永远吃不完的午餐

在西班牙，吃完饭并不代表午餐结束了。盘子空了，服务员把它们收走，但没有人站起来。一家人留在桌边继续聊天。一个小时，两个小时，有时更久。标记一个能在饭桌上聊三个小时的朋友。

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.

在西班牙语里，这段时间有一个特别的名字，叫sobremesa，意思是“饭后留在桌边的时间”。这时候会有咖啡，也许还有一小块甜点，但最重要的是聊天：故事、笑话、家里的消息、足球比赛。下午的时光过得很慢，而这正是重点。

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.

你刚到西班牙，还不了解这个习惯。吃完饭你很快站起来，因为你还有别的安排。大家都惊讶地看着你。你的西班牙朋友把你拉回椅子上，笑着说："坐下吧，你这么急做什么？午餐最好的部分现在才刚刚开始。"

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.