Study Abroad in Argentina: Connection through La Sobremesa

What is La Sobremesa?

La sobremesa translates to “upon the table,” and refers to the Hispanic tradition of relaxing at the table after a meal. In English, there is no word that directly translates both the meaning and context of this word, which I believe is heavily tied to cultural differences. Too often in American culture, time acts like ambient noise, always buzzing in the background. We cannot sit down for a meal because we are out of time, so we eat or drink while walking. We are bored because we have too much time, so we turn to our phones and electronics. This is almost nonexistent in the culture of Argentina.

Here, I began to understand the art of la sobremesa, practicing it nearly every evening. My dinner routine began around 9 p.m., unlike in the U.S., where we eat at 6 or 7 p.m. My host mom would knock on my bedroom door saying, “Jaeda, vamos a comer,” beckoning me to the table for an Argentine dish like asado, milenasa, or chori. We would finish eating within 30 minutes, yet we were always at the table for at least an hour, relaxing and talking.  

La Sobremesa and Meaningful Connections

Within this time, I learned about my host mother’s history and family. She asked questions about my family, as we talked about friends, relationships, and experiences. The practice added so much to my life and viewpoint of time. I encountered la sobremesa throughout my time abroad. When our program group traveled to Jujuy, a group of us went to a local peña and saw the community enjoying time with each other. When I attended a parrilla with my friends and our local porteño friends, we sat and talked for hours. Time was lost—and it didn’t matter.

Of course, time is valuable. But relationships are, too. La sobremesa values the art of developing relationships over meals—so simple, yet so impactful. In Buenos Aires, people consistently value relationships. When every meal ends with la sobremesa, a kiss on the cheek, and the promise to see each other again, you are never without a connection to your people.

Jaeda Tagoe | Northwestern University | IFSA Study in Buenos Aires: Psychology and Neuroscience | Fall 2024