Current Time in Rutana
Burundi's culture of time
Burundi's culture of time
Flexible attitude towards time
In Burundi, strict adherence to the time of an appointment is not very important. Being late by several tens of minutes is common, and people tend not to blame each other for being late.
Sense of time in social interactions
The culture of valuing connections with people is deeply rooted, and conversations and relationships in the moment are often prioritized over scheduled times. It is not uncommon for conversations to drag on and people to be late for the next appointment.
Public transportation and services are also relaxed
Buses and public transport services are not bound by scheduled times, and departure times can vary significantly. Users understand this and are tolerant of time.
Burundi's values regarding time
A time concept that prioritizes relationships with people
In Burundi, the value of "interactions with people" is more important than "being on time" and prolonged conversations or visits with someone are considered preferable.
Emphasis on events over time
Rather than "moving by time," the general style is "moving to the next action when something happens." Many people spend their day in a natural flow without relying on the clock.
Flexibility and leeway are respected
Rather than strictly managing time, an attitude of being able to respond flexibly to unexpected events is valued. This leeway also reduces daily stress.
Things about time that foreigners should know when traveling or moving to Burundi
It is not necessary to be punctual for appointments
Even in business, it is common to be 5 to 30 minutes late for appointments. Being "on time" is not particularly required in private life.
Public transport is not timetabled
Buses and shared taxis do not have set departure times, and depart when they reach capacity. If you want to follow a schedule, you need to plan ahead.
Store and office opening and closing times are unstable
Even if there are official business hours, they may close early or open late due to weather or other circumstances. It is relatively safe to visit in the morning.
Interesting trivia about time in Burundi
Time units are expressed in "daily events"
In some areas, time is expressed based on natural or everyday events such as "after the sun rises" or "when the cows return" rather than "clocks".
"African time" for meetings and gatherings
The term "African time" is sometimes used in Burundi, and it is common for meetings and events to start more than an hour later than scheduled.
Spending weekends with family is the norm
Weekends are when people have more freedom in how they spend their time, and they spend their time relaxing without being tied down to time, spending time with family and relatives, attending church services, etc.