Punctuality vs Knowledge

I have noticed this trend ever since my first class here.

Punctuality is of utmost importance here, disregarding events or activities.

Of course, it is also one of my principles.

Here, classes start on time and END ON TIME.

Sharp on the clock. I often see the lecturers rushing to finish their presentation. Zannen desu, they could have tell us more and flows don't come just like that. It's such a pity to see the time has to be the factor to break their concentration and focus on delivering top-notched education to us. On one hand, they have to obey the time and on the other, feeding us with valuable information.

I never did mind lecturers stretching a little more just to explain things right. Heck, if it is really important, I don't mind sitting for another hour of lectures. Back in Malaysia, dragging classes is a norm.

Apparently it is not here and will never be.

One, because time is very respected here.

Two, because the students are SO RESTLESS. To the point that it is quite annoying. They started packing even before the lecturer finishes talking which, to put it bluntly, is just plain RUDE. One of our lecturers actually had to ask them to stop packing few times so that she can finish her lectures because the rustles and noise is disturbing and of course, making other students uncomfortable too. And makes diligent students such as myself unable to hear the lecturer properly.

Hahaa. Diligent student.

But that's besides the point. Apparently this is also a practice in the United States as shared by my baby across the Atlantic Ocean. Students started packing once the clock ticked to the right time and concentration flew out the window.

Since I am blogging about this today, you can expect that it happened today too. It is rather obvious that our dearest Belgian professor was trying to finish the slides but the restlessness of students finally made him stop after only two minutes past the time we're supposed to end. And point being there is really only few more slides to go.

*sigh*

Maybe its the practice in Malaysia that makes this scene not normal to me. Maybe what I experienced should NOT be the way. Maybe I'm just not used to it. Who knows, few more weeks down the road I might become one of the restless rustlers. Heh.

Therefore, my conclusion is I have no conclusion. I cannot say that it is bad neither can I say it is the right thing to do. Thus, we shall leave it at that.

O-YA-SU-MI!