Time

Kung Fu Panda

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

But today is a gift

That is why it is called the present

Time

Time flies

Time flies when you’re having fun

Sometimes time passes VERY slowly

Time flies …

Like an arrow

Time is strange

Time flies like an arrow

Fruit flies like a banana

Time flies

Time flies like an arrow

[Time flies] like an arrow

Time flies

Time flies

[Time flies] like an arrow

[Time flies] like an arrow

[Fruit flies] like a banana

[Time flies] like an arrow

[Time flies] like an arrow

Fruit fly

Time fly

[Time] flies like an arrow

Or maybe not

Sometimes it’s really slow

Time drags

Time drags

Time is valuable

Is time real?

Find time?

Make time?

Is it all illusion?

How about western people and time?

A: I’d like a watch that tells the time.B: Don’t you have a watch that tells the time?A: No, you have to look at it.

It’s a jokeNot very good, I know

But now our watches will TELL you the time

Why are we obsessed with time?

Time

• When is it?• Is it now?• Or has it just gone?

The English language seems obsessed with time

• I’m doing it now• I do it (all the time)• I have done it• I did it

• What’s going on?

It’s April 1st. You meet your friend at the airport to go on a trip abroad.

• You want to play a trick• So you look sad and say …• … I left my passport at home• Your friend looks shocked• Then you say, “But I realized and went back to

get it.”• It’s an April Fool

It’s April 1st. You meet your friend at the airport to go on a trip abroad.

• You want to play a trick• So you look sad and say …• … I have left my passport at home• Your friend looks shocked• Then you say, “But I realized and went back to

get it.”• It doesn’t work.

What’s going on?

• I left my passport at home• At some point in the past• (Maybe you realized and went back to get it)• I have left my passport at home• This is in the past but relevant to NOW• (If it’s relevant to now, you didn’t go home to

get it)

Past

• I have done it• I had done it• I did it in the past, before some other time in

the past which is relevant!

• Why is English so fussy about time?

It doesn’t wait

We CAN measure it

It’s a continuum

It won’t stop (will it?)

But what is it?

Can’t separate from space

Is time travel possible?

Of course not!

Actually, it IS possible

Yes! If you travel fast enough!!

Close to the speed of light!!

That’s very fast

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity

Travel close to the speed of light

And come back

You’ll be way in the future

Apparently, this is true

Any cultural differences?

Monochronic cultures

• Do one thing at a time• Rigid approach to time• Strict agenda (plan)• Focus on task• Completion of job is important• Emphasize promptness

Polychronic cultures

• Multiple activities at once• Flexible approach to time• No strict agenda (plan)• Focus on relationships• Relationship more important than job• Promptness based on relationship

My story

In my early twenties …

I lived in the Sudan for one year

North Africa … pyramids etc

Pretty amazing, actually

Beautiful by the river

Incredibly nice food

Not much available in winter

Often felt a bit hungry

So it tasted even better!

Feasts were incredible

Water was like this

Taken straight from the river Nile!

Also tasted great!

At first I wouldn’t drink it

I got slight stomach problems

Got better quickly

When I went home and drank tap water again

I had stomach problems again

Local transport

Local transport

Middle of the desert

Beautiful and green by the river

I was a volunteer teacher at a High School

I was completely useless

I’m not joking

I WAS completely useless

Didn’t know anything

People gave good advice

I always ignored it!

They said the water is delicious!

I said NO! NO!

Eventually I tried it

It was delicious

Locals know best

When in Rome, do as Romans do

Well, maybe

Sometimes

Oh, forget it

Back to Japan

Our sense of time was certainly different

People were TOO relaxed

ME:

• When is the train coming?• When is the post coming?• When is the bus coming?• When does the holiday start?• Etc.

They said:

• Tomorrow• Maybe• Next Friday• Maybe• Etc

Except it wasn’t maybe

• I should have just relaxed• I would have had a better time• There was no point in thinking about

schedules all the time

Some African/Arab cultures have a less structured sense of time

We think:

Swahili has 2 words for time

Sasa: present time – Now!

Zamani: past time

Zamani: connecting souls

Zamani: a cycle

Zamani: not a straight line

Not like an arrow

So maybe our experience of time is different

So who’s right?

And who’s wrong?

Maybe it depends on context

But the water WAS delicious

I had problems with my stomach for a few days

Then I felt great

When I started drinking “normal” water

After I got home

I had stomach problems again

If I could have my time again …

I would just take my time

And enjoy it more