German-American host-family project American and German Perspectives on Time by Alan Russell and Andrea Riediger-Schubert

Time

Key Findings Time

Time An American Perspective

Time What time is it? What time is it? Am I late? Am I late? How long do we have? How long do we have? What’s my deadline? What’s my deadline? Americans seem obsessed with time, with schedules, with deadlines Americans seem obsessed with time, with schedules, with deadlines

Time A German Perspective

Time “To every time there is a season “To every time there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Living according to unwritten rules Living according to unwritten rules Daily activities revolve around fairly inflexible schedules and routines Daily activities revolve around fairly inflexible schedules and routines

Time Although time is an idea, an intellectual concept, people talk about it as though it were a commodity – something that can be saved, spent, used wisely or wasted Although time is an idea, an intellectual concept, people talk about it as though it were a commodity – something that can be saved, spent, used wisely or wasted In particular, it is often viewed as something that is scarce In particular, it is often viewed as something that is scarce Being “on time” is a sign of respect Being “on time” is a sign of respect

Time German “Gründlich” and Effectiveness Versus American Efficiency

Time Americans generally prefer to be efficient (i.e. to produce the desired effect without wasting time) Americans generally prefer to be efficient (i.e. to produce the desired effect without wasting time) Germans generally prefer to be thorough (gründlich) and effective (i.e. to produce the desired result) Germans generally prefer to be thorough (gründlich) and effective (i.e. to produce the desired result)

Time Americans view Germans as spending too much time looking for the perfect solution Americans view Germans as spending too much time looking for the perfect solution Germans view Americans as just looking for a “quick fix” Germans view Americans as just looking for a “quick fix”

Time Thinking Styles

Time Once upon a time, three journalists – a Frenchman, an American and a German – were asked to write a fictional story about the elephant. The Frenchman wrote “L’éléphant et l’amour”. The American wrote “Thirty-six Miracle Diets for the Modern Working Elephant”. Once upon a time, three journalists – a Frenchman, an American and a German – were asked to write a fictional story about the elephant. The Frenchman wrote “L’éléphant et l’amour”. The American wrote “Thirty-six Miracle Diets for the Modern Working Elephant”.

Time The German wrote “The Psychological Nature and Fundamental Dynamics of the Socialization of the Elephant: Volume 1, The Symbolic Importance of the Elephant, Chapter 1: From Julius Caesar to the Present” The German wrote “The Psychological Nature and Fundamental Dynamics of the Socialization of the Elephant: Volume 1, The Symbolic Importance of the Elephant, Chapter 1: From Julius Caesar to the Present”

Time Scheduling in a Monochronic Culture

Time Both Germany and America are monochronic cultures, i.e. they operate according to schedules, one thing at a time Both Germany and America are monochronic cultures, i.e. they operate according to schedules, one thing at a time

Time Germans don’t think of time in terms of money. Rather, time is to be used to execute activities precisely when they should occur Germans don’t think of time in terms of money. Rather, time is to be used to execute activities precisely when they should occur Schedules and routines create order and are intrinsically good Schedules and routines create order and are intrinsically good When invited for dinner, one is expected to arrive on time and being a few minutes late is perceived as being inefficient or lacking interest When invited for dinner, one is expected to arrive on time and being a few minutes late is perceived as being inefficient or lacking interest

Time Americans are always in a hurry, to “waste time” is very un-American Americans are always in a hurry, to “waste time” is very un-American “If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium” “If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium” Note that there are many regional variations – those in the south of the US are much less obsessed with having to hurry Note that there are many regional variations – those in the south of the US are much less obsessed with having to hurry

How this fits into the orientation framework Time

Time Differences in perception of time are not as critical as some other areas, but can create definite annoyances when these perceptions clash Differences in perception of time are not as critical as some other areas, but can create definite annoyances when these perceptions clash

Time For the student, some generalizations about time perceptions could be introduced during the Pre-Departure Orientation (when there are students going to many different countries present) For the student, some generalizations about time perceptions could be introduced during the Pre-Departure Orientation (when there are students going to many different countries present) At the gateway orientation it should be discussed in further detail At the gateway orientation it should be discussed in further detail Specific examples and further details should be part of the arrival and post- arrival orientations Specific examples and further details should be part of the arrival and post- arrival orientations

Time For the host family, these topics should be discussed somewhere in the hosting cycle, and then reinforced in the post-arrival orientation For the host family, these topics should be discussed somewhere in the hosting cycle, and then reinforced in the post-arrival orientation

Important Learnings Time

Time Differences in time-related practices can be frustrating and cause mis- understandings. They can also impact the acceptance of the student by his/her host family Differences in time-related practices can be frustrating and cause mis- understandings. They can also impact the acceptance of the student by his/her host family It is probably most important in the area of being “on time” for scheduled activities/events, both within the family (dinner or leaving to go somewhere) and outside of the family (school classes, trains, etc.) It is probably most important in the area of being “on time” for scheduled activities/events, both within the family (dinner or leaving to go somewhere) and outside of the family (school classes, trains, etc.)

Final Thoughts Time

Time The German wife in an American-German couple mentions one morning that it would be nice to have a shelf in the hallway to store her hats and boxes on. She assumes her American husband will think out the solution thoroughly. The husband, wanting to impress her by getting things done without wasting time, builds the shelf while his wife is out shopping.

Time When the wife comes back, she’s pleasantly surprised by his quick work. She begins putting boxes on it, only to see the shelf come crashing down. Her husband may have been “efficient” but he was far from “effective”!