John Lennon - Nobody Told Me
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Nobody told me there'd be days like these
Strange days indeed
Strange days indeed.
Everybody's runnin' and no one makes a move
I am used to being very punctual under any circumstances, but what I get in return is having to wait most of the time. Mexico is an unpunctual country and we Mexicans are very famous in the world for being late. We are not aware of the time. In fact, there are T-shirts in the U.S.A. saying “Sorry, I am on Mexican time.”
Arriving late everywhere has become a habit and it has gone so far as to become a rule so it is actually not polite to be on time. For instance, if one arrives on time to a dinner to which one has been invited on time, one will see the hosts still getting dressed, fixing the dinner, etc. This happens because the hosts assume everyone will be late. This cultural aspect is not understood in first world countries and, in business matters, executives always manage to be on time in their appointments to avoid embarrassing situations. Earlier this year, the ambassador from Finland in Mexico was asked about being late either in Mexico or in his country. His answer was “Being late does not enter into to our minds at all.”
Another situation which proves that arriving late has been accepted is at Catholic weddings. On the invitation, the hosts ask the guests to arrive at the church 30 minutes before the ceremony is supposed to start. Thus, if the invitation says 7.30, it means that the ceremony will start at 8.00 and if the bride happens to arrive late, add another 15 minutes more; so, actually, you have a leeway of 45 minutes to arrive at the wedding.
From: Me
To: All of you
If I told you that I would give you $100,000.00 tomorrow, but you would have to meet me at 8:38. Would you make the appointment ? I know your answer. Your yes means interest: as a result, it is easy to see that if you are late everywhere, it means you do not care about anything, nor anyone else.
Hello Jorge,
In Mexico there are loads of people who are really unpunctual and that really makes me feel annoyed because I consider myself very responsible and that leads me to be a puncutual person.
What I really don't underestand is why people always stereotype in general terms the behaviour of a country or a society.
Because of those who are always late, now we are known as unpunctual people and that's not true because not all people are like that.
However, if we change one by one, we can manage to change this vision that the world has about us.
Thank you.
Hello!!
Yes, in this country the people is unpunctual, but I think the last commentary is very real, because only if you are going to earn something, you arrive at time, because you're interested.
For example, when you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, and you have not much time to know her/his, you try to arrive before the time,in order to come off well, but when you have a lot of time whit her, you don't arrive at time because it doesn't matter for you, you aren't so interested like at the beginig. Mexican culture!!!
But it isn't a rule, I know people, men and women with other kind of culture, they're punctual in whatever circumstance, and we shouldn't clasify all mexicans the same way as the majority.
Hello teacher!!!
Well, i agree with you because I hate people arriving late in dates, meetings, classes... i don't understand why they always do that, it's disgusting!!
My mom showed me to be punctual in everything, it's the way to show your education and the way you were educated, although,it's the way to show your interest about other people.
I think you have to wait for people as maximum 20 minutes, if the person it's very important to you, 30 minutes, no more, because also you have to make this person punctual, but, it could exist problems which this person doesn't arrive on time for example: traffic jam, the subway doesnt walk, a problem in his or her house with his or her family, but its why it exists celular phone and you can call to the person and to explain what is the situation and it's possible his or her comprehention.
Hi.
I think that's right, we have taken "being late" as custom. As you said, we arrive late because we don't mind where we going and with who that's why we always are late.
But sometimes there are other reasons which not allow to arrive early, such as traffic, an accident in underground, when we are doing something and this task takes us more time than we expected.
But it is important to program our schedule in order to be on time.
Hi George !
Be punctual is very important because you show your education.
In business is very important arrive on time because you represent your enterprise, is very important to show clients that you are a person who is responsable and reliable.
HI!!
I THINK THAT UNPUNCTUAL PERSONS SHOULD SET OUT ARRIVE EARLY AT APPOINTMENTS, SCHOOL OR ANY OTHER PLACE.
WHEN YOU ARE PUNCTUAL YOU FEEL FINE AND YOU SHOW YOUR HABITS AND GOOD MANNER.
ALSO, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T ARRIVE ON TIME DUE TO ANY PROBLEM AND IT ISN'T THEIR FAULT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYDAY.
ON OTHER HAND, YOU CAN PREVENT ARRIVE LATE, YOU SHOULD WAKE UP EARLIER, GO OUT SOME MINUTES BEFORE, PREPARE YOUR CLOTHES AND BAG THE NIGHT BEFORE.
HELLO
Well, it´s true, nobody is perfect isn´t?
I recommend you, try to be punctual for everything, because is for respect.
In my case, when I arrive late at somewhere, I feel bad, because is not good for the other person.
So please try to be punctual always.
Be happy
HELLO GEORGE!
I know that is a very bad habit to be unpunctual, we do not how to manage the time, but is true that when we are interested in somethig we arrive in time, obviusly this is not a good behaviour, so we have to change it, because people around us think that all the mexican do the same.
We have to change this bad habit that doesn´t help us in nothing.
Unfortunatly i´ts a bad costum we have in Mexico, we must think about it because it shows a lot about ourselfs.
I think it is about culture, because we think that if we arrive 15 minutes later we are ok, & we only think that we are late when we arrive 30 minutes after or more.
hi¡¡¡
well everyone values the time.It´s time to show that we are profesionals and think in bussines. People in other countries respect and values the punctuality and it´s very sad that a tipical mexican caractheristic its the unpuctuality ..
I know that maybe in some cases de traffic, even the bus or subway have a direct relation with this habit, but i can belive that we don´t take precautions....
I totally agree, I think it is an awful habit.
I always arrive on time, but sometimes I know people I will be meeting will be late, so I arrive late as well.
And according to the comment about the first world countries, I desagree, becouse right now, my classes are related to costumes in diferent countries, and the reserch says european are late most of the time, but if you are the guest you can´t be late, you have to arrive on time and wait for them, and this action shows the interest you have.
George, I agree with you, we are punctual if we are interested in something, in my case, I have learnt to be punctual with everything related to my job because it shows many good things about my personality, also, it's important to not waste time waiting for someone. I think I should be punctual everywhere, but in places different to my job it is common that people arrive late and ofcourse, I don't like to wait.
Teacher,
Well... what you said is true, and the fact that is a "tradition" to get late to everywhere is horrible, because the only thing that we can't get back is time, so I don't understand why people tend to be late.
I try to be as puntual as the trafic jam let me, and I get mad when someone is late, because people must respect the time of the others.
Is going to be difficult to fix these bad habit, because it have been with us a long time, but if each of us try to be puntual we would live in a better world.
I think that in a city like Mexico with all the problems arround , like streets with a lot of traffic,population , mass meetings,and things like that,people can´t be on time, and it donesnt means that you dont care about people.
We have to considerate that kind of troubles but , we also have to be tolerant, with people.
I am punctual person. I hate people who arraive late to appointments. Well, actually my best friend is used to arraive late to everywhere and first, I got very angry, but then, I understood she will never change her mind so I change mine. Now when we see each other or when we have an appointment with other friends, I tell here to arraive from 30 to 60 minutes before in order to make here arraive on time.
I sometimes arraive late to school, but I think there is no excuse to be late. You should first, plan what are you going to do an to think about the distance and the approximate time you are going to use to get to your appointment so you won´t be late anymore.
Irazú Callejas / ESCA, level 12, Tuesday
Hi George !!!
I agree with mexicans are very unpunctual maybe for the traffic jam,they get up late or they don't care if they arrive late or early.
For that situation we are recognized in all the world like "Don't Worry mexicans are very unpunctual let's start withouth them" but I think another problem that we have is we arrive late to school, with our friends or even when we have a presentation too and most of the time we don´t do anything to correct it.
I prefer people that is punctual because I hate waiting for someone specially when your fiend arrives very late and he/she only says "Sorry there was a lot of traffic jam "once It's OK but every day ? What do you think?
See you have a nice week
Well,I agree with you mexicans are so unpunctual in all situations. Most of the time we don´t organize our time, nobody use to make an schedule and of course we are lost in the time.
In my particular case, my father is in the army and for this reason my family is very punctual. My father taught us that it is a rule in the army be punctual, he hate to lost time. He like being on time in all situations, for example, he doesn´t like to see a movie that started 10 minutes ago, he prefer to wait until the same movie start again.
Well,it is time to change bad habits, if we want to show a good image to the rest of te world.
Hi!
First of all I'd like to know how long have this "arriving late" culture, because people older from 40 years and older are vey punctual and this bad habit has been adopted for young people. In my case I used to be very punctual but always my friends arrived late and I started to arrive late too.
However I'm trying to be punctual again because if I hate waiting hours for people I think that I don't have to make other people wait for me.
We know that in this city always there is traffic or accidents, but if we already know it why we not leave our homes earlier?. This habit is like smoking, and if you don't start to change, you never change. And imagine your life always arriving late, you always lost the beginings and instructions and.... importan things.
Think about it!
Some people (like me) try to be on time, but some times there are some things out of our hands that make us not arrive on time, however there are people that is always late, like if this could be funny.
It is so sad that a meeting has to be delated because of the unpunctual people, that's why we must start thinking that be punctual is not only a habit, is a way to show respect.
If we want to change the terrible Mexico's image arround the world, we need to start with ourselves
A friend of mine use to be late. But he is a unique person: He almays is late 2 or 3 hours after!
This is pretty rude!
The worst. Each person could do anything he want, but when somebody is late and must be there in order to begin whith the thing that is reason of the appoinment, and that person couldn´t say that is going to be late.
Unbelieveble, isn´t it?
Hello Jorge,
Again I am completely agree with you, but I think too, Mexican young people have the possibility also the obligation of change this image around the world. Starting at home, in our selves because we don’t have to believe people is going to change first than us; If we think that, it’d be the biggest mistake.
We used to copy (as a fact) many things from other countries, unfortunately most of the times we copy bad things. In the other hand if we pretend to be able to become into a first world country there are many things to change before.
I think people in Mexico are unpunctual because they don’t know that they are loosing lots of things like (respect, confident, credibility, opportunities in many aspects an so on.)
Hello Jorge!
I am totally agree with this note, sadly the mexican culture is "arrive late", so it´s very embarrasing that we are outstanding about this aspect.
The worst is that we know it´s bad, but, we continue doing.
In some countries use the term "time is money" and how we can throw a lot of money to the garbage?.
We must to make something, is urgently solucionate this problem, we can´t continue like this and if a solution is begining by my self I will do, because I always arrive late, specialy at my english class.
Sorry!!
Ok, all are agree:
"Mexican people are unpunctual" we know that, foreign people know that and...
All people say "Yes we are unpunctual" but they don`t do anything to change this, we know the problem, so start work on the solution.
Start with small things, in the less formal dates if you want, give the person 15 minutes to arrive, if the other person doesn`t arrive leave him or leave her.
So try to reeducate the mexican people, it`s very difficult all know that too, but if nobody try, never it would happen.
Hi George.
I agree with your article, because ALL BUT ALL the people arrives late in this country, and when I say all is because I arrive late too.
But I was thinking that the unpuntuality is not only arrive late, Also is arrive very early, I have this problem because sometimes I arrive very early and wait maybe 1 or 2 hours, and when the person arrives I feel that she or he arrive late, but the mistake is mine.
Another is when someone makes you wait, knowing that the appointment is in a specific time and you have a lot of work but you need talk with this person, It is very common in the goverment or with the doctors and it is very uncomfortable for the persons.
I know that all the people have a lot of things to do, but if they organize their time the things could be change.
It is important to analyze the situations of the delay, maybe an emergency or an accident so please don't be rude but don't be lazy too.
Try to be on time always and change the bad image that the world has of us.
Mexican people have this custom, most of the times they believe that it is funny or I don’t know. People think that arrive 5 or 10 minutes later it’s ok.
I used to arrive early but when I saw that people always arrive later and I always wait this 5 or 10 minutes, I prefer arrive later too.
I know that it isn’t the best way to resolve this problem but they believe that it is normal and I can’t change their behaviour, So I’m going to try but if I lost my patient I just arrive early when I know that this person arrive early too.
I hope never arrive late again in order to be a good example for others and I never change because the others do.
hi!!1
Only for read the article I am relly upset.
I hate all the people that are unpunctual i can`t understad which are the reason becuase the people are unpunctual; and unfortunity all the world know that all the mexican people ere unpucntual.
guys try to be a puntual person...please
Well, i think that being late to a date for any cause it`s a great probleme in our lifes, that said a lot of things about you; in my case i always arrive punctual to the according place, and that gives me power to claim or to ask respect.
If you arrive frecuently late you are a mess in your life.
I know this problem. One of our teachers asked my team to investigate about how to do business in Japan, China, United States and Mexico and we found that one of the rules for doing business in Mexico is not to arrive early. In it explains that it is a habit to arrive late to all of the appoinments and if you arrive early mexican people could be offendend. I felt really bad when I read that article because it is the image of our country.
However, we have to change this image being punctual in all our appointments and dates, I think this is the only solution to this big problem.
HELLO GEORGE,
IF I AM GOING TO BE SINCERE.I AM SOMETIMES UNPUNCTUAL.I KNOW THAT IT IS BAD,BACAUSE IT IS YOUR IMAGE,IT IS RESPECT FOR THE OTHER PERSONS,IT IS INTEREST.WE ALWAYS SAID A LOT OF EXCUSES: THE SUBWAY, TRAFFIC,THE DOG ETC.MANY TIMES THE OTHER PERSONS DO NOT SAY NOTHING.SO WE CONTINUE ARRIVING LATE.
MAYBE, I NEED PRESSION TO ARRIVE EARLY.THE CLASS STARTS AT 5:00,IF YOU DO NOT ARRIVE.I AM SO SORRY.
IT IS VERY SAD THAT MEXICO FEELS PROUD OF BEING UNPUNCTUAL.
Hi,
Well, in mexican people is a custom and it is true, because when something is really interesting, you arrive until 15 minutes before, so we must change this culture in our field.
Nowadays to be punctual is an important point in the laboral field in order to approach all the time for finish important business.
For example, do you know why japanese people eat the rice or their meal in a very close manner of the bowl??? Because they think that when you raise the spoon from the table to the mouth is a waste of time. So, imagine, they never waste time and they tried to be punctual.
Hi George and everybody
this sitution is very common here in mexico and is disgudting that foreing people think that
In business is very important arrive on time because you represent your personality and this depend if the business doing
Hi¡
In this point I´m agree with you because I try to be a punctual person but some times I can´t arrive on time because some circumstances ´happen and I have to wait for to result the situation and after give an apologise.
About mexican people I think is a bad form that we are famous in foreings countries because we don´t have a good image in this aspect that is very important in the most of the cultures.
LEVEL 10 G.115A
Firts excuse me to arrive later everyday, but I think is a bad habit that the people create in you.
Because in other time I wasn't unpunctual.
For me the time is very importan topcoat in this degre.
Hi George
I promise to como early the next course.
Smile :)
Hi George
I promise to come early the next course
Smile and be happy :)
It is totally true about your comments of the time in the Mexican culture.
I don’t found a reason why people used to arrive late or on the range of time.
When I have arrived late is because I know the other people will be late and I hate waiting. But for example in my job I never have arrived late, I think is part of your personality. I thing it is the interest you show for what you do.
I agree that is a bad habit to be unpunctual, therefore we should try to change already, planning better our dates and trying to reach not only just on time, just a little more early.
Jorge, the last saturday you left to me a good advice.. for the first time in my life.. I really sorry for coming late to a presentation.
I told you that I really had the time to come at the fixed hour, but in the end fail.
I felt as if all the mediocrity in Mexico, it will be a part of my personality.
All the time I complains of the stupid ideology of the Mexican, and I believe that I have fallen down in "one" of many stupid ideologies of the Mexican (the most important... be on time)
I began to be employed at a company of Jews, and I can say you this situation help me in this mentality..
We complain about the transnational companies .. but we do not do anything for overcoming them
Thanks.
Hello George:
Arriving late, or being an unresponsable person are the same thing. I agree with you and i respect that.
However there are some people whose schedule makes things worst for their timing and their reputation.
I think as an exaple of it could be my own rutine, which has bringed me a lot of troubles.
Sometimes i start to think... Does everyone thinks that arriving late means unresponsability?
And then i start to questioning myself trying to cheering me up and avoiding thoughts about:
What are they gonna think of me? Do they think i´m a wasted young man? or something like that.
Life is difficult (maybe you are thinking: NO AT ALL! or YOU COMPLICATE YOUR OWN LIFE!) but let me tell you something: people is always turning things worst because they don't care other people's lives. Because they are too busy within themselves and their problems that they actually forget about everything else.
An example could be the teachers at ESCA itself. Nowadays teachers get upset or offended by students who arrive late at their classes non caring about explanations or excuses. they simply ask you to leave.
That is the most stupid thing i've ever heard. i mean, do they think i'm late because i like to?
is it because it makes me look interesting?
I DON'T THINK SO
Life is pretty demanding. when you are young, you have dreams, therefore you effort yourself to the most unexpected bounderies of Physical, emotional, and intellectual limits to achieve your goals
"sorry young one, you are not experienced enough"
"sorry young one, you are not on time"
"sorry young one, you don't have a master degree"
"sorry old man, you have never been no one"
ENOUGH.
I alredy left behind (miles away from here)and a long time ago that stupid question:
What if...?
Arriving late Does it really matters, even if you try to be on time, even if your effort seems not enough?
I don't recognize my bed anymore. i mean it's done, my bed it's always done, i mean it's new.
Do you know what type of response the people always says?
"Wake up earlier" (Don't be stupid) PLEASE
PLEASE
I don't sleep (or do you call sleep 30 minutes 24 X 7?) How the hell i'm i supppouse to wake up if i am alredy wake since God knows when?
Sorry i just tried to release myself (and ironically it is 3:00 o'clock so i'm late once again)
i have to go to the ESCA
bye
This is the second time I write a comment here, it seems like every day I live, I have a different opinion about several things, this is a good example: I have quit my job just recently and now, I’m supposed to have more time than before, but I’m lost at mornings and instead enjoy the morning time I got pretty busy with a lot of stuff and things I had forgotten they exist!!!!!!!! And suddenly I’m late again to go to school, and then the traffic..... and this is terrible!!! Punctuality is not only arrive in, or on time, it could be a lack or organization, or maybe a long list of things to do. Anyway, it is a common situation and we may be more tolerant with people we know they have things to do, it is not an excuse, we need to try to improve ourselves every day in every aspect in our lives.
I`m completely agree, Mexican people including me are unpuctual ones and this is a bad custom or characterize.
And it`s tipical make a date earlyer, and is emabarrasing as well.
Unfurtnatly we are critizied by other countries and all that people has reason about unpuctuality in Mexico.
In my case, be punctual it`s difficult because I don`t administrate well my time and it`s a terrible problem because I arrive late in all my appointments.
So it`s time to make a change in my life and solve this problem or the other hand it could make more problems in future maybe in my work.
Ouch!!! This topic is one of them which put me in a shame! This is because as surely you have noticed I`m always late at everywhere, and I don`t share your opinion that it is because a lake of interest, in my case I just can`t organise my time very well, always thers`s something that puts me on a hurry, but I know I can`t fault anyone else of what is my responsability. I don`t even fault mexican culture because it`s somethig that comes from ourselves but well we have to change it soon.
I promise I`ll do my best for being punctual. See you on thursday!!(at 3 o'clock)
Hi! George:
It´s terrible this regrettable situation, I feel sad to accept this article since, as, with our acts make it possible…
I ´m agree in the part where says that the Mexicans aren´t punctual because their irresponsibility is the easiest way to do for them, so their conformity let them allow still to think with ignorance and midday.
I think we’ve got the solution into us because we started it, so we are the responsible to change it, where we have to start to grow collectively like community and enjoy our future to progress.
Hi:
Mmm I´m angry for the stupid american people. Unfortunatly They´re right.
The mexican people always say, tomorrow I´ll get up early or I´ll arrive on time, but always happening someting and other time We are late.
We need organice our time. In my case I think about the traffic and in the things that I have to do before the appoiment.
And We should be responsable, because the time of the other people is´not ours.
Bye
Hi teacher!
Unfortunately, Amercicans have the reason. Always mexicans are late.
But not all are late.
For example. I always on in time in a quote.
We have to put in us clock an alarm to get up very early for arrive on time.
We should be more responsable if we want a better Mexico.
I´m punctual. But always people are unpunctual. It´s a problem for people the all word. Not only the mexican.
When the people work always arrive late ten or five minutes. It´s a bad habit. I think that people need organizate and get up early for that when take a transport people will don´t have a problem with a traffic or subway that all time go full.
I think that the Mexicans like to postpone the things to leave everything the last one.
We are very sluggish the Mexicans and I believe this it is the problem.
we should change this attitude that already custom, and that wrong that identify us for the unpunctuality instead of the good things.
We must demonstrate the opposite and that we can be the best it is a question of which the things want to be done and to put interest.
HI!
In mexico the people unfortunately they have the habit to arrive late date, party , festivals etc. Always we believe that the people has to expect us. We should change this because to many people does not like to expect and is unpleasant. Nevertheless I arrived late, because in Mexico we have problems of trafic.
BYE.
I think that unpunctual it's a bad habit because in a work you can't arrive late cause is an obligation and you've to demonstrate that you've a good habits in my case I sometimes arrive a few early or in sometimes a arrive very late all this is very important from my life and I try to give my best effort from arrive punctual.
Hi teacher.
I think that not only in Mexico it happens, rather it is common in this country because exist many persons who are late and not for the simple fact that they are lazy, maybe is that the things arise slower in this country comparing with U.S.A. More specific the life in New york have an intensive pace because the majority of the people works and always they move rapidly; here simply we enjoy our time.