The document discusses different perspectives on time. It contrasts monochronic cultures that focus on schedules and completion of tasks with polychronic cultures that prioritize relationships over rigid plans. The author shares their experience living in Sudan, where they struggled with the more flexible approach to time, constantly asking when things would happen rather than accepting general timeframes like "tomorrow" or "next week." Over time, the author realized they would have enjoyed their experience more by relaxing their own sense of structure and deadlines.

1. Time

2. Kung Fu Panda

3. Yesterday is history

4. Tomorrow is a mystery

5. But today is a gift

6. That is why it is called the present

7. Time

8. Time flies

9. Like an arrow

10. Time is strange

12. Time flies like an arrow

13. Fruit flies like a banana

14. Time flies

15. Time flies like an arrow

16. [Time flies] like an arrow

17. Time flies

18. Time flies

19. [Time flies] like an arrow

20. [Time flies] like an arrow

21. [Fruit flies] like a banana

22. [Time flies] like an arrow

23. [Time flies] like an arrow

24. Fruit fly

25. Time fly

26. [Time] flies like an arrow

27. Or maybe not

28. Sometimes it’s really slow

29. Time drags

30. Time drags

31. Time is valuable

32. Is time real?

33. Find time?

34. Make time?

35. Is it all illusion?

36. It doesn’t wait

37. We CAN measure it

38. It’s a continuum

39. It won’t stop (will it?)

40. But what is it?

41. Can’t separate from space

43. Is time travel possible?

44. Yes! If you travel fast enough!!

45. Close to the speed of light!!

46. That’s very fast

47. Any cultural differences?

49. Monochronic cultures
• Do one thing at a time
• Rigid approach to time
• Strict agenda (plan)
• Focus on task
• Completion of job is important
• Emphasize promptness

50. Polychronic cultures
• Multiple activities at once
• Flexible approach to time
• No strict agenda (plan)
• Focus on relationships
• Relationship more important than job
• Promptness based on relationship

51. My story

52. In my early twenties …

53. I lived in the Sudan for one year

54. North Africa … pyramids etc

55. Pretty amazing, actually

56. Beautiful by the river

57. Incredibly nice food

58. Not much available in winter

59. Often felt a bit hungry

60. So it tasted even better!

61. Water was like this

62. Taken straight from the river Nile!

63. Also tasted great!

64. Local transport

65. Local transport

66. Middle of the desert

67. Beautiful and green by the river

68. I was a volunteer teacher at a High
School

69. But I was completely useless

70. Didn’t know anything

71. People gave good advice

72. I always ignored it!

73. They said the water is delicious!

74. I said NO! NO!

75. Eventually I tried it

76. It was delicious

77. But our sense of time was certainly
different

78. People were TOO relaxed

79. ME:
• When is the train coming?
• When is the post coming?
• When is the bus coming?
• When does the holiday start?
• Etc.

80. They said:
• Tomorrow
• Maybe
• Next Friday
• Maybe
• Etc

81. Except it wasn’t maybe

82. • I should have just relaxed
• I would have had a better time
• There was no point in thinking about
schedules all the time

83. Some African/Arab cultures have a less
structured sense of time

84. We think:

85. Swahili has 2 words for time

86. Sasa: present time – Now!

87. Zamani: past time

88. Zamani: connecting souls

89. Zamani: a cycle

90. Zamani: not a straight line

91. Not like an arrow

92. So maybe our experience of time is
different

93. So who’s right?

94. And who’s wrong?

95. Maybe it depends on context

96. But the water WAS delicious

97. I had problems with my stomach for a
few days

98. Then I felt great

99. When I started drinking “normal”
water

100. After I got home

101. I had stomach problems again

102. If I could have my time again …

103. I would just take my time

104. And enjoy it more