Tasks and Time

16 Sept 2011

In the past, I would have argued that the difference between the States (and “Western” countries in general) and developing nations was the difference in priorities.  Basically, the West valued schedules and time, and developing nations valued relationships.  I still stand by this, but since making it back to the States, I think I’ve found another aspect to this phenomenon. In developing countries, everything takes longer.  You plan on dinner taking a while to make, because you start from scratch every time.  You know that stopping at two stores to get needed items is all you can do on a Saturday, because it’s not physically possible to do more (without ending up frustrated that you didn’t accomplish what you wanted to, or completely exhausted from making your way through traffic and wishing people would hurry up contrary to their culture.)  You know that getting drinkable water requires multiple steps, and that it’s not automatic.  You get frustrated – but not overwhelmed – when the internet doesn’t work or the power goes out.  You learn to take it in stride.  You slow down.  And you start to realize what is really important. 

Enter the States.  Enter machines that do everything for you quickly, with the push of a button.  Enter washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, electricity guaranteed, and high-speed, cheap internet that should never, ever fail.  And suddenly, you’re not doing everything by hand.  Everything takes less time.  Which is great.  Everything is being done for you with a push of a button.  Fabulous.  But at the same time, the button-pushing is still necessary… and what happens is that you end up doing five tasks at once, juggling all the thought processes and timings along the way.  Instead of just doing one thing at a time (because that is all that is possible), I am suddenly feeling guilty because I have only accomplished 10 things on my list in an hour, rather than being completely satisfied with one. 

The other day, I realized just how complacent I had gotten.  With all these amazing tools that do everything for you, it seemed like there was nothing left to worry about.  I put something in the microwave and assumed that when the buzzer went off, it would be done.  The clothes dryer stopped and I assumed the towels were dry.  I was reminded that just because it’s doing it for you, the machine doesn’t necessarily stop when the task is completed.  We need to check it ourselves.  Ok, yes, I know this is obvious for the rest of you, but for me, it seemed like it should be all or nothing.  Not this random, in-between sense of “I’m an amazing tool to make your life easier, but at the same time, you need to juggle 5 different things as I work and yet still check to see if I’ve done my job well.”  Hmm.  In some ways, these machines remind me of the students in my classroom when they try to help me with tasks around the room!  As much as I appreciate the help, any parent or primary teacher will tell you that sometimes it's just easier to do it yourself... one. thing. at a time.