On Time

An office meeting starts at 10 a.m. Hans, a German colleage, is already waiting at 9:55. Nathan, an American, arrives on the dot at 10. In the next five minutes a few others hurry in. But trying everyone's patience is the visitor from Brazil, Rual, who walks in at 10:30. ahe doesn't even think he's late.
How people perceive time varies around the world. Germans like arriving early. Americans plan to arrive just on time. Brazilians aren't bothered by being a half hour late. And many don't know exactly what time it is.
In 1884, a clock in Greenwich, England, set the standard time around the world. But it couldn't standardize when people will arrive for a 10 a.m. meeting.

While cultural attitudes about time differ greatly, all curtures can put into one of two groups: time-oriented and event-oriented. Schedules take precedence in time-oriented cultures. In event-oriented cultures, what happens is more important than when. Such cultural knowledge is important for today's world travelers. Understanding how people perceive time can help travelers get along better in foreign cultures.

The Western world, particularly North America and Western Europe, is strongly time-oriented. Events take place at specific, scheduled times. Appointments a five minute leeway.
In time-oriented cultures, time is linear and limited. Imagine time as a conveytor belt carrying boxes past. Each box represents a segment of time. One must pack as much as possible into
each box before it slips into the past. Time must be "managed" well － otherwise it may get "wasted." And everywhere, people are "runnind out" of time.

In event-oriented cultures, meeting begin when everybody arrives and finish when all business done. Event are scheduled to begin "after dinner" or simple "tomorrow." This laid-back lifestyle characterizes people in Arab, African, Latin American and Southeast Asian countries.
Here, time is cyclical and unlimited. It begins anew every day, following the motion of the sun. Because time is unlimited, people in event-oriented cultures tend to value relationship more. Schedules quickly get set aside for a friend in need or even just a friend met on the street.

Not understanding these different ideas about time can creat conflicts between people of different cultures. For example, American students often quickly exchange "how are you?" and"fine" as they rush to make class on time. But event-oriented students see this exchange as impersonal. Before they can say anything mopre than "fine", the Ameriocan student has already hurried past them.
Time-oriented people doung business in event-oriented lands may cut to the chase too quickly. This offends event-oriented people, who prefer getting to know their associatea before discussing the details of a business of a business deal.
For those who believe "time is money," the slow pace of life in event-oritened lands can be frustrating. Since time-oritened people value productivity as lazy or inefficient.
Not having specific time for event also causes problems. Some Americans in Mexico were told a meeting would start "after dinner." They rushed through dinner so they could be on time, only to end up waiting for everybody else.
What can the world traveler do to avoid these time related conflicts? Follow the age-old rule: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

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summary:

It is talk about "On time" means different things around the world. And the way peoeple perceive time is different around the world. Cultures can be deacribed as either "time-oriented" or "event-oriented."
In time-oriented cultures, event takes place at specific, scheduled times. People preceive time as linear and limited.
In event-oriented cultures, what happened is more important than when. Because time is unlimited, relationship are more important.
These different ideas about time many cause conflicts between people of different cultures.

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Useful Words:
1.on the dot －on time
2.perceive －view...to...
3.standardize －to unify
4.precedence －priority, importance
5.leeway
6.characterize －to reveal something or someone's quality
7.set aside
8.impersonal －no friendliness
9.associate －the copartner
10.productivity :There have been enormous increases in agricultural productivity.
11.inefficient
12.cyclical －revolving

1.-oriented －an intention
2.cut to the chase －to do or say something directly
3.when in Rome, do as the Romans do

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After I read this article I have some thoughts:

Different countries have different culturies and different concepts, in many aspects has different opinion. "On time" is no exception. To me, if I were hang out with my friends, and we want to meet at 12 o'clock, I will arrive about 12. But if I were in the company and have a meeting or an interview, and something important appointment I will go there ahead of time to show respect, politeness, and to have enough time to prepare what I should do.
If we were not in our country and made an appointment to others, I think we have to know a custom in that country. Do not bring about any trouble. So that, we can avoid misunderstand even quarrel. When in Rome, do as Romans do is a very important thing what we shoule do.