Current Time in Georgetown(ascensionIsland)
Culture of time in Saint Helena
Culture of time in Saint Helena
Relaxed island time
As the term "Island Time" symbolizes, in Saint Helena, flexibility is more important than strictness in daily life and schedules. A relaxed sense of time is deeply rooted.
Public institutions have strict business hours
While there are relaxed lifestyles, public services such as government offices and banks are operated on fixed hours, and you may not be able to receive assistance after the closing time.
Church and event hours are relatively strict
At religious events and local events, there is a relatively high awareness of gathering at the start time, and a certain amount of time management is carried out. In such situations, punctuality is expected.
Values of time in St. Helena
Human connections take precedence over time
In St. Helena, it is more important to be flexible depending on the relationship and situation than to be on time. The attitude of valuing conversation and interaction may take precedence over time.
Politeness is more important than rushing
Life is relaxed, and there is no culture of rushing to get things done. It is said that doing things "without rushing and surely" leads to trust.
Value the balance between work and leisure
In St. Helena, spending time with family and nature is more valuable than working too much. Maintaining a work-life balance is naturally incorporated into daily life.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or moving to St. Helena
Allow plenty of time for service
Opening and closing times for local shops and services may vary, and many shops close early, especially in the afternoon. It is wise to be flexible with your time.
Appointments are sometimes understood as a guideline
A delay of a few minutes to a dozen minutes tends not to be a big problem in St. Helena, so you should not be too strict about time. However, in business, punctuality is the rule.
Public institutions are relatively punctual
Schedules at government and educational institutions are relatively punctual, so it is important to research and plan official procedures in advance.
Interesting trivia about time in St. Helena
The airport may only operate one flight per day
St. Helena's airport has a very limited number of flights, and delays and cancellations due to weather are common. You should be flexible with your time.
There are no traffic lights on the island
There is little traffic on St. Helena, so there are no traffic lights. People generally rely on each other's timing and are not bound by time.
Church bells control the local sense of time
In many regions, the ringing of church bells marks the passage of the day, and people have the custom of using them as a basis to mark the end of their activities.