The chapter on space and time in The Theory Toolbox had me thinking about my time in Spain and the significant differences I noticed between American and Spanish sense of time. The Theory Toolbox talked about how the way we experience time oftentimes depends on material resources, and how we use our time vs. how we allow others to use our time and the amount of free time we have at our disposal vs. the amount of time we spend working. I agree that time can be constructed on an individual level. I also think that the concept of time is constructed on a cultural level as well. The way Americans use, value, and view time is very different from how other cultures do. I have experienced first-hand how opposite the Spanish and American views of time really are.
One of my favorite phrases from Spain was “No pasa nada” and they used this term as often as they could. This essentially means don’t worry about it and is indicative of the carefree attitude and lifestyle of the Spanish people. Everything and everyone is much more calm and relaxed in Spain. People take their time and being late to an appointment or meeting is a common occurrence and can be expected. I remember one time I was really sick and made sure to get to the doctor at 9:00 a.m., right when they opened so there would be no wait. I was informed that the doctor wouldn’t be arriving for another 10-20 minutes. This was not uncommon: many business and store owners opened and closed their shops at their convenience no matter what hours of operation the sign outside their doors stated.
While the leisurely Spanish lifestyle took awhile to get used to and was a common source of frustration throughout my 5-month stay, I think Americans have a lot to learn from it. Many Americans think that siesta is a time in the middle of the afternoon for napping, but the Spanish people actually used the 3-hour time slot to eat long meals with family and friends. It was a time to drink socially, converse, and catch up on life. It was also common to spend hours at a restaurant eating a meal or in a café enjoying a cappuccino.
Overall, Spanish people regarded time as precious and something to appreciate. It was something to enjoy, not hurry through. I think that Americans are far too often rushing through life. We don’t stop and enjoy small things and we can’t appreciate things fully because of this. I think that it is important to move at a slower pace in life sometimes in order to fully enjoy it.
Finally, on a slightly different note but also one that is kind of related, I wanted to touch on consumption, which is talked about a lot at the end of the chapter. It talks about culture that has shifted towards the “cult of celebrity and aesthetic of wealth.” I tend to agree with this cynical view on our culture. While I usually don’t agree with broad generalized statements that group large populations under one category, I think that this notion of our culture’s shift towards a more materialistic society is true. Maybe if we slowed our pace and took time to appreciate the small things in life and the important things like friends and family, we can begin to shift away from this obsession with celebrity and wealth.
I really agree with you on the point that Americans are more rushed in their sense of time. Life is fleeting, but instead of enjoying it, they panic and try to find ways to cram as much activity as they possibly can.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little sad to see that most European cultures stop everything just for lunch while Americans rush to McDonald's for a greasy burger because it's been calculated that a McDonald's hamburger will take only 2 minutes total to process the entire order. I don't necessarily believe that we need to be more leisurely and carefree about appointments though. That seems like it would adverse and serious negative effects. When someone's life is at stake, I think time is the factor that determines their fate. We have that common phrase to "stop and smell the roses." I think people are oblivious to roses and even time. Even when Americans are enjoying themselves, it isn't time that they are savoring. I think we forget about time and are desensitized to it is because we think we have it encapsulated neatly. We've calculated what time is and so we think time needs no more attention.
It would be nice to have time to enjoy time.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for the good post comparing the cultural differences in time use between the US and Spain. Having lived in Europe for 5 years, I agree that the American concept of time is way too hectic. Just think about the way most people drive during rush hour as if they were in a Nascar event. Nice response. dw
ReplyDeleteI like what you say in your second-to-last paragraph regarding the appreciation of time. It seems as if Americans view time as a nagging enemy which must be defeated (mostly due to our workaholic culture), whereas some of the less consumerist nations of the world have a completely opposite viewpoint: that time is a precious gift, and we should make of it what we can. Thank you for bringing up these cultural differences. It sounds as if we as Americans have a lot to learn from everybody else.
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