especially since you are fresh (yes 3 years is nothing!) out of school and your habits are still forming for life and you probably have yet to meet some of the most influential and important people of your life. Learn to be punctual again and do not heed the advice of those who give you such poor guidelines. Glad you enjoyed the post. Hi Gabe, another punctuality advocate! Welcome to the club and thank you for validating the importance of punctuality both at work and in business as well as on social occasions. And if you want to send that emergency definition as a reference to anyone, feel free ! Thank you for your comment! I disagree with this. Punctuality is a very western concept and often stresses our culture out more than we need to be. If more people would go with the flow they would realize that life happens and being on time isn't really that big of a deal. Hello and thank you for adding your thoughts. I grew up in the East and live in the West and with many international friends and family and relatives all my life, I know -- as you say -- the Eastern culture is more relaxed about the concept of time. I think the best way to respect both cultures is to adopt the accepted norm in the right part of the world. In the Western culture, it matters to be on time and in the Eastern world, less so.