Look at the Polish and French contexts again:

Remember: These are not fixed rules! Regional differences are normal and of special importance in cross-border working environments. Further, it may also depend on the company, e.g. fixed lunch break times or cafeteria opening hours may exist – or not.

Upper Silesia, Poland

Colleagues usually don't eat lunch together at work. Either they don't have their lunch break at the same time or it is not fixed at all. Workers have some time off for eating and resting, and usually they use it individually and on request. In big companies, however, time for eating and resting may be strictly regulated, but it is not a fixed rule.

At work or at school, food is rarely shared with others. If someone brings a lunchbox, he/she would usually take it for him-/herself. But it happens that someone brings some sweets to share with the colleagues, and especially on birthdays, the person may bring a cake – but this also depends on the rules and customs in the specific workplace.

For the drinks – make a toast in Poland and Czech. In Poland, when people raise their glasses, they often clink glasses, while in Czech (especially when drinking beer) one must first hit the table with the glass and then one can drink. It is important to look in the eyes of the person one drinks with.

Grand Est, France

Lunch breaks play an important role in France, and ‘foreigners’ are often surprised by the length of the meals and the fact that it is allowed to drink wine. Business lunches may be important moments in which important information is exchanged and decisions are made. In France, the colleagues sometimes bring a cake to work for their birthday.

How does your lunch break usually look like? Have you had lunch with colleagues from your border region? What was it like? Which similarities and differences did you expect/experience? You can also discuss this with your students.

How is it marked in your country?