people are never on time

by Debra
(Guayaquil)

It's a custom here to be late. People here are never on time. In fact, every time I make plans with someone I confirm twice what time I'm really supposed to arrive.

I used to always be the first person to arrive at dinner parties and events. Then one day I arrived at the hour I was invited to find my hostess was just getting into the shower and hadn't even started to get ready for her guests.

It turns out, as a general rule, that when you are invited somewhere it is actually POLITE to be anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes late. It drives gringos crazy but down here that's the norm and in fact, no one even gets offended when you're late!

Still, if you're doing business with someone always be on time. Even if you already know the other person is going to be late.

Now when someone invites me somewhere I ask them "hora gringa o hora ecuatoriana?" I get a lot of laughs but I've noticed that after a few times people start arriving earlier!

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