A Lesson in Timekeeping: Misunderstandings on the Road
Today’s lesson is about timekeeping-and how easily we take for granted that our understanding of time is the same as everyone else’s. We often assume that our values, expectations, and interpretations of simple concepts, like time, are universally shared. Every time when we attempt to communicate with another person We compress our thoughts, which consist of billions of neurons firing in our brains, into words, expecting others to unpack them in exactly the way we intend. But sometimes, what seems like a straightforward concept can lead to surprising confusion.
This confusion became very real today. We had arrived in Mbeya, Tanzania, by mid-afternoon and headed straight to the bus station to sort out our tickets for tomorrow’s journey to Mtwara. The bus station ticket manager greeted us warmly and helped us secure our seats. He mentioned that the bus would leave early-at 2 in the morning. I was taken aback and asked, “Why so early?” He explained that the journey was long, and we had a considerable distance to cover, so it was necessary to depart at 2 AM. I had traveled on night buses before, but this seemed unusually early. However, given my recent experiences in Mozambique, I had learned that anything is possible, so I didn’t question it further.
Concerned about the idea of traveling overnight in Tanzania, but trusting the manager, I asked if there was a nearby place to stay. He showed us to a small hotel just a short walk from the station. We paid for our room, exchanged goodbyes, and assured him we’d be there at before 2. I informed the hotel manager of our early departure, and he kindly told us to leave the key on the reception table when we left. After grabbing what can only be described as warm pizza and a avocado from the market we had dinner while enjoying cold beer, we set our alarm for 1:45 AM, too anxious about missing the bus to sleep soundly.
When the alarm went off, we shot up gathered our things and headed outside. To our surprise, the city was completely deserted-not a soul in sight. We stood there, waiting, as 2:15 AM came and went, then 2:30, 2:45-and still nothing. The manager had told us the bus started from this station, so we couldn’t understand why it was running so late or why we were the only ones there. The thought crossed my mind-was this a trap? Had we been misled?
By 3:10 AM, with still no sign of life. None. We decided to call it a night and wait for the first bus of the day that we could catch. Wandering back to the hotel, we retrieved the key from the reception table, opened the door, and collapsed back into bed, not bothering to set another alarm. We fell into a deep sleep, only to be jolted awake by loud banging on our door hours later. Dazed and confused, I opened the door to find the ticket manager standing there, looking shocked to see us. “You’re going to miss your bus!” he exclaimed.
I tried to explain that we had been waiting since 2 AM, but no one had shown up. He shook his head and showed me his watch-it read 8 AM. Confused, I said, “But it’s 8 am now, not 2am .” He chuckled and replied, “It’s 2 in the morning now-two hours after sunrise, not 2 o’clock in the night.” That’s when it hit me. In his understanding, “2 in the morning” meant two hours after sunrise, not the 2 AM I had assumed. We had been speaking the same language but completely missing each other’s meaning.
This mix-up made me realise how easily we can misinterpret even the simplest concepts when traveling across cultures. We often take our understanding of things like time for granted, not realising how differently they can be perceived by others. Needless to say, our bags were still packed, so we quickly brushed our teeth, skipped breakfast, and raced out to catch the bus that was, indeed, waiting for us.
As we settled into our seats and watched the landscape change outside the window, we reflected on the lesson learned and how they might impact this next stage of the adventure. We both speak English but different versions. were there really fundamental differences between British and American? -Time would tell.
We were leaving behind the experiences of Malawi and the TAZARA Railway, now with our eyes on the rising sun and the adventures that awaited us along Africa’s East Coast. A new chapter was beginning, and we were more than ready for it