Be flexible! Be flexible! We keep muttering this and still the surprises keep coming. For a week we knew we would begin two classes of English for teachers this week and that they would be taught Tuesday and Thursday evening by their request. I confirmed this with the school office this morning. A bulletin came out just as school was over today listing the teachers in both groups. The classes will be held WEDNESDAY and Thursday. Actually, it makes us no difference. Just need to be ready when anyone shows up.
Being a slave to plans, schedules and the clock are so much a part of our culture that we feel totally put out when there is a "violation" of any of these. We continue to learn about "going with the flow". The major difference between here and the Middle East is that Arabs always told us that things would happen if "God wills". It is just assumed here.
Part of the above "flexibility" was a product of lack of transportation and communication here in previous decades. If something came up, how could you notify the other party? It will be interesting to see if there will be some change in expectation now that most people carry cell phones and travel continues to be easier. We hear constant complaints from the locals about people being on "Ecuadorian time". We heard the same thing in the Middle East. Changing a major cultural trait is a long term project. We won't see the change in our life time!
The sole exception to the flexible time thing is our school bus. The driver runs a VERY strict schedule. If you are not at the designated spot, you find another way to get to school. Maybe this culture needs to be taken over by bus drivers.
We will post again tomorrow, (or maybe we won't)
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1 comment:
Hope you have all your students arrive on time for class. I really enjoy your reports and feel at times I am there with you. You know this sounds like my retirement if it doesn't happen as planned then it will happen tomorrow, maybe. Manana, Don
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