Apparently it IS a cultural thing. That would drive me crazy.
What's the point in making an appt in a society like that. Just come on over whenever you want.
One guy...he has a 10:00am appt with me.
@ 10:20 I call him and he says his daughter has the car.
I ask, "So are we not meeting this morning as planned?"
He says, "No...we meet today"
(as if my calendar is just WIDE OPEN and he can just waltz in whenever he gets around to it)
Ended up going to his house the next day.
What's amazing is that--what we're used to here in the U.S.--is when a client misses an appointment, when ya call them, they're like, "Oh, gosh...I am SO sorry..."
These folks are like, "Hello.....yes, hi Mr. Rob....ten o'clock?....yes...ten o'clock...I am at the market right now...."
According to that article, setting an appointment is more "advisory" basis. Not sure what that means, but I'm guessing that it means that "setting" a 10:00am appointment means, "I recommend we meet at 10:00." or "Ya really might think about us getting together at 10:00"
Weird stuff.