During my first month living in the UK, I have discovered how much its residents value time, and scheduling. This is depicted in many ways, from my everyday living to working experiences.
One example of this is the timeliness of London’s public transport. When a tube is scheduled to arrive in 2 minutes, it is almost guaranteed to be there, not thirty seconds later or earlier. In the tube stops and metro stations, it is extremely common to see people rushing up and down staircases to catch the exact transportation they want, even if new tubes or trains arrive every five minutes. Every second counts.
In previous work experiences I have had back home in the Dominican Republic or the United States, whenever I want to ask my supervisor or colleague a question or for additional guidance on a project, it is very likely I just pop my head in their office or approach their desk as long as they are not in the middle of something important. During my first week in my British internship, I went to ask my supervisor a question. Instead of immediately replying, she sat me down to schedule a slot during our work day to sit down and review all my questions or comments I had that day. It was a new and different approach to things, but I see the benefits that come from having a more organized work routine.
As someone who has always somewhat struggled with being late and not prioritizing timeliness, the natural pace at which this city moves is not something I am used to. However, in order to not make the wrong impression, I have found myself making a bigger effort to arrive on time and pre-planning my tube trips and leaving times in advance. Perhaps my mother will thank me for moving to London, and our family will never be the last to arrive at the event again!