Many web page designers forget this simple fact. The response time on the Internet varies according to a large number of factors, most of which are simply the consequences of its success and phenomenal growth rate. Are you on a modem, or a high bandwidth network link. What time of day it is. What day of the week it is.
Most commercial access occurs during working hours.
So does most recreational. Where you are trying to get to. At one time access from England to France went via America because there was no direct link. At that time accessing American sites was easier and faster that accessing geographically closer sites in France. How many other people is your service provider serving.