July marks the beginning of my third and final month abroad this summer. Over the past two months, I’ve traveled to France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, and Morocco, with plans to add Italy and Hungary before the month is over. The chance to explore so many incredible places has truly been life-changing, and I’m grateful for all of the memories I’ve made along the way.
As exciting as traveling has been, adjusting to different cultures has definitely come with a bit of a learning curve. After visiting so many countries, you start to notice the little differences that make each place unique. One of the biggest differences I’ve experienced has been around food: specifically, meal times.
Back home in the United States, I usually eat dinner sometime between 5-7 p.m., and by 7, I’m definitely ready to eat. When I arrived in France, I was surprised to learn that dinner typically starts around 7 p.m. While it took a little getting used to, I adapted pretty quickly.
Then I arrived in Portugal, where dinner is even later. Aside from tourists, hardly anyone eats at 7: 8 p.m. or later is much more common. In June, Portugal comes alive with festivals and celebrations, but many of them don’t even get going until late in the evening, and people often stay out well into the early morning (6 am!). Everything seems to run on a later schedule than what I’m used to in the United States.
I noticed something similar in Morocco. After our camel trek into the desert, we didn’t sit down for dinner until 9:30 p.m. By then, I was definitely hungry, but I was also beginning to understand that meal times are about much more than just eating.
You might be wondering why I’m spending so much time talking about food. The truth is, meals are such an important part of daily life in many of the places I’ve visited. They’re not just about the food itself, they’re about slowing down, gathering with family and friends, and spending quality time together. Meal times shape the rhythm of the day, making them a meaningful reflection of the culture.
So if I could offer one piece of advice to anyone studying or traveling abroad, it would be this: embrace the cultural differences instead of comparing them to what you’re used to. The more open you are to experiencing another way of life, the more rewarding your time abroad will be, even if it means listening to your stomach grumble while you wait for an 8:30 p.m. dinner. Thankfully, there are always plenty of pastries to tide you over 🙂
