE BACK, BUT WHAT IT REALLY MATTERS IS THE GOOD COMPANY, ISN'T IT?
COME TO PERU AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE!!
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND,
LOVE LULY
31 July, 2008 [ 10:12 ]
# Martha says :Larry, Marisa and Luly: I miss having a relaxed lunch and enjoying the friends you're with.....having a good laugh, enjoying delicious food and generally feeling unhurried.
One of the things I miss about eating at restaurants in Lima is good service, I mean smiley waiters who are standing by waiting to pour that Inca Kola or Pilsen for you. I live in the US and it irritates me to know end when waiters come around and interrupt your conversation and ask: "ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR
31 July, 2008 [ 10:23 ]
sorry....there was a glitch. Anyway, I was saying that I hate it when waiters interrupt the conversation and say: "ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR DESSERT?"# Pilarcita says :....and like Larry said....."they don't dump the check on the table until you ask for it".
Editor: I'm sorry......I don't know what happened but my comments posted eight times! Maybe you can delete seven of them
I really enjoyed reading this article.
2 August, 2008 [ 02:12 ]
Yes, that is absolutely true about peruvians. And it's one of the things I miss the most while living here in Japan...# Tony Robles says :
9 August, 2008 [ 12:12 ]
I just got back from visiting Lima after 33 yrs. No question the city and population has grown large.But,the costumes including going out for lunch with fam.or friends is still a worderful pleasure including,of course,the delicious peruvian menu. If i'm going to spend $5 to $12 for lunch,might as well have with someone that enjoys my company and I enjoy theirs.....Money well spent.
Marisa,sorry we miss you while in Lima.Say hello to Carlos and Eduardo!!
It was all great fun,there's nothing like PERU !!"
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