Current Time in SãoTomé
Culture of time in Sao Tome and Principe
Culture of time in Sao Tome and Principe
A relaxed sense of time, unique to island nations
In Sao Tome and Principe, a very flexible sense of time is rooted, and slight delays and schedule changes are accepted as natural.
Slight delays are tolerated even in business
Even in the business world, strictness about "on time" is somewhat relaxed, and delays of a few minutes to tens of minutes from the promised time are often not a big problem.
Life rhythm in harmony with nature
Life is organized according to the climate and hours of sunlight, and it is common to start activities relatively early in the morning and go to bed early in the evening.
Values regarding time in Sao Tome and Principe
Human relationships take priority over time
There is a strong culture of valuing dialogue and trust with the person in front of you rather than moving on time, and relationships are more important than promised time.
Not being too busy is a symbol of abundance
They value "taking things slowly and calmly," and do not boast about being busy, but rather value a life with plenty of time.
A flexible attitude to act when necessary
The general idea is to act flexibly when necessary without being bound by time, and flexible responses are common.
Things about time that foreigners should know when traveling or relocating to Sao Tome and Principe
Appointments should be understood as a "guideline"
There is not much of a culture of strictly adhering to time in the local area, and 10 to 15 minute delays are common. If you are strict about time with a Japanese or Western sense, you may feel a gap.
Public institutions and transportation are also loose with time
Buses and ferries often do not arrive and depart as scheduled, so a flexible schedule is required.
Adapting to the local pace is a comfortable way to spend time
If you are moving or staying for a long time, getting used to the relaxed rhythm of the locals is the key to living stress-free.
Interesting trivia about time in Sao Tome and Principe
Most people don't care about the clock
Many people in the city don't wear watches, and the general style is to value "what they are doing now" rather than "what time it is now".
School lessons also start slowly
In schools, lessons sometimes start based on the number of teachers and students gathered, rather than a chime or bell, so the awareness of being on time is relatively relaxed.
"I'll be there right away" may not always be right away
In the local area, the phrase "I'll be there right away" does not necessarily mean right away, but may be several tens of minutes later or even later, so you need to be flexible and not take it literally.