From Indian Standard Time to American Punctuality

It had been a few months in the US, but I was still grappling with American concepts of time. Back in India, time was more of a loose suggestion—vague, and flexible like a rubber band. Little did I know, I was about to get a crash course in American punctuality.

I had planned a day in New York City, Manhattan to be precise, to hang out with a friend visiting from India. Knowing the chaos of NYC traffic, I decided to skip driving and rely on the NJ Transit train, the preferred mode of public transport in New Jersey. Back in the days before Google Maps and GPS devices, navigating meant relying on paper printouts for directions. Trying to drive while constantly flipping through those printouts amidst the city’s chaos was like juggling flaming torches—nearly impossible. If you weren’t a seasoned NYC driver, you were practically asking for a stack of traffic tickets to adorn your driving record.

I checked the schedule and settled on the 8:08 am train, which was supposed to reach New York Penn Station at 9:42 am. These times seemed oddly precise to me. In India, we’d say “around 8:00 am” or “maybe 8:15 am,” which really translated to “whenever the universe aligns.” The idea of a train arriving precisely at 8:08 am was as strange as ordering a “small” coffee and being handed a barrel.

Brimming with a false sense of cultural superiority over American exactness, I left home at 7:55 am for the quick 10-minute drive to the station, thinking I’d arrive at the station by 8:05 am. I assumed I had ample time to park, buy my ticket, and casually stroll to the platform. After all, in my world, 8:08 am was more of a loose suggestion—more like 8:15 am, give or take.

Missing the train

As I pulled into the station parking lot at 8:07 am, I saw the train already approaching the station. Panic set in. I hustled to park, grabbing my ticket at warp speed, while the train stopped at the platform. As I sprinted towards the platform, the doors swooshed shut, and off it went. At exactly 8:08 am. Apparently, in America, 8:08 am means 8:08 am. Who knew?

The Transformation

Coming from a land where “time is elastic,” my introduction to American punctuality was nothing short of a slap in the face—metaphorically speaking. I was left standing there, dumbfounded, with an hour to contemplate the tyranny of punctuality before the next train arrived. That missed train was a turning point and that moment changed my life. From then on, I became the poster child for punctuality, arriving early for everything and developing a deep respect for the concept of “on time.” I began setting alarms for every event, leaving home earlier than necessary, and even timing my activities down to the minute. Friends and colleagues were baffled by my newfound obsession with being on time. Little did they know, a train in New Jersey had reprogrammed my entire understanding of time. It’s funny how missing a train can set you on the right track.