Living on Island Time

By Elizabeth Moore

As someone who slides into class the minute it starts (or the minute after), who’s always walking in a hurry, who says “five minutes” then arrives in 10 — I was thrilled for tardiness to be socially acceptable.

When we traveled to San Cristóbal, we changed time zones from EST to Galapagos Time (GALT). We were living on island time.

Finch Los isleños I met weren’t always punctual, but they didn’t seem to be running late, either. It was more like they were fine with whatever time things ended up happening. The island has its own rhythm. Rainbow

One evening, I was supposed to meet a source at 7. What I was doing beforehand was taking more time than I’d planned for, so I texted saying sorry, that I would be late. They said, “OK no hay problema.” At 8 I was on my way, but I considered asking to reschedule. Surely they wouldn’t still want to talk to someone they didn’t know, an hour after we had scheduled — and at the end of a long workday, no less. I showed up anyway, and they welcomed me into their shop for an amazing hour-long interview.

Galapagueños taught me to be present. When someone’s in front of me, they are the only thing that matters. It doesn’t matter if I’m tired or want to get to the next item on my agenda. There is nothing outside of the immediate moment.

And the thing is, they’re busy. Everyone I met seemed to live at least three different lives, sometimes working multiple jobs. I saw a lot of hustle, but very little rush.

Ocean Another day, I left the hostel with a rough idea of the reporting I’d wanted to accomplish but no real schedule. I returned with four great new sources, one of which literally sat down in front of me. He came to deliver some cheese to his friend, the person I originally stopped by to meet. We chatted, and he had a great perspective to lend to my piece. I was rewarded for simply hanging around after I got what I “needed.”

Reporting in the field — an international one, at that — required a totally different way of sourcing. Of course, I talked to sources before the trip, but the most meaningful conversations happened on the ground and in person.

I’m grateful I had the chance to live on island time. The lessons I learned come at a good moment. As I finish my senior year, it often feels like time is running out. I’m realizing I won’t get to check off every item on my bucket list. But that’s OK. More important is to enjoy the people I’m with, wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. To lay off the lists. To be present.