#timeisasocialconstruct

Day 81 - Time, Generosity about Lateness, and Flexibility

[Photo:  The clock in the train station in Ocnița.]

While there are many similarities in American and Moldovan culture, one of the places Peace Corps Volunteers begin to notice a difference is often around concepts of time.  Many Americans are obsessed with time.  We want to have our days, weeks, and months scheduled down to the minute and if there is something on our calendars we often prioritize that planned event over any surprise events that come up.  In Moldova, while it's clear there is a yearly calendar of events and seasons that guide peoples lives, day to day views of time are much different.

Often, in Moldova, whatever is happening right now is the most important thing to deal with.  A clear example of this is the use of cell phones.  If you are sitting at a table and working on a project with someone but your phone rings, you MUST answer your phone.  The person you are working with expects you to address the phone call because it is the most urgent thing happening in the room.  This is often uncomfortable for Americans but over two years I've grown to expect it.

This focus on the most urgent occurrence leads to a generosity around lateness.  If you are late, it's not that big of a deal.  It's understood that something probably caused you to be late and no matter what, you are here now and things can begin.  While my Moldovan friends may not be as punctual as some of my American friends, I know I can rely on them and if we gather 5, 10, or 15 minutes later than we planned, it's not a big deal.  I also know that if I'm running late, no one is going to be angry with me for my tardiness.

This generosity and focus on the latest event or information leads to a culture of flexibility.  The biggest lesson I have learned from my Moldovan partners and friends is that when something unexpected happens you can deal with it without ruining whatever you are working on.  My partners were very skilled and dealing with surprises in our projects without stress or anxiety.  Surprises were just something that is happening "now" and we deal with them and move on.  I hope I can bring this flexibility back with me and use it in the future.

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