PUNCTUALITY

Perhaps some could tell you a little about attitude in Europe compared to attitude in
my own country and I havent yet told you anything about myself. Im from Jamaica
actually, now in case you are wondering Jamaica has not become the 26 th member
of the European Union. Im just one of the people, one of the exceptions which the
staff regulation allows for. Under the staff regulation, if certain qualifications or
certain skills are not to be found within nationals of the member states who put
themselves forward as candidates then a non-national may be recruited. And it is
under that, on that basis I was able to do a competitive exam and become an officer
of the commission. So Im from Jamaica and attitude toward punctuality are very
difference there compared to attitude in Europe. But I have to say that attitudes
have change over the years, both in my country and in Europe so to bring these
attitudes to be a little closer together. Let me give you an example, when I was a
young person, student of a university. And in fact when I was a young professional
when I started, when I just started working after university. If I was invited to a
party, the kind of party where you dance through the night, all the invitations will
for 9 pm. Always, youre always invited for 9 pm. If, however you are to turn up at
9pm. Nobody will be expecting you. Nothing will be ready, absolutely nothing. The
correct time to turn up after the invitation for 9 pm was 11 pm. And if I turned up at
11pm I would be one of the first people there.
Really?
Yes. Whereas for a dinner party, youll usually be invited at 7 for 8. And that means,
that meant at that time that people could start arriving from 7 oclock. The hosts
will be ready to receive them, and will be happy to have a little chat, a little
opportunity to sit and talk a bit before proceeding to the dinner table. It meant that
you didnt have to arrive precisely at 7. And even arriving at 7:30 was considered
normal. Arriving at 7:45 or 10 to 8 was already a bit late because that meant you
arrive only in time to eat, which is not considered very good. You should arrive in
time to talk to your guests and to your hosts. And then food will begin to be served
from 8 or 8:15.
Now when I first came to Europe. If I was invited to a dinner party at 7, it meant you
have to arrive at 7. You have to be pushing the button, pressing the buzzer of the
door at 7 oclock. Perhaps half a minute after 7 if you want to be super discreet. Half
a minute after 7 but no later. Nowadays, people here in Europe have adopted that
kind of attitude for inviting people at 7 for 8. But that is not so in all social circles. It,
again, it depends, but not so much on individuals, but on social circles. We always in
my country, we always have the practice of what is called academic quarter of an
hour. When you went to lectures in university, you were not expected to be there
at 10 or quarter past 10. And this is simply because we had a very large campus,
and if one lecture was finished at 10, theres no way you could be at the next
lecture at 10, so in fact what happened was the lecture would end at 5 minutes to
10. And you should be in the other lecture at 10 minutes past. And that was how the
academic quarter of an hour applied. Nowadays, very little time is given for moving

from class to class. You really have to sprint. But there is still a little margin just to
take account of practicality.