Clinton Afraid to be Late

　　 在快节奏的美国社会，美国人是恪守时间的，因为时间与效率紧密相连。请欣赏克林顿不敢迟到。

Early in 1994, President Clinton was once late for a meeting on national affairs. This resulted in fierce criticism by the press. Being late means you lack the ability to manage time, they pointed out; if you can't manage your own time, how can you manage the affairs of state?

In the face of this sharp criticism, Mr. Clinton was careful to attend future meetings on time. But a few months later, he was late again. Of course, it did not escape the attack of the press. Articles such as "Look at This Guy - late Again" topped the papers again.

Is this sort of relentless criticism of the president's tardiness too tough? Isn't it a little too fussy to complain about the busy president's occasional tardiness? Americans don't think so.

America is a society on a schedule. Whether it's a personal appointment or a public conference, the starting time should be exact. Those who are late are often considered lazy and inconsiderate and they lose the trust of others. In personal relationships, a friend may be lost, in business, an opportunity.

The reason why American are so concerned about time is that time is connected to efficiency. In the fast pace of America, people fill their schedules to the limit.

Nobody can patiently wait for half an hour beyond the designated time, because the next item on the timetable would be affected. Being late means losing opportunities and diminishing efficiency.

For purposes of my visit to the United States, my American friends planned my schedule as they would an American's. Sometimes, in one day there would be two meetings in the morning and two meetings in the afternoon. And these meetings were not at the same place; there were considerable distances between appointments.

After one meeting, I had to get to the next one within half an hour. Once I got there, we would exchange "hellos" and then plunge right into the topic at hand without much additional greeting. During the talk, we all looked at our watches now and then in order to determine what other subjects we would discuss in the remaining time.

When we finished, the host allowed us to leave without attempting to persuade us to stay longer. We all had other things to do.

We depended on our map to reach the next appointment location within half an hour. Fortunately, in the U. S., the street signs are very clear. The signs not only indicate the name of the street but also the range of numbers on that particular block, a real convenience for foreigners who are looking for a building. Generally, the destination can be reached within half an hour.

But one time in New York, an accident occurred on the subway; the train didn't come at all. Sonia and I were forced to take a taxi. "I hope we're not going to be late," Sonia said anxiously. As soon as we got out of the taxi, Sonia pulled me up the stairs in a run. In the end, we weren't late.

After I came back to China, a cultural affairs officer at the U. S. Embassy asked me what I thought of the visit. I recalled this sort of intense arrangement. Then she asked if the USIA should develop a more relaxed schedule for future visitors. I said they shouldn't. Foreigners should get the chance to experience the rapid rhythm of American life and the U. S. Concept of time - that's the real America.

克林顿不敢迟到

　　还是在1994年初的时候，美国总统克林顿曾经在国务会议上迟到，舆论界大哗，对总统进行了“上纲上线”的批评：迟到，说明你缺乏掌握时间的能力，如果你连自己的时间都安排不好，又何谈运筹国家大事？

　 面对尖锐的批语，克林顿不敢迟到了，小心谨慎如约赴会。几个月后，不晓得什么原因，他又迟到了，这自然又逃不过记者们的唇枪舌剑，于是“瞧这家伙，他又迟到了”的文章又赫然纸上。

　 美国公众对总统迟到的批语毫不留情，是否对总统太苛求了？总统公务繁忙，偶尔迟到一次，何必兴师问罪？美国人可不这样看。

　 美国是按时间运转的社会，无论是私人间的约会还是公众集会，都要明确几点几分开始，如果谁迟到了，便会被认为是懒散的不负责任的人，从而失去信任。在私人交往中迟到者失去的是朋友，在工作单位则会失去升迁的机会。

　 美国人恪守时间，因为时间与效率紧密相连。在快节奏的美国社会，人们的日程表都排得满满的。

　 没有人在约定时间到来后耐心地等上半小时, 因为等待将占用日程表下一个项目的时间。不能准时赴约，失去的是机会、是效益。

　 在美国访问期间，美国人按照他们的习惯为我安排了日程表，有时上午两个座谈，下午两个座谈。这些座谈并不在同一个地点，城西城东相隔甚远。

　 一个座谈结束后，要在半小时内赶到第二处，真是马不停蹄。每到一个地方，彼此道一声“你好”之后，立即切入正题，没有任何客套。谈话中双方都不时地看一下手表，以决定余下的时间赶快说点什么。

　 到点后，我们匆匆告别，主人决不挽留，因为双方都有下一个项目在等待着。

　 要在半小时之内赶到下一个约会地点，就要仰伏地图了。好在美国街区标志明显，路牌上不仅有街名，还有此街内门牌号的范围，为异乡人找路提供了方便，一般情况下半小时均能赶到。

　 但在纽约，有一次地铁出了故障，左等右等车不来，我和索妮娅赶忙上来找出租车。索妮娅心急如焚地说：“上帝保佑，可别迟到，可别迟到。”下了车索妮娅拉着我连跑带颠上了楼，总算没有迟到。

　 回国后，美国使馆文化处官员问我对此行安排的看法，我提到了日程安排的紧凑，当她问我是否要为以后的访问者安排得“从容”一些时，我说不必，应该让外国人体会美国的快节奏和时间观念，因为这才是美国。

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