Starting my Erasmus journey in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, has been exciting and full of surprises. After spending two years studying in Bulgaria, and growing up in Macedonia, I thought I was used to adapting to new places. But each country has its own unique habits, and Vaduz was no different. One thing that stood out to me here is how much importance people place on being on time.
One of my first experiences in Vaduz was meeting a university official to complete my registration. Our meeting was at 9:00 AM, and, used to the more relaxed timing in Bulgaria and Macedonia, I arrived five minutes late. I didn’t think it was a big deal, but the official politely reminded me about the importance of being on time. I soon realized this wasn’t just a one-time thing. Punctuality is very important in Liechtenstein.
Here, people are serious about time. Buses arrive exactly when scheduled, and meetings and events start and end on time. Everything runs like clockwork. At first, I felt a little stressed. In Bulgaria, and back home in Macedonia, people don’t mind if you’re ten or fifteen minutes late, especially in social situations. There, it’s normal to be a bit flexible with time, but in Vaduz, it’s seen as a sign of respect to be on time.
At first, the need to be on time made me feel rushed. I was constantly checking my watch, afraid of being late. In Bulgaria and Macedonia, I was used to a slower pace, where meetings often started later than scheduled, and social events were more flexible. Adapting to the strict timekeeping in Vaduz was a bit challenging for me. But after spending some time here, I started to see the benefits of this cultural difference. The punctuality in Vaduz helps everything run smoothly. Public transport, university classes, and even social events happen on time, which creates a sense of order and reliability. I began to change my habits, making sure I arrived early for every appointment, whether it was a class or a social event. I now enjoy the predictability that comes with this approach to time. It’s very different from the more flexible way of life I had in Bulgaria and Macedonia, but it has helped me become more organized and aware of how I use my time.
This experience made me think about how I view time and punctuality. In Bulgaria and Macedonia, I was used to a more relaxed approach. Time was seen as something flexible, and the focus was more on relationships and interactions than on strict schedules. Being late, especially in social situations, wasn’t a big deal—it was sometimes seen as a sign that you weren’t in a rush and were ready to take things as they came. I liked this approach because it felt less stressful, especially after growing up in a fast-paced environment where time felt like a constant pressure. But now, living in Vaduz, I’m learning about a different way of thinking about time. Here, being on time shows respect for others and their schedules, and it helps things work efficiently.
I hadn’t thought much before about how my relaxed attitude toward time affected my interactions with others. In Bulgaria and Macedonia, being a bit late was part of the culture. But in Liechtenstein, arriving late might be seen as disrespectful. This experience has made me more aware of how different cultures view time and how this affects relationships.
This experience has taught me that even small cultural differences, like how people view time, can have a big impact on everyday life. Punctuality might seem like a small thing, but it affects how people interact and what they expect from each other. Living in Vaduz has opened my eyes to this and made me think more about my own habits and values.
I’ve learned that it’s not about one way being better than the other. It’s about understanding why people in different cultures do things the way they do. Living in Vaduz has made me more aware of time and given me a new appreciation for being punctual. At the same time, I still value the flexibility and spontaneity I experienced in Bulgaria and Macedonia. Both approaches have their strengths, and I hope to find a balance between them in my own life.