What time is "mid-day"?

If someone of great importance request to meet with you “mid-day”, what time would you show-up? Noon? 1pm? Very seldom do you find me at a loss for words; however, when an administrative assistant informed me that the Minister wanted to meet with me “mid-day” I stared at her with a blank expression as I tried to figure out in my mind the meaning of “mid-day”. Unable to resolve this dilemma I replied, “What time is mid-day?” She stares back at me with the same blank expression. I offer some assistance… “Is it 12pm… 1pm?” Nothing. I decide to call the minister on his mobile for clarification. Mid-dial, I hear her repeat the same message to someone else. “The Minister would like to meet with you mid-day”. Am I missing something here? Is this a practical joke? Am I the victim of Uganda’s version of “Candid Camera”? How can he schedule two meeting at the same time…. At “mid-day”? Luck is with me as the Minister answers his phone. He seems excited to hear from me and exclaims… “I am looking forward to meeting with you mid-day”. Politely I ask, “As am I, but Minister, could you please clarify… what time is mid-day”? Silence. I explain that there is a representative from China who is also scheduled to meet with him at mid-day. At this point I believe he sees the dilemma and proclaims, “I will meet with China at 12pm and you at 1pm”. Now we’re getting somewhere. When I arrive at 12:50pm for my confirmed 1pm meeting, I notice there are about six people waiting in his reception area. I guess they all had appointments scheduled for mid-day. Several people exit his office around ten minutes after 1pm and to my delight, I am escorted into his office. While in his office, I notice there is no computer. This explains why he never responds to my e-mail messages or my “friend request” on Facebook.
We Americans suffer from serious A.D.D. When we want to communicate with someone, we call them on their phone…home phone, mobile phone and office phone. If they don’t answer, we leave a detailed and often long message explaining why we are trying to reach them. Then we send a text message. If we don’t hear back within two minutes, we send an e-mail AND check their Facebook status for clues to their whereabouts. This could not be further from how things are done in Africa. If the person you are trying to reach doesn’t answer their mobile phone, you are basically out of luck because…

1. No one has voice mail on their mobile phone

2. No one has voice mail in their office… not even at the house of Parliament.

3. Emails are rarely responded to IF received at all

For a high-strung, intense American like me this has been an interesting adjustment and a good lesson. Reminds me of the importance of patience and flexibility. In all honesty, it’s been a refreshing change of pace.