The Ultimate Pacific Test

For a country that is famous for its poor observance of time, I’ve noticed that clocks are in abundance. Most people are wearing watches which are constantly being checked. But does this mean a shift in culture has started to occur?

We’ve been warned by our in-country manager (ICM) that punctuality and attendance will be of upmost importance to us. Our first day of formal orientation comes around. We’ve run down to the end of the street allowing 15 minutes to get from our hotel to the Univeristy of the South Pacific(USP). A taxi is hailed and with a flurry we throw ourselves into the taxi which speeds towards USP. We powerwalk to the conference room and sit ourselves down. Great – we’re on time. It’s 9:00. Our ICM is yet to arrive, and so we wait. We chat amongst ourselves. And we wait some more. Surely he’s just around the corner. It’s 9:15. Must be caught in traffic. The four of us ask each other what the time is. I think my clock must be faster than everyone else. It’s not that late. 9:20 arrives. L checks her watch. It’s 9:22. Surely 5 minutes just went by. We discuss ideas as to what an appropriate amount of time to wait is. 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45? An hour? 9:30 meanders by and soon it is 9:40. No sign that our ICM has arrived. We all look to one another, confused. His foot is probably giving him troubles. Maybe it’s a test? Perhaps we’re actually in the wrong place. Would it be rude to call to ask him where he is?

After a well-planned, politeness-plus phone call, his car rolls in from around the corner. Our ICM saunters into the room – “I have just exemplified the lateness that you may experience from your colleagues. Now tell me, who here felt frustrated?”