Tick Tock

The concept of time has systematically blown the minds of individuals who have made any attempt to understand it since before the dawn of civilization. Wormholes and black holes. Relativity theories and flux capacitors. It seems the deeper we delve into the subject the more confusing, depressing, and frankly uninteresting the whole matter becomes. Even the time-space guru Einstein was known to feign exaggerated yawns and bellow out “BO-RING!” when engaged on the subject by students and intellectual colleagues for more than a few minutes. But despite our lack of understanding on the illusory subject, time plays an important role in various parts of the world, and Kenya is no different.

Some might say that time holds a unique place in Kenya in that it seems to have no place at all. 9 AM meetings regularly start at 2, “right now” could refer to anytime today, and the phrase “next week” could be three months from now or beyond. Indeed, the Swahili proverb “Haraka Haraka Haina Baraka” (Hurry Hurry Has No Blessing) is seemingly followed to the letter. But there is a system here. An unspoken set of rules and guidelines driving the day to day agenda of those living far outside the shadows of the city. A protocol that everyone understands and adheres to. An etiquette that is the bane of anyone who foolishly tries to push their own agenda without trying to understand the culture they’re in. Who would be foolish enough to waste the morning in an early meeting when that’s the coolest time to work in the field? Why would anyone risk the social isolation that would result by not stopping to greet everyone they pass on the way to the village or by not attending the 3 day funeral of their friend’s cousin’s grandfather just so they could meet a deadline? Those from clock dominated societies seem to run into an unending sea of frustration when they cross through the wormhole and into this alternate chronometrical society, so it’s important to remember things will happen when they happen. A meeting will start when it starts, the shop will open when it opens, and a 6 month late blog post is considered right on time.