Tag Archives: Time

26. TIME AND ITS MEANING

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How is time kept track of in the city, town, neighborhood, family, by an individual? Is there a town clock? Do offices, public buildings, and homes have clocks? Do men and women wear watches? Do children have watches? At what age are they taught how to tell time?

Is it important to be on time for business meetings? for social functions? for church? What is the meaning of “on time” for such events? Does it make a difference if the event is Western oriented or locally run? Are there certain events when time is of importance?

Do offices, businesses, government departments (post office, passport office, etc.), stores have regular hours they are open?

Is the Western calendar followed? Is another type of calendar also followed for religious purposes? for agricultural purposes? What seasons are acknowledged (in comparison to the Western concept of “four seasons”)? Why are these differentiations made? Is timing calculated differently for these seasonal changes? Is daylight savings time observed?

34. AGRICULTURE AND LAND USE IN RURAL AREAS

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Do people own their homes? or are they renters? What is their responsibility to the owner? and the owner’s responsibility to them? How is the rent paid (by a portion of the crop harvested, or by a monetary payment)? Where is the residence located in relation to the fields?

What crops are planted? Draw up a calendar showing the events in the yearly agricultural cycle, noting time of field preparation, planting, weeding, and harvest for the various crops. How are crops stored? Which are grown for family consumption? which for cash crops?

Observe, participate (as possible) in and record how field work is done, tools used, labor patterns, etc. Take pictures if appropriate.

What kind of buildings are constructed in the fields? Do members of the family stay in their fields for part of the year? Who stays and for how long and why? How often are crops planted on the same piece of ground? Is there a rotation of crops? How do people decide where they will make their fields? How are boundary lines marked?

How valuable is land ownership? Is land passed from one generation to another? How can more land be acquired? Who holds the records of land ownership for the area? Who holds the title to land, and what do the title “papers” look like? How are infringements challenged and decided?

Can land be rented or leased? What portion of any produce must be given to the owner? Can land be purchased? Can the purchaser obtain a clear and permanent deed?