Quibble: Those 2-hour lunches with a beer or a half-bottle of wine aren't a bad thing.
On the occasions when I've been in Europe for business, a relaxing lunch and dinner were what made me perfectly willing to work 10-12-hour days six days a week. In the states, with just a quick sandwich or a burrito for lunch, I'm itching to go home by 5 p.m. to clear my head and get a decent meal. And now that I'm back in school, I find a leisurely break in the middle of the day puts a few more productive hours in me when I get back to the lab.
If I may write a completely frivolous comment, I would go on the record as saying that I would just about kill for a decent burrito, something which is pretty much impossible to find in Europe.
On the occasions when I've been in Europe for business, a relaxing lunch and dinner were what made me perfectly willing to work 10-12-hour days six days a week. In the states, with just a quick sandwich or a burrito for lunch, I'm itching to go home by 5 p.m. to clear my head and get a decent meal. And now that I'm back in school, I find a leisurely break in the middle of the day puts a few more productive hours in me when I get back to the lab.