While this is charming, this seems more like a reflection on how being from a place is different from living in a place. I have the same long meals with friends and family here, despite the commenters saying the "Silicon Valley" style meal is also the standard in NYC.
It feels like he is really pointing out that the mechanics of interaction are very different when no one present is rooted in the region, and you don't have shared history.
It feels like he is really pointing out that the mechanics of interaction are very different when no one present is rooted in the region, and you don't have shared history.