Learning to live with an Englishman 2) Punctuality Yesterday, I wrote about the first thing that have changed since I started living with my boyfriend who is from England. Today, I want to write about the second one; Punctuality. If we want to have a great day (without anger or bad temper) punctuality plays a super important role in our lives. In my family, when a birthday celebration was scheduled, the host used to tell us that the meeting will be one or two hours before than the hour told to others, in order to make us be on time.It is not something that makes me feel proud about, but in my family they knew that we used to appear late. Generally, in Colombia is normal to have a period of time between the proposed meeting time and the arrival time. (Not specifically because people used to arrive early) At schools and universities they reinforce the importance of punctuality in events, classes and as priority when it is a matter of work. However, there is some flexibility between friends or families. From there phrases like "I'm on the way" when actually still at home, or "good things are worth waiting for" when the delay is more than obvious. But with my partner, if I'm not ready at the agreed time to go out of home, it is a huge inconvenient. Frequently, we have to run to catch the train, or the bus, or just to get on time where we are going. He used to say "I don't know why, but we always run at some point during the day" (What shouldn't be so bad considering that he organizes marathons) :-) I have understood that to him is a matter of respect and it is not negotiable. It generates on him unnecessary stress and bad temper. Time has a different value for him than for Colombian. Now it is my responsibility to get up with enough time to be ready (while he is sleeping) at the right time scheduled the night before. In that way, now that I came to visit my family in Bogotá, my mom was very surprised seeing me ready early in the morning, when few months ago it was never possible that I went out of home before 3 or 4 in the afternoon.