We had booked a billiard table for two hours and invited two of our German friends, Basti and Luis. The four of us split into teams: Thijs and I against them. Over the evening, we played three rounds of billiards. The first game was extremely close, but unfortunately, we lost. In the second round, we managed to win, and in the final round, we secured the victory thanks to a small mistake from the other team, who accidentally pocketed the black ball too early. Despite the ups and downs of the games, the evening felt relaxed, fun, and very social.
While playing, we talked a lot about how parties and nights out differ between our countries. Thijs and I compared the Netherlands and France. For example, in the Netherlands, parties often start quite early, sometimes at someone’s home, and people bring their own drinks. In France, pre-drinks before going out are very common too, but clubs and bars often open later and people tend to stay out much later into the night. Music tastes, the way people socialize, and even the atmosphere can feel different, but we noticed some similarities as well — in both countries, parties are really about spending time with friends, laughing, and sharing experiences, even if the setting or timing is slightly different.
By the end of the night, it wasn’t just about winning or losing billiards. The combination of friendly competition, conversation, and cultural exchange made it a memorable evening. Walking home afterward, we laughed about the games, shared impressions about nightlife back home, and simply enjoyed the relaxed pace of a weekday evening in a foreign city.
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