The Joy Of Illinois

Early To Bed

I don’t really know why exactly, but everyone here seems to go to bed so early compared to in the UK. Or maybe they don’t actually go to bed that early, but they certainly claim that reason for wanting to leave any social outing early.

We went out to dinner one evening last week with some people from Gordon’s office. The plan as we knew it was to meet from 6pm in the venue, which is a bar/restaurant. We got there around 6.30, and the others were already at the table looking at menus. They hadn’t actually ordered their food, but were ready to do so. So we had to explain that when we go out for that sort of evening in England, everyone turns up when they can, has a few drinks, and then all go to eat a couple of hours later, when everyone is ready. We were leaving there by 9pm, as we had all finished eating.

I joined a book club. I am not sure I am really a book club person, as I can’t imagine myself sitting with a group of people and talking in depth just about a book. But figured it was worth a try as a way of meeting people, and Gordon reckoned that probably only a small fraction of time is spent discussing the book, while the rest of the time is just chatting, eating and drinking. So I went, with Hazel who already belonged to the club. It turns out book clubs are a huge thing here, as everyone at the meeting mentioned other book clubs that their friends and family are members of. People in the club take turns to host, and provide all food and drink. The whole time was spent talking about books, both the one they had just read, and future ones they plan to read. But Hazel assures me that it was more serious than usual, possibly because there were both myself and another new person on board. So I will persevere for now at least. But again we were finished early. It started at 6pm, there was no alcohol at all, just water or iced tea. I decided to try the iced tea, and it was pretty foul. I said (not to the hostess of course) that if that was in England, we would have thrown it out and brewed a fresh pot! It tasted like tea gone stewed and cold. But they all seem to love it, so maybe I should get a teapot and sell my cold stewed tea! And then, at 8.55pm sure enough one person stood up and said she had to leave as she had an early start the next day, and immediately everyone stood up and said they should be leaving also. I was actually glad as I could not join in the discussion at all as I hadn’t actually read the book due to a shortage in the local library, and an online order that did not arrive in time. So another early night.

I can understand going to bed early when you have an early start the next day, and quite a lot of people here do seem to start their day early, but surely if you have an evening out then you can make an exception.

posted by Lorraine Kenmuir @ 1:06 pm