In his autobiography, Senior Nice, Howard Marks writes:
Quote:
Leroy took my case out and left me, surprised and confused, on the empty road. I supposed he must have had his reasons. I had learned on my last visit that 'Soon come' is Jamaica's equivalent of manana. Arriving early might suggest mental instability or a deliberate attempt to antagonise, while turning up on time might suggest an overzealous ploy to flummox, unless it's for a cricket match. Ten minutes late is anally punctual, while fifteen minutes late displays rare efficiency. Jamaicans have to be at least one hour late before they feel the need to excuse or explain. Prepared for a considerable wait, I decided to wheel my case towards Port Royal.
It is interesting to consider that showing up on time (or late) is viewed quite differently in different cultures. I used to be the manager of a football team in Seoul. Most of my North American players generally showed up early or on time for matches. Footballers from the UK, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales were similar. It varied with my other European players. Some were quite punctual, while others arrived fashionably late. The interesting thing I noted was that I could not get my West African players to make it to a kick-off on time, and frankly, the team needed them there on time because of their skill.
In 2004, my star striker from The Ivory Coast, Jaquesonne Koffi, showed up late for a relegation match costing us the game (as well as our position in the league). I was severely disappointed in him at the time. I couldn't believe his lack of dedication and discipline. At the time, I never stopped to consider that his showing up late was directly linked with his cultural outlook on the phenomenon of keeping time.
What is it like in your culture? Do people keep appointments, or do they arrive fashionably late? When people arrive late, do they make excuses or do things just proceed as usual? Have you had any experiences like mine? How do the different cultures you know about view time?
