It is generally accepted that Africans aren’t known for keeping time; announcements for events often come with the reminder to “keep time,” and I have been told on more than one occasion that “you people have watches, but we have time.” It’s common for people to arrive at all times during services, as well as for lectures.
I’m the kid who was born 28 days late, and I am fond of saying that I’ve been making up for it all my life; I am generally early for, well, everything.
When I was a student at UCU, one of the lecturers refused to admit students who were more than five minutes late to class. I agree with this principle, I think it’s rude to come to class when it’s a quarter over, and asked the class to agree that we will not allow anyone in the class after five minutes. They protested, and we agreed on 10.
Most of last week and early this week, someone would come in at 12 or 13 minutes late, and I’d let them in, as these are the days of grace as they adjust.
Yesterday, one person came in at five minutes, and that was it! Everyone else was on time. I was incredibly impressed. At the end of the lecture, I thanked the class for keeping good time, and you should have seen the smiles! One student looked particularly relieved; at what, I’m not sure. I think they were just happy that I noticed.
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