Cultural Difference

Every week night the hotel provides a meal for us. When we first arrived, the hotel owner told us that we are served dinner at 7 every evening from Monday through Friday. Well the first night we decided that 7 was a very rough estimate- within an hour after 7 we would usually eat. So the other night we went down and were talking with our French friends, and the other French family joined us after about a half hour. We sat and talked and talked and sat. Finally at around 9 the hotel owner asked me if the girls would like to eat. I said sure and the French lady also acted very excited about eating. At that point, I thought all of us were eating, because I get confused with all the languages flying around. But a little later the waiter told me that the girls food was ready and they could eat. I helped myself to the bread on the table and the girls let me taste their fish soup. On Friday we had fish and then on Tuesday (the next meal because of a holiday) we had fish soup. By the time the girls were done eating they were more than ready for bed, so I requested my food to be brought to the room since the girls have never been left alone in the room, and I am still not able to explain in Spanish what was happening. Ken stayed downstairs to eat with everyone else, and finally came up to the room between 10:30 and 11:00. We have learned that any times given down here are rough estimates, if you are on time, bring something to keep the girls occupied, because we may have to wait for a long time to be served. It is ok, just not your way right away. :)