Time is gold
Lebanon, Short Essay, 11/14/1997

Time is gold. Maybe this is why we have a great poverty rate in Lebanon... People over here seem to think they have all the time in the world. Their specialty is to postpone a duty, forget a commitment or arrive late to a meeting.

If you want people to arrive at 9:00, ask them to come at 8:00 or 7:30. If you arrive on time to an appointment, they would look at you, surprised, and tell you, with a smile: "You must have lived abroad to be so punctual!"

Of course, some people are as exact as Big Ben. Their plans, however, are frustrated on many occasions for there is always one person out of ten who comes late or doesn't even show up. This characteristic reaches its climax when you need the person you're waiting for or you depend on him.

Even worse if he's your partner and he knows you're a conscientious person. It would be better for you not to wait. Also, if you're invited to a party or a gathering at 9:00, don't even think of going there before 10:30. If you do, you'll find yourself alone with your host.

Any Lebanese guest who has a minimum of class comes an hour late at least. Well, you might argue that people all over the world tend to loose their time and that of others. Sure... But can anyone deny the seriousness of the phenomenon in Lebanon?

Previous Stories:
  Our unique city   (11/7/1997)
  An adventurous drive   (10/31/1997)
  A sandwich as a symbol of Lebanese national identity   (10/8/1997)

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