If you were supposed to be at my house at 6: 00 p.m. for
dinner, but you came at 8: 00 p.m., we would (36) think you
were quite impolite. However, if you come from Brazil, the idea of being
(37) , or "on time", might mean coming two hours late.
In fact, being "early" or "late" depends on your cultural (38)
and no dictionary can give a clear (39) of"early"
or "late" because these ideas reflect "social time" rather than real
time. Even more (40) is how people from other
cultures explain their lateness. American students might say they simply had not
cared that they were late. In (41) , Brazilians would go out
of their way to explain their lateness in a number of ways—they were delayed by
unforeseen or (42) problems, for example. Or they might
(43) the reasons of being late to reasons that you might never
think of. Some American students might feel very guilty and
blame themselves, but (44) . Another
surprising difference that researchers discovered was the way cultures view
someone who is late. Americans tend to think negatively of people being late.
(45) Or, at least, you will be viewed with some disfavor.
But in Brazil, if you are late for an appointment, the chances are you
will be admired. (46) .