05/20/21; Week 5: Response to "Culture Differences Concerning Time"

    It is very clear to me that there are hundreds of different cultures, even if we even belong to the same place or are from the same country or from different countries. However, we agree on some aspects if we refer to the terms polychronic and monochronic. Considering these two definitions, I have been able to realize the importance of these two aspects in the cultural sphere of our globe.

    While it is true and according to Brother Ivers who recounts some of his experiences in Latin America, it is true that here we handle different kinds of relationships and that we take into account being prudent with other people so as not to hurt their feelings; It may be wrong not telling the truth at first, but it can be a way not to hurt, although I think that it is always better telling the truth. From my point of view, respect and obedience are integral virtues that the human being must apply to coexist in harmony in a very varied world in consideration of the different levels of education and ways of thinking. Many times having friends makes things happen, makes us achieve our goals and even many times get out of a big deal, but it is also important to consider the time of others and that is where consideration for other people comes into deal, that is why there are policies and guidelines to do things in order.

    On the one hand, I think that we must be polychronic when it comes to helping someone who needs us to understand an extreme situation, for instance; I schedule a meeting with my students in which I set an entry time and then I send them the link to enter our virtual classroom, but it turns out that not all of them enter on time; from forty students per classroom, ten are punctual and the rest enter one by one, and that really interrupts the flow of the class, but considering the current situation that we are experiencing due to a pandemic, we must act wisely, patiently and continue with the class and apply our strategies to hook our students, we must also consider that some of them do not have internet or do not have resources for their connection to be effective, finally we do not know what they or their families may be going through, which may be a reason for their lateness.

    On the other hand, I think that we must be monochronic because we must be ordered and responsible so that our work is honored and in that way we give a good service to others, because many times they depend on us.