I don't think I had an Eat, Pray, Love epiphany during my trip. This kind of moment where you tell yourself: "God, we, North American people just don't get it. We don't know how to live our lives at all". My life changed, but I didn't turn my back on who I am. One thing though, they taught me something about time.
No everyone has the same perception of time as us. For North American people, it's a utility. Something you need to manage in order to get the maximum of efficiency in a day. In a way, it's unhealthy, in another, I wouldn't live any other way. My first clash with South American time was in Chile. We stopped in Santiago to refuel the plane on our way to Buenos Aires (by the way, Santiago's airport is the definition of ugly) and the air flight attendant told the travellers: "We have a forty-five minutes layover, please use the time to go through baggage check". In our time efficient North American minds Josie and I are resolved to comply. One bathroom stop and hop, to the plane. As soon as we leave the said bathroom, the board flashes red with out flight number: "FLIGHT 533 TO BUENOS AIRES, LAST CALL".
Forty-five minutes? More like eight. We ran through the baggage check, then to the gate and hopped on the plane where the pilot told us: "We're going to leave in about 20 minutes..." as he was backing up to go take his lane. In South America, time is nothing but numbers. They don't see what's the big deal about it. Another example is at the restaurant. Josie and I are big restaurant fans. We like to taste new food and explore new places. Restaurant hunting is a bit like travelling. Over in Argentina and Uruguay, the end of your meal doesn't necessarily mean the end of your evening. Restaurants are devoid of their utilitarian meaning and made these places where people are together. They do nothing but be together and talk. You'll have to stand up and ask for your check, which will make you look like a North American freak. Isn't it beautiful?
To me, the end of the meal means the beginning of something else. You only live so long and when you're done eating it's time to go to other things. Well, apparently not in South America. It's a nice change of pace to go there, sit in a restaurant and just be. It's an art that North American people have forgotten because they are too busy doing stuff. I did things and ran myself into the ground before leaving. The reality of South American time opened up my mind to new possibilities and approaches to how I should manage my schedule. The days are longer and less chaotic when you take your time. I wouldn't trade my daredevil productivity for anything in the world, but maybe I should try to be more while I do and see what transpires.
