Time

For as slowly as Africa tends to move, everything seems to be snowballing. I have about two weeks left in Rwanda. I'm not sure how I'm going to get everything finished. Days are hectic.

I think it's fitting to talk about time. In Africa the entire concept of time is different. This is one of the major things that any American must figure out and adapt to. Traditionally, years, months, days, hours, minutes are not so firmly set as we may be accustomed to. There are no 'schedules' as we think of them. Americans and aid workers here are quick to observe "everyone is late in Africa." But Africans aren't even thinking/operating on the same plane. For them, time is task-oriented. Months and seasons give way to 'rainy' or 'dry' or 'harvest' ...etc. What actually happens is what matters. In a day there is sunrise, milking, grazing, midday rest, and so on to sundown. These are the 'hours'. What matters is finishing the task at hand. If I call for a meeting at 4, and people gradually show up through 5, I might be frustrated. But for them, the fact that the meeting occurred (eventually) means it was 'on time'.

So you can understand the tension, and the occasional frustration. This place demands creativity and flexibility with all things schedule-related. For someone doing logistical things, always trying to move materials and people around, it's a real adventure. Despite the frustration, there are many benefits to this way. Sometimes I wish I could structure more of my own life to fit this concept. Life moves more slowly.

It's also an interesting time of transition here. This is an emerging market, and the younger generation carries a broader, more educated worldview than their elders. Many of the students graduating university now have a more concrete concept of time, in hours and minutes, while older generations operate much as they always have.

As for me, I haven't fully caught on. Days still rush by, and I'm running hard to see all that I can. Looking forward to only travel in a couple weeks.

Peace & Love.