Time, its an interesting concept and certainly not the same everywhere. Yes you can measure it, stamp it, read it, waste it, save it; but here, what does it really mean? No, seriously; I'm asking you. What does it mean?
It may seem a little odd, and yes Latin America does have a reputation for having its own rules about time but you really have to experience them to see what that means. My guess is the White Rabbit wrote them on his way to the tea party for the Mad Hatter. Only it may not have been tea he was after but something sweet or maybe spicey.
I went to the market this weekend and was told, "Oh, we'll go take a look around and be back by 1". Great, I thought. Lot's of time to do other stuff in the afternoon. Hah! I should know better by now. After walking down rows upon rows of used cars, clothing, food, wiring, wood products, mechanical stuff, and things that I have no idea what they are, it was well past 3. Then we had to get back home. So there's the trying to find transportation rush; this is particularly instersting since whenever 3 or 4 cars line up they all seem to start honking which of course does absolutely nothing to make things move faster since people are getting in and out of the mini buses, it just makes noise. Then there has to be some kind of festival that blocks your way (there seems to be some kind of law about this; Murphy?), and then the walk through the streets back to the house. Around 4pm we were back and no one seemed surprised except me.
The only sure ways to tell time here seem to be morning, afternoon, evening, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Other than that it seems patience and a good book are in order. Any suggestions on the latter?
It may seem a little odd, and yes Latin America does have a reputation for having its own rules about time but you really have to experience them to see what that means. My guess is the White Rabbit wrote them on his way to the tea party for the Mad Hatter. Only it may not have been tea he was after but something sweet or maybe spicey.
I went to the market this weekend and was told, "Oh, we'll go take a look around and be back by 1". Great, I thought. Lot's of time to do other stuff in the afternoon. Hah! I should know better by now. After walking down rows upon rows of used cars, clothing, food, wiring, wood products, mechanical stuff, and things that I have no idea what they are, it was well past 3. Then we had to get back home. So there's the trying to find transportation rush; this is particularly instersting since whenever 3 or 4 cars line up they all seem to start honking which of course does absolutely nothing to make things move faster since people are getting in and out of the mini buses, it just makes noise. Then there has to be some kind of festival that blocks your way (there seems to be some kind of law about this; Murphy?), and then the walk through the streets back to the house. Around 4pm we were back and no one seemed surprised except me.
The only sure ways to tell time here seem to be morning, afternoon, evening, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Other than that it seems patience and a good book are in order. Any suggestions on the latter?
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