Lunch Etiquette

lsgarver

At my work, we have one long table where people can sit to eat lunch as well as 2 little nooks with armchairs.  I eat lunch very quickly so I usually sit in one of the nooks, do my thing and get out.

Sometimes, though, the nooks are taken so I sit at the big table and often run into a scenario where 2-4 people are already there, eating lunch and having a conversation in their preferred language.  Sometimes I know the gist of what they are talking about but not often and even in language I kind of know, I can't keep up a conversation.  I am friendly but not buddies with all of these people.

Is it less rude to sit at the far end of the table by myself so they can continue their conversation without having to adjust the language (or possibly the subject) to suit me?  Or is it less rude to join them and not seem so stand-offish and unfriendly?

KathrynMD

Sit by yourself and nod hello, etc. but bring a book or your phone so you can look "busy"

linzee

I just eat at my desk to avoid these situations.

lsgarver

linzee:

I just eat at my desk to avoid these situations.

I would LOVE to eat at my desk but it's technically located in the lab--no food allowed.

Kathryn, I do bring my iPhone or make a grocery list or whatever but I still wonder if it's rude to sit down away from people I'm generally friendly with so I can do my own thing.

I think I'm just overthinking this.

TheLinkBride

That was totally me at the NIH.  I found people seemed to speak English more commonly in the lunch room at Hopkins even if it wasn't their native language but at the NIH people spoke their own primary language and I never had a clue what was going on so I just sat off by myself, ate quickly and moved on.  I would just do your own thing if you don't want to get into their conversation, which is difficult to do when you are just sitting down for a few minutes and then leaving again.

One plus at my new job - finally being able to have a drink at my desk!

HoosierTerp

If you have sat with them before ,and they still spoke in their own primary language, (I'm assuming they also speak English?) then I would say they aren't trying to include you.  I would sit on my own after that.  

2have2hold

Oh I experience this everyday. I really don't think they would care if you sat on your own. That's what I do anyway. Lunch, book, my iPhone, and I'm good to go.

lenebene

I personally would just sit down at the end of the table with a book or my iphone and eat.  I doubt they don't have a problem with it either.