[客座] 烏干達天空下 (拾貳) – 等待
It can be hard to adjust to the new concept of time in the program country. What takes one day to do at home could take 2 weeks in the program country because of delays, weather, power shortage, or relying on people who do not have the same sense of urgency. Are you a flexible person who could cope with this challenge?
你可能會發現自己有點難以適應計畫國家的時間觀念。因為遲延、天氣、電力短缺或者是依賴某個沒有緊急概念的人可能會導致那些在你國家只要一天就能完成的事情，到這裡來後要花上兩個禮拜。你是一個彈性很大，可以面對這樣的挑戰的人嗎？
上面那個問題是 GVN 在我出發前問我的問題，他想要知道對於不同時間觀念的人，我能否適應或是你該如何調整你自己，算是一種行前的測驗，看看來申請的義工是不是符合他們所期望的。
然後以下是我的回答：
I am a flexible person but I think I still need time to adjust myself to a new environment especially in the program country. That is the reason why I apply for two months in this program. Life can be so different in another country because of culture and other facts. I do not think facing a different concept of time will be a challenge to me, contrary, I consider it is going to be an interesting and unforgettable experience. Sometime it is easier to change your concept than to change the environment or other people’s opinions. I will try to merge myself to a different concept of time. Interestingly, because I live in busy cities for more than 20 years, I expect to stay in a place where people have different concepts of time. I might be able to learn different views life from them.
我是一個接受度大的人，但是我想在面對一個新的環境時，尤其是像烏干達，我還是需要時間來調整我自己。這也是我申請兩個月的理由。因為文化或是其他因素導致生活在另外一個國家會有全然不同的感受。我並不認為面對另一種時間觀念對我會是一種挑戰，相反的，我認為那會是一段有趣而且難忘的經驗。有時候改變自己的想法比改變他人或者是一整個大環境還要來的容易的多了。我會盡我所能的將自己融入一個新的時間觀念中。不過有趣的是，因為我住在忙碌的城市中超過了20年，我還蠻期待待在一個有著完全不同時間觀念的地方，或許我會從他們身上學到不同的生活觀點。
