TIME... A volunteer's reflections

Time ...

‘I was concerned how best to use my time effectively. However, it is worth remembering that time, in different parts of the world, has different meaning to different people.   ‘Time’ in many African countries is different to our time. That’s a bit of a cliché but it’s worth thinking about. Our sense of urgency during the working day is different. We want to ‘get things done. ‘We are used to accounting for our time to ourselves and to others. It can be a bit difficult for us when we meet people who have different perceptions of time and of urgency.
 

I was left kicking my heels once or twice (or even thrice) when I needed something or someone. «  I’ll just go and get it. «  An hour and a bit later they return with it. In the middle of going through a document with someone their mobile rings. They leave the room to talk to someone and don’t come back. Or perhaps, « We’ll leave in five minutes, « they say. Fifty minutes later they turn up. You’re trying to accomplish a particular task and such interruptions and delays do occur. You get churned up inside because you know time’s short. You look at your watch. Then you say, « Oh, blow it. There’s nothing I can do about it. «  And there isn’t. Sometimes, in some places, this is the way it is. It’s worth remembering this. In other words, you may not be able to achieve everything you set out to do.’