Time, and how it is treated, is one of the most interesting experiences for me so far in Mexico. When I say time, I do not mean the way a CEO thinks of time: precision. When I say time it is the Mexican use of the word which means, so far as I can tell, “as long as it is within 48 hours I arrived on time.” What is fascinating to me is how meaningless a “time promise” is. When someone says they will be there tomorrow at 10AM–that usually means no earlier than 11:30AM and likely the following day (after a call or email to inquire where they are.)
I think that time has lost all of its meaning here. Now the big question: Do I respect this shifted version of “on time” and start acting as the locals, or do I consciously “adjust” my request for a meeting by “guessing” what time the person, based on past experience, is likely to show up? Given that I have had 65 years of “time is precious” and “it is disrespectful to be late” hammered into me, I suspect I will just have to learn to accept tardiness as the new “on time.”
Two consistent things I have noticed:
1) if the arrival is within the AM or PM they are on time
and
2) if the arrival is within 24 hours, then they are a bit late.
Oh Alice, where are you when I need you….
2 Responses
Thank goodness you will have fewer planes to catch Jeff In SA there is an expression “just now”. I’ll be there just now, would you like to have lunch just now?…..it has taken awhile for me to process that this means anytime from 20 minutes to several hours from “now”.
If you want something immediately you must say “now-now”. If you don’t stop now-now I will never let you into this house again!
Anne-time is such an interestingly localized cultural phenomenon. So much depends on one’s upbringing and heritage. Hope you both are doing well. I do hope the consulting gig gets sorted soon-so we can plan the rendezvous. All the best.