What Time Is Dinner?

The Herrera family is from Mexico City, but now they live in York, in the north of England. Mr. Herrera works at the university, and the children, Pablo and Ximena, go to an English school.

In Mexico, the family has a big lunch at three o'clock. At about six, they have a snack: some fruit or a piece of sweet bread. Dinner is late, at nine or half past nine, and it is small.

In York, everything is different. The children have lunch at school at half past twelve. It is a small lunch: a sandwich and an apple. At three o'clock, Pablo is always very hungry.

One day, Pablo's friend Harry invites him to his house. "Come for dinner on Friday," he says. "Dinner is at six." "At six?" Pablo asks. "But six is snack time!"

On Friday, Pablo eats a big sandwich at five o'clock, because he is hungry. At six, he is at Harry's house. Harry's mom puts a big plate on the table: chicken, potatoes and vegetables. And after that, apple pie!

Pablo eats very slowly. He is full. "Don't you like it?" Harry's mom asks. "I love it," Pablo says. "But in my house, this is snack time!" Everybody laughs.

Now the Herreras have dinner at seven o'clock. It is a little early for Mexico and a little late for England. "It's Mexican English time," Ximena says.