Monochronic vs. Polychronic (and the grocery store)

This past week in our sophomore oral classes, we were discussing the cultural value spectrum on time.  We talked about a continuum ranging from extremely monochronic to extremely polychronic.  Monochronic refers to those cultures who believe that time is limited, and therefore must be used carefully.  Verbs used when describing time are often the same as verbs used for money (saved, spent, wasted).  Schedules are made far in advance.  In a polychronic culture, time is as common as air.  Schedules are constantly shifting and changing as different circumstances arise.  Due to this fact, long-term scheduling is almost non-existent in a polychronic culture.

In class, I talked about the extreme monochronicity of America.  Every classroom on a university campus has a clock, and often these are electronic so that every classroom has the same time.  People schedule doctor appointments six months in advance.  Almost everyone wears a watch.  The students’ jaws dropped when I told them that American college students know the exact day the winter and summer holidays will begin.  (Students here still don’t know when their winter holiday will begin.)

After class, I was reflecting on the polychronicity of China and I realized this is one of the reasons I love living here.  This cultural value does come with its frustrations; sometimes it is nice to know what and when I’m teaching more than two days before the semester begins.  However, this value also means life is conducted at a much less frenzied and busy pace than America.  Efficiency is not the supreme value in life.  Nowhere is this fact more evident than in the grocery store.

Every summer when I return to the States, one of the biggest shocks for me is visiting the grocery store.  My jaw hangs open as I walk down aisle after aisle after aisle of pre-made, ready in ten minutes packaged food items.  This past summer I distinctly remember stopping with a wide-eyed stare when I saw muffin TOPS in the freezer section–“just heat for five minutes!”.  Does anyone else find the existence of pre-made muffin tops slightly ridiculous?  The sheer volume of pre-packaged food is something I know my students cannot even begin to comprehend.

The Chinese grocery store, though it is beginning to be invaded with Western junk food like chips and candies, is still largely devoid of five-minute meal solutions (with the exception of instant noodles).  The majority of items are still raw ingredients.  People still spend an hour or more preparing dinner.  This time is not seen as a “waste”, but just a natural part of the rhythm of the day.  And I love that. I love that spending three hours to prepare a meal for friends here doesn’t seem far-fetched or even out of the ordinary.  Taking the time to make things from scratch has a way of slowing down my pace of life and freeing me from the need to make every second count.

Moving to China has convicted me of my addiction to busyness–and the fact that I often judge my effectiveness and the value of my work based on how full my day is.  Saying, “I’m so busy!” in America often equates with, “I’m productive, important, and doing my job well.”  Yet in this mindset, I’ve realized how easy it is to lose sight of people and miss what really matters in the moments of the day.  For this reason, this week I’m extremely thankful for the lessons I learn in this polychronic culture.