Time: North Torbia

DATE Pacific > North Torbia > Time: North Torbia ←You are here

Time Overview

Time in North Torbia is treated significantly differently than other countries. Simply put, time in North Torbia is rigid and strict; much like the leadership of the country. One does not arrive late for anything, whether that is a business meeting or catching a bus. The shame and repercussions of tardiness are severe. Rigid and inflexible, all activities follow a carefully planned schedule. This extends to both public and private life and leads to a mediocre utilization of time. Military planning is no exception, creating a major weakness in the country’s defense. US personnel can use this to their advantage, but must be aware of North Torbian deception techniques designed to compensate for this issue. North Torbia currently sits within its own time zone after it decided to return to its historical zone of GMT +8.5 to commemorate the anniversary of its “liberation.” South Torbia currently sits at GMT +8.0.

Urban Work Day

• 0600: Wakeup and Breakfast: Families wake up and eat a small breakfast. They drop their small children off at daycare or elementary school on the way to arrive at work on time. Older children may go to school on their own, but will not be late. 
• 0730: Workers arrive at their place of business and will spend 30 minutes reading the daily editorial in the party newspapers as well as receiving official announcements with directives for their daily tasks. Children will sing songs about their country’s leader and family before the actual school day begins. 
• 0800: Work begins, whether it is white collar or manufacturing. Due to lack of information technology equipment, all payroll and accounting is conducted by hand. 
• Noon: An hour lunch begins. Most people will eat the lunch they brought with them. If they live really close by, they may go home to eat. Larger workplaces have a canteen selling cheap lunches, but few can afford to eat the same thing they can make at home at a cheaper cost. 
• 1300: Work resumes for an additional four hours. Manufacturing businesses often try competitions to get one “team” to outperform another by producing a certain amount of their products. That team will have their team name’s highest on the list on the wall for productivity. A “team” that consistently is at the bottom of the list may be forced to work overtime. 
• 1700: The workday is over, but the workers must sit through a “community, learning, and self-assessment meeting”. The team that had the highest output for the day will be lauded. Everyone will be expected to be critical of their personal performance. Normally, people try to be critical of themselves for some trivial issue. 
• 1800: The workers are released and they pick up their children at daycare, aftercare, or sports programs at the schools. Those with older children will sometimes have them pick up the younger children in order for the women to go to the market on the way home. 
• 1930: After arriving home, the women make the dinner meal and that is usually finished by 1930 hours. The children may do homework if they did not complete it during their afterschool programs. 
• 2000: Due to the lack of quality food, almost all working adults and most children are tired and go to bed. The lack of consistent electricity helps with the early retirement hour.

Rural Work Day

Most male rural workers earn a living on one of the communal farms working six days a week. While females will also work in the fields, others “serve” their country as teachers in the local schools, providing daycare, and after school care for rural parents, or in jobs that support the agricultural industry. 

The length of a work day in rural North Torbia fluctuates depending on the number of daylight hours and the season of the year. Typically, this work period can be consider as “dawn to dusk” for most of the agricultural work force. The workers rise before the sun to eat breakfast in time to start the day with the sun. About midmorning, there is a 30-minute break where the workers on the farm will come together for the first of the “community, learning, and self-assessment meetings” for the day. The people will learn the latest about the party, similar to the pre-work meeting in the cities. After a couple of more hours of toil, the rural workers will break for sixty minutes for a communal lunch. About 1600 hours, the second meeting of the day takes place and this is focused on the self-assessment of each individual person. Again, a person will be critical of themselves but not too critical. Workers often spend off-time trying to think up things to be critical about themselves without being redundant. After another communal dinner, most adults are in bed and asleep as the sun goes down. One of the major activities the head of the communal farm has to do is prepare the schedule based on whether it is planting or harvesting season and the time of year. This will affect the times of the communal meetings and meals. 

The only “off day” in the rural areas of the country is not really a day of rest for the rural workers. Animals still need to be fed, cows still need to be milked, and other activities that cannot take a day off. For those on the communal farms not assigned the Sunday “chores,” any able adult sixteen years and older will report to their local district leader to “give back” to the state that has given them so much. They will normally work four hours repairing the local roads, cleaning up after a storm, or other project that helps the community. 

Children in rural areas will attend school six days a week and participate in mandatory after-school programs, similar to the programs received by the urban youth. On Sundays, the youth under 16 participate in these programs that try to glorify North Torbia, the president, or his family. Those youth that find some free time during the week, spend it studying in order to improve their grades. The only way for rural children to get out of following their parents footsteps in an agriculture job is to do well enough in school to find a way to matriculate to a university, either before or after serving their mandatory military service obligation.

Weekly

As North Torbia is a non-religious country there is no day of the week that religious services takes place. The only day that is not routine for most North Torbians is Sunday as discussed previously.

Urban Sundays

Day off from normal work location and all urban dwellers are “highly encouraged” to participate in sports or cultural activities to glorify the state, the president, or the presidential family. Some adults search for an activity that means less time requirements, less energy, or allows them to hide in the masses to avoid being singled out.

Rural Sundays

Day off from regular work except for those that must complete chores required due to livestock or other work that cannot wait until Monday. Other adults will perform manual labor in service to the state through the local governmental leaders.

Monthly

There are no regular national monthly events in North Torbia. 

Key Dates, Time Periods, or Events

The key event that still rules North Torbian life is the Torbian War that took place between in the early 1950s. The government still uses the war as the reason for its need for a strong military and why every North Tobian must serve the state. In fact, North Torbia claims that South Torbia invaded North Torbia with assistance from the U.S. North Torbia also tells its people that their country defeated these aggressors and forced them back over the border. Of course, this is all propaganda and it was actually North Torbia that invaded South Torbia to begin the war.

Routine, Cyclical Key Dates

Holidays & Culturally Specific Observations

Being an officially atheist country, North Torbia does not celebrate any religious holidays. It does, however, celebrate key dates in the lives of its leader and his forefathers. Maximum participation is expected from all personnel on these occasions, with gifts expected for the leader from all. These gifts often cost many weeks’ wages and rarely make their way to the leader, instead being siphoned off by officials. With a six-day work week and “highly encourages” activities on Sundays, the national holidays are sometimes a day off for those not participating in or supporting the celebratory activities.

Holiday Chart

Holidays & Culturally Specific Observations
Date	Holiday	Type	Remark
1 January	New Year’s	National
2 January	People’s Day	National
3 March	Song Yang-Hwan’s Birthday	National
8 March	International Women’s Day	National
30 April	Song Chong-Su’s Birthday	National
1 May	May Day	National
7 July	Song Yang-Hwan’s Ascension	National	Death
14 September	Liberation Day	National
22 November	Song Chong-Su’s Celebration Day	National	Coronation
7 December	Song Ji-Hoon’s Birthday	National
23 December	Song Ji-Hoon’s Ascension	National	Death
31 December	New Year’s Eve	National

New Year’s Day

Occurs on 1 January. Celebrates the opening of the Gregorian New Year. Many North Torbians spend the day recovering from the celebration the night before. If a family did not overdo it, they may spend the day picnicking in a local park if the weather is accommodating. 

People’s Day

Occurring on 2 January, People’s Day celebrates the founding of the Torbian’s Worker Party in 1945. Local party leaders give speeches praising the party and the Song family. People watch the speeches and then have a picnic in the park. 

Song Yang-Hwan’s Birthday

Celebrated on 3 March, this is the most important holiday in North Torbia celebrating the birth of the founder of North Torbia. It is celebrated with a big parade honoring the founder of North Torbia with lots of military vehicles and units. People are expected to come watch the parade and anyone not in or watching the parade are considered as possible subversives to the current regime. 

International Women’s Day

This holiday occurs on 8 March, and celebrates the role of women in North Torbia and society. It may be the only day of the year that most North Torbian women do not cook as their children (usually) or their husband (rarely) try to make the meals that day giving the woman the day off from work. Often, the Mother ends up cleaning up the mess late that night or the next day. 

Song Chong-Su’s Birthday

This holiday occurs on 30 April, and celebrates the birthday of the current president of North Torbia. This is one of the two most recent holidays added to North Torbia national holiday list. Government leaders pay tribute to the current leader praising him with words. There are bands, gymnastics, and other cultural activities at the event Song Chong-Su attends. In other parts of the country, it is just a day off from regular work—a rarity for most. Exactly how the smaller towns and even the large urban areas are going to celebrate it remains to be seen. 

May Day

Occuring on 1 May, this holiday celebrates the economic and social achievements of workers. The people have the day off and they go to the local park to picnic, play soccer, drink alcohol, and try to have a good time. 

Song Yang-Hwan’s Ascension (Death)

Occurring on 7 July, this holiday commemorates the death of North Torbia’s founder. This is a somber event with the current North Torbian leader visiting his Grandfather’s grave. The people line the area around the tomb to show how much they care for the leader that became a God when he departed his worldly life. 

Liberation Day

Celebrated on 14 September, Liberation day celebrates the driving out of all external forces from North Torbia at the end of the Torbia War. This is the biggest military parade of the year in the four urban centers with no other parade units. While not a mandatory event for the locals, most come out to see the military might of their country. 

Song Chong-Su’s Celebration Day (Coronation)

Celebrated on 22 November, this day commemorates the date the current president took control of North Torbia. Since his Father and Grandfather both have two holidays (their birthday and accession/death date) dedicated to them, Song Chong-Su ordered a second day for himself. In the capitol city, government leaders try to ingratiate themselves to Song Chong-Su. As big fan North Torbian styled rock and rock, Song Chong-Su decides who will perform at the gala. He usually selects an all-girl band that is composed of some of the best musicians and best looking women in all the country. 

Song Ji-Hoon’s Birthday

7 December is the second most important holiday in North Torbia, with his Father’s birthday being the only more important day. This event is another military parade honoring the second president of North Torbia. In the four major urban areas, everyone is either in the parade or watching the parade. 

Song Ji Hoon’s Ascension (Death)

23 December commemorates the death of the second leader of North Torbia. Occurring only two weeks after a festive event, the current leader visits the tomb of his Father to pay his respects. The people show their respect as they honor the day when the second leader of North Torbia left the earth to join his Father. 

New Year’s Eve

Celebrated on 30 December, New Year’s Eve is the closing of the Gregorian calendar. The major cities provide fireworks for the people to watch and a festival is held in most towns. The people sing, dance, and drink to celebrate the end of one year and usher in the next.

Wedding Season

The North Torbian wedding season is primarily determined by three things: weather, agricultural cycles, and proximity to major holidays. Most couples prefer to get married in the cooler months of the year (November–February), but the presence of four national holidays during this time period limits use of the first two months. The majority of the populace is also engaged in agricultural pursuits, so wedding dates rarely fall during planting or harvest periods. As a result, weddings usually occur from late January through February, with locally based gaps due to agriculture activities.

Harvest Cycles

Agricultural cycles in North Torbia are primarily determined by regional climate and the crop in question. Some crops, such as pineapple, are grown and harvested year-round; others—e.g., rice, corn, and sugarcane—follow distinct cycles. There are usually two crops per year for rice and corn: one in the wet season, and one in the dry season. If a region’s wet season is long enough, farmers may be able to plant and harvest two successive crops during this season instead of just one. Sugarcane is harvested only once per year: during the cool part of the dry season. (For additional information on North Torbia’ agriculture and seasons, see the Physical Environment variable)

Natural Disaster Cycles

Like South Torbia, the most frequent natural disasters are typhoons or are related to typhoons. Typhoon season occurs from early summer to late fall, and is often at its peak during August and September. Due to its location, approximately 3-5 typhoons hit North Torbia each year. Many of these cause only minor damage, but there are sometimes major typhoons that cause extensive problems. In addition to the storm itself, Typhoons have the potential to cause extensive flooding. North Torbia’s government does not have the resources to deal with the largest of the typhoons and most assistance usually comes in the form of manpower and manual tools, both from the military.

Election Cycles

Elections for the President and members of the People’s Assembly of Torbia take place every five years, while local official elections occur on a four-year cycle.

Cultural Perception of Time

Prior to the rise of the Song family in North Torbia, most of its residents were Buddhist and had the same view of time as South Torbians. With the advent of North Torbian communism, the country’s new leaders took advantage of the monochromic elements (performing tasks in sequence) of the historical Torbian viewpoint and focused on them while suppressing Buddhism and the complementary cyclic view of time. Slogans such as “Time is like food: too little weakens a person; too much makes him lazy,” and “There are only 24 hours in a day; use them all for the glory of Song Yang-Hwan and North Torbia,” helped this social transformation, as did the brutality inflicted by the regime on nonconformists. The result is a very strict interpretation of time, to which North Torbians adhere to for fear of the consequences of doing otherwise. 

North Torbians carefully plan their day and then follow their determined schedules precisely. Both tardiness and early arrival are shunned, to the point where one will see people standing outside a building waiting for the exact moment when it is acceptable to enter and begin the scheduled activity. All activities have a starting and an ending time, and both are strictly adhered to. Public transportation runs on time, and all businesses open and close at the stated hour. North Torbian meetings neither start early nor run late; they begin—and end—exactly on time. Agendas with time allotments are always provided in advance and are followed to the minute.

Tactical Exploitation of Time

North Torbian Perception of Time

The North Torbian emphasis on spending every minute wisely leads to a very careful but mediocre use of time. As no flexibility is allowed in scheduling, a middle-of-the-road approach is taken for determining the amount of time needed for a particular activity. If the actual time needed is below that, the activity is stretched to fill the allotted minutes; if more is needed, the activity is either compressed or truncated. Thus, it is common for time that could have been used on the latter to be wasted on the former; to do otherwise would be to admit an error of judgment. 

The North Torbian military is subject to the same rigid scheduling as the rest of the populace. Each activity is planned to the minute, whether it is food preparation for an army platoon’s meal or movement of a motorized infantry division over the Cordillera Central Mountains. This lack of flexibility regarding time has a corresponding effect on all military activities: any deviations call into question the judgment of the officer who did the planning. The consequences of this flow downhill, with each successive layer of personnel receiving a greater punishment. More than once, rank-and-file soldiers have been shot due to something as simple—and uncontrollable—as a flat tire on a vehicle during a military exercise. This only compounds each military member’s attempts to inflate timelines in order to—sometimes literally—buy themselves breathing room.

US Perception of Time

US military members, used to a certain amount of timeline flexibility, may have trouble adjusting to the extreme rigidness of the North Torbian view of time. US personnel should expect any scheduled interactions to follow the published agenda regardless of any actual progress, or lack thereof, during the event. This inflexibility regarding time is a significant weakness in the North Torbian military, as careful observation by outside forces can uncover timelines embedded in military maneuvers. Aware of this, North Torbian military leaders will often perform night maneuvers and add in “wait periods” as a deception method to throw off any parties that may be observing and taking note of their activities.   

Decision-making

In order to avoid tardiness or finishing a task late, KPA commanders may pad the amount of time needed to prepare for or start a military operation or complete a requirement. This padding of time will likely translate into combat operations meaning that missions will start at the scheduled time, but the start time will not always be the earliest it could have been done.