Business 263these establishments close for some time in the afternoon.
Other times they do not close (for example in tourist areas),
but you will notice a change in who is working. The reason
this happens is the tradition of the afternoon nap.
Bureaucrats do not follow typical Western business hours
either. As a rule, bureaucrats seem to work more or less
between the hours of nine or ten in the morning through
about two in the afternoon. Again, the custom is to leave
for lunch around two and follow this with a nap. Usually
people are still around in the building until a little later in
the afternoon, but it seems impossible to get anything done
except during the earlier hours.
Of course, if you are working with higher level ministerial
people, you may fi nd the hours somewhat different. Some
higher ranking offi cials and other businessmen accustomed
to working with Westerners tend to follow a schedule slightly
more reminiscent of Western business hours, but do not
expect this to be the norm. Count on not doing your work
between approximately two and four, with possibly evening
meetings as a supplement.