Mexican Punctuality : Does time work differently in Mexico?

Everybody has their own way of handling time. Bedtime, dinner time, early morning, late afternoon; all of these have different meanings for each of us. Just the fact that not all countries make use of daylight savings, or that time zones are even a thing, are clear examples that the human race has decided to manipulate time in its favor. Now, we won't get all relative and declare that time doesn't exist and that it is just a human construct, dedicated to simply measure the passing of events. That's a discussion older than time itself. Time is a constant term in everyday conversations. We are always asking what the time is, we make time, we are right on time, we know that time waits for no one. Yet, the way we treat it varies depending on the country and the culture we are immersed in. In this post, we will be talking about Mexican punctuality. A subject of huge importance if you're traveling to Mexico for business or relocating for retirement and learning Spanish and Mexican culture.

Mexican Punctuality in border cities

Living right by the border of Mexico and the USA allows a vision of both sides of the border, and we end up adopting habits halfway, or we create a strange mixture of the two cultures. Although, the reasons why Tijuana has "Turkey Day" on the last Thursday of November, with no thanks given whatsoever, or how Americans have way bigger celebrations for Cinco de Mayo than most Mexicans, are topics for some other time.

  
Source - Unsplash

Among these adopted and adapted observations and habits, there is one thing that Mexicans will stay true to, no matter what, and that is the way that we deal with time. In some societies, being on time means arriving at the exact agreed time. In others, it means you have to be there a few minutes early, and in a few others, the latter is actually considered rude. In Mexico, you are given a specific time and, regardless of the situation, one is pretty much expected to be there later than that. If you search for Mexican business etiquette you are going to come across statements like these:

Learning Spanish for business?

"Punctuality is expected of foreign businesspeople. Your Mexican counterpart may be late or keep you waiting. Thirty minutes past the scheduled meeting time is considered punctual by Mexicans". "Don't show up on time for a social engagement -- you will be the only one who does, and will most likely be waiting for a very long time (possibly hours)". If you're learning Spanish for business or you'll be traveling to Mexico for a vacation soon, it might be wise to not get too caught up in trying to be on time.

When it comes to business, punctuality is appreciated, yet it's not necessarily a "deal breaker" (or deal-maker). Nearly all workplaces allow at least a ten-minute clock-in tolerance. Arriving to a meeting 15 minutes late is not frowned upon, mostly because Mexicans are extremely understanding. There could have been an accident blocking the road, a family emergency or something of the sort making the other person late. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that fatalism is very typical in this country. The first thought won't be that simple traffic holding the other person up, there has to be something big going on.

Mexican Punctuality in social gatherings

On the other hand, if we are talking about social events, everybody is expected to be there at least an hour later than agreed. That's even how the planning goes: "Let the invitation say six, so people can begin getting here around seven, the food can be served by eight, and the party will actually start at nine". Both the host and the attendees know this; nobody will be at the place at the time printed on the invite. There is a huge possibility that the decorations won't be fully up yet, without a doubt the food won't be ready, the place may even be still closed.

Where the heck is everyone?

RSVPs are unheard of, there are no "save the date" reminders, and invitations are almost never mailed. You will hear about the celebration directly from the person organizing it. The physical invitation may even be provided at the actual event, just for you to keep it as a souvenir. If it's a family affair, an aunt is surely in charge of letting everybody know about it, and she won't fail to provide the specifics to every family member: place, time and date included. These unspoken, yet well known, rules only apply to birthday parties, anniversaries, or celebrations that need an actual venue. For a casual meeting it's a lot easier to call up a friend and see what they are doing at that exact time. Showing up at their doorstep is also a good option, and, in case they are not available at that moment, well, you can always go and knock on another friend's door.

Source: Pexels

Planners are something that will rarely be seen in the hands of a Mexican. We don't write down to-do lists or set specific tasks for the day. Calendars are used to track down the days past, not to prepare in advance. There's a very common saying that goes: "Uno pone y Dios dispone", which, in a not so literal interpretation, basically means that we can make as many plans as we want, but it depends on God if they are fulfilled.

The bottom line...

Priorities are different in this family-centered country. Deadlines, due dates, and time frames are all flexible. Calling in sick will likely be received with a "health comes first" from the boss. "There's more time than there is life" is another popular saying, and it's used as the perfect excuse to tell ourselves it's okay if we didn't finish what we had fully intended to, it can totally be done tomorrow. In Mexico, time does not mean money; time is a precious thing that we need to enjoy as it is given to us. There's a reason why it's called "present", and we treat it as the gift that it is.


Source: Pixabay

References: Mexico at eDiplomat