I like to plan ahead. I try to schedule work and play for the coming week, or even further ahead. Frequently this doesn’t work out. Nepal has a very different sense of planning from me. In fact, it seems to run on a different clock than me. Forget that 15 minutes ahead of India, Nepalis seem to be at least 30 minutes behind Scottish time! Indeed, sometimes Nepal is days behind Scotland. So that’s why I find myself sitting here on a Wednesday afternoon completely caught up. I have been running around like a headless chicken for the past two weeks, as everything is ‘urgent’. And had expected to continue to be frantic for the rest of the month. But here I am, up-to-date. Or should I say, here I am waiting. And I am not very good at waiting.

For example, while I had nothing to do over the Dashain/Tihar period except hang around the gym, pool and at my ‘local’ 5 star hotel bar (friends know what I’m talking about) I could have been more productive if others had planned ahead for more than just their Dashain shopping before the festivities began. You would think I would be used to this by now, but nope. Somehow I always believe that the phrase “I will get it to you tomorrow”. And I forget to ask, “which tomorrow exactly?”

Then there are the events that never start on time. So by now I have come to realise that the advertised time, even if printed on an invitation, is not the real starting time. Even I have learned not to arrive at the given time. But still I seem to arrive first. Or because I am busy at another event I assume I will be too late for something that starts at 8pm. Its only later, I see the live feed on Facebook, where introductions are taking place at 10pm! And then I think I could have been there after all.  

I have been brought up to think it rude and impolite to be late. I would never dream of turning up two hours late to anything without a very valid excuse. It annoys me still when others do this. And as for the ‘too much traffic’ excuse, well excuse me, when is there no traffic? How difficult is it to start off earlier when you know full well the traffic will be heavy? Do you think there are no rush hours in other countries? Yes there are, and the commuters build in extra travel time at peak times. That is called forward planning. I know these words are very unfamiliar so let’s all say them together—“forward planning”. 

Recently however there has been glimmers of hope. Plane passengers get annoyed having to wait on the tarmac for a VIP to arrive. Drivers also now get impatient having to stop for a cavalcade driving through town. Bike riders have been seen to just push on through regardless.  

And what about places like the yoga studio I (infrequently) attend? Classes start and end on time, even with the majority of the attendees being Nepali. Are they a different breed then? I have to admit I am now sitting here looking out of the window trying to think of other places and situations where things start on time. I am failing to come up with anything. Cinema? Well the pre-show adverts might start on time but there are still those dozen or so people who come in just as the main show is starting. Public transport?  Don’t make me laugh! Private offices? Recently I was in my bank at 9.55 and the tellers were not at their positions, despite the fact the bank opens at 9.45. So probably not. 

Anyway, I’m heading out in two hours, so I had better start to plan my preparations…