Wait a minute!

Last week I was in Lisbon for my arrival-training. There were 28 people from different countries of Europe. How harder you try to deny your origin, how more it shows up.
I was with Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Germany and Luxembourg in a group. The German consists of half German and half Mozambique. Mainly I will be seen as half Indian and half Dutch. The collection of these three continents was sitting around the table. And Sir German has a difficulty with standing up early, so at ten o’clock he came step by step to the wrong table, the group of the France. I become lightly annoyed, since we already lost an hour and we still have to create a name for the group. Now the German found the right table and takes his breakfast from each pocket. He says: Just wait a minute. I say, that is our name: Wait a minute. So, we present our name: Wait a minute! The Portuguese coaches say: You had an hour the time?!!! Eh no, Wait a minute is the name. Don’t be surprised that the Portuguese responded like that, they also have a time-schedule.

As the last group we leave the building to go to Lisbon. We have to do different assignments, such as find a typical Portuguese proverb. The German takes from each pocket (same as the breakfast) a book about the history of Portugal and a map. He looks at me and says: yes, yes I am German and very organized, well, after 12 o’clock. I just start to read the book and improve my German in silence. We walk to a police officer and ask for the most typical proverb. He says: If you want to go fast, you need to slow down. Aha, of course, I think. But Sir German found it very interesting and starts a conversation with the man. Meanwhile the police officer was completing all questions. The girls from Latvia and Estonia are very aware for not coming late, so they ask if the German can start to walk again. Of course the German responded with: Just wait a minute. The idea that we could win this game, was from the beginning an illusion.
At that point one of the other groups asked me if I like to eat something. I ask: what time is it? She looks at me: what has the time to do with it? I think: good question! I answer: Most of the Dutch people eat dinner at six o’clock. She says: even if you don’t have hungry? Uh yes, but what is the time, I ask again. She starts to laugh: ten minutes for six!

Meanwhile, the German is disconnected by Latvia and Estonia and we go to the Pizzeria. The German told me that he is really good in doing two things at the same time, just it needs more time. So he read his book for the next assignment and in the meantime he is turning the spaghetti around his fork. The thing is that, he stays turning his spaghetti around his fork. He continues with this until there is almost a hole in his plate. Latvia and Estonia ask him if he can start to eat, because the free-time is almost over. Luxembourg is pretty silent and neutral in this situation. After this intense day, we go back to the building for the result of the game.
And the winner is … Wait a minute. No applause. Ah, Wait a minute! Applause. Maybe the police officer was right. Start slow and finish as the winner. Just wait a minute for the next step. Just wait a minute for the answer. For me it is a lesson, a statement, may be a way of living: Wait a minute!