Years of exposure to other cultures demonstrated that complex societies organize time in at least two different ways. events scheduled as se rate items one thing at a time as in North Europe, or following the Mediterranean model of involvement in several things at once. The two sys- terms are logically and empirically quite distinct Like oil and water, they don't mix. Each has its strengths as well as its weaknesses. I have termed doing many things at once: Polychronic, P-time. The North European system--doing one thing at time is Monochronic, M-time P-time stresses involvement of people and completion of transactions rather than adherence to preset schedules. Appointments are not taken as seriously and, as a consequence, are frequently broken. P-time is treated as less tangible than M-time. For polychronic people time is seldom experienced as "wasted," and is apt to be considered a point rather than a ribbon or road, but that point is often sacred. An Arab will say will see you before one hour," or "I will see you after two days." What he means in the first instance that it will not be longer than an hour before he sees you, and at least two days in the second instance. These commitments are taken quite seriously as long as one remains in the P-time pattern.