It's funny how different cultures view time differently. Some cultures see it as rude to be too early. Others see it rude to be late. Some expect you to be late.
In America, events generally start on time. People are expected to be on time at events. In Malaysia, everyone is expected to be late.
Never trust a Malaysian when he or she says, "I'm on my way". BE SURE to clarify their definition of "on the way" because more often than not, they probably have not even left for the destination.
Even at formal meetings and events, Malaysians generally take the "grace period" of 20 minutes.
For example, if a wedding dinner is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. and you are there anywhere before 8 p.m., be prepared to be full on peanuts or tea by the time the first meal is ever served.
Malaysians are generally a laid back society. We do not plan every second of the minute of the day. We tend to go with the flow. To be honest, it sometimes scares me how laid back we are.
Hanging out with Malaysians here have proven that over and over again. When Malaysians meet, they gather in a circle and talk. Most likely nothing substantial. But we talk and talk and talk, almost always for hours. It's what we call "lepak time" (hanging out time).
It's nice some of the time, and wasteful most of the time. But hey, maybe it's why we know each other so well. It builds bonds and gives you a sense of belonging. So maybe if you're wasting time, you might as well do it with Malaysians.
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