Cykl artykułów został przygotowany przez LANG LTC - Akredytowane Centrum Egzaminacyjne Cambridge ESOL, organizatora zagranicznych wyjazdów językowych i szkoleń językowych.

Przystanek drugi: Czas na biznes

Second encounter: Time for Business

Six hours late = being on time in Ghana

I was invited to attend a women’s conference in Ghana, West Africa. Before I set off, I brushed up on all things African - from greetings, to dress, to food, and language. I even prepared myself, or so I thought, for understanding the African concept of time (...) The driver that was arranged for me was an hour late the first day. After conveying the message of how I need to be at the conference the next day on time, he assured me he understood. The next day, as promised, he came early, technically, and was only 45 minutes late. Some progress had been made. But when I tried to arrange a trip to the Cape Coast Castle, one of the longest surviving slave export points in Ghana, the wheels fell off again. After trying twice to get to the castle (once, he was a no show, and the next time he arrived 4 hours late!), I was able to secure another driver. I understood now that being 2-3 hours late was customary and was even considered punctual. Realizing that I had my American blinders on with everything I read, didn’t allow me to fathom that lateness could extend to up to 6 hours. Thinking in American terms, I understood “late" to be at most an hour. Factoring in the lateness and knowing that the castle closed around 4pm, was an hour away, and I wanted to be there by noon, I was able to convey that I needed to be at the castle by 10am. I was told the driver would be there at 8am. I had time to rest, get breakfast and be ready by 10am. Success! The new driver came 2 hours “late"/on time and I managed to get to the castle by noon.