| Let’s have lunch! | | | | guest they will probably go all out to impress you. |
| Be prepared for hearing these three dangerous | | | | If it’s your turn to pick up the check |
| words! | | | | they’ll be discreet and let you choose, but |
| Hi! I’ve been living in Spain for almost | | | | they’ll be watching closely. If you scrimp, |
| twenty years. My wife is Spanish, my colleagues | | | | you’ll pay for it later on. |
| are Spanish, my customers are Spanish and by | | | | So be prepared. A typical business lunch will start |
| businesses are Spanish. Over these years I think | | | | with “tapas” or appetizers over a |
| I’ve learned quite a bit about “being | | | | beer. Then two main courses with a bottle of |
| Spanish”. | | | | wine (or two), desert, coffee and usually a |
| If you want to get into the under-exploited | | | | digestive liquor. Then it’s back to work! |
| fast-growing Spanish market, you need to know | | | | Americans often associate drinking with getting |
| more than just how to speak Spanish. You need | | | | drunk, but in Spain alcohol is a vital part of any |
| to understand Spanish customs, Spanish etiquette | | | | social occasion. Remember they didn’t |
| and Spanish business culture. Otherwise, | | | | meet Calvin, and would probably laugh there |
| you’ll just be another American trying to | | | | heads off listening to a southern-baptist sermon. |
| “sell Spanish”. | | | | So if you don’t drink, although strange, |
| Often the most profitable place to do business in | | | | they’ll understand. Even still, if |
| Spain is over a table at a nice expensive | | | | you’re picking up the check, be sure and |
| restaurant. Spaniards love to eat, and it’s | | | | insist that they order whatever the want to drink. |
| no wonder. The Spanish food and cuisine is world | | | | On the other hand, If you do drink be careful. |
| famous. They have spectacular ingredients and | | | | Spaniards are always very generous and your cup |
| the “mediterranean diet” is known | | | | will never be empty! Go slowly and remember |
| and recognized all over the world. But if | | | | that after lunch you’ve probably got at |
| you’re not careful, a Spanish business lunch | | | | least three more hours of work ahead of you. If |
| may leave you wobbling back to your hotel room! | | | | you go overboard, they’ll only laugh and |
| First of all, it’s good to know the way | | | | share a wink or two. But when you’re |
| Spaniards organize their days. Breakfasts are | | | | gone you’ll be the subject of chit-chatting |
| typically very light, and lunches can go on for as | | | | for days to come! |
| long as four or five hours! The “hora de | | | | Eating in Spain is a wonderful experience. Almost |
| comer” or lunch hour generally falls about | | | | everything they offer you is worth tasting, even |
| two o’clock in the afternoon, and most | | | | if it sounds a bit wierd. Be brave and enjoy. |
| companies go back to work at half past four. In | | | | If you´re able to read Spanish, have a look |
| the summer this leaves plenty of time for a | | | | around and you’ll be able to see for |
| “siesta”. | | | | yourself the absolute quality of our team |
| Although Spaniards don’t have big lunches | | | | members. You’ll be speaking with genuine |
| every day, (otherwise they wouldn’t fit | | | | business people with hundreds of years of |
| into all those designer clothes!) you must | | | | collective experience making money in the |
| understand that if they’re receiving a | | | | Spanish-speaking markets. |