When travelers lack an awareness of 【51】 time is regulated in a foreign country, they can

expect to feel somewhat disoriented. Since most people 【52】 time for granted, the effects of values, customs, and social etiquette on the use of time are seldom examined. A culture that values achievement and progress will discourage people 【53】 "wasting" time. Highly efficient business people from these cultures may feel frustrated in a country 【54】 work proceeds at a slow pace. In religious societies, customs specify times of the day, week, or year for prayer and religious celebrations. If an individual tries to 【55】 an appointment during a sacred holiday, he or she could unknowingly offend a religious person. Social etiquette determines appropriate times for visits, meetings, and even phone calls. Arriving two hours late for an 【56】 may be acceptable in one culture, whereas in 【57】 , keeping someone 【58】 fifteen minutes may be considered rude.

Promptness is important in American business, academic, and social settings. The 【59】 of punctuality is taught to young children in school. Tardy slips and the use of bells signal to the child that punctuality and time itself are to be respected. An amusing report of a school child's experience with time 【60】 in a recent newspaper article:

" 【61】 a child, my mother used to tell me 【62】 crucial it was to be at school 【63】 the first bell rang. Preparation for my 'on-time' appearance began the night before. I was directed to go to bed early so I could wake 【64】 wide-eyed at 7 a.m. with enough time to get ready. Although I usually managed to watch my share of TV cortoons, I knew that in one hour I had to get dressed, eat breakfast, 【65】 my teeth, 【66】 my hair, and be on my way to school or I would be violating an important rule of Mom's, the school's or of the world's. It was hard to tell which."

People who keep appointments are 【67】 dependable. If people are late to job interviews, appointments, or classes, they are often viewed 【68】 unreliable and irresponsible. In the business world, "time is money" and companies may fine their executives for tardiness to business meetings. Of course, it is not always possible to be punctual. Social and business etiquette also provides rules for late arrivals. Calling on the telephone if one is going lo be more than a few minutes late for scheduled appointments is considered polite and is often expected. Keeping a date or a friend wailing beyond ten to twenty minutes is considered rude. On the other 【69】 ,arriving thirty minutes 【70】 to some parties is acceptable.

(51)