[David L.]

Now I get it ...and my perplexity was also due to my being a bit slow today.

Bulgarians have a rather relaxed perception of time. They would never be late for an exam or an interview,

because this would be regarded as inexcusable by those in charge.


. no matter how heavy the traffic jams: this seems odd because it is not practical. We too would not be late for these, but one cannot be gung-ho about heavy traffic jams: rain, snow, heavy traffic, I always get through!
NO - the only way would be to leave much earlier to compensate for this. So to state 'no matter how heavy...' when they have left home thinking they have left enough time, only to encounter a huge hold-up, how then will they not be late??
However, when attending business meetings, or going to appointments, Bulgarians expect to be excused for being late.


This Bulgarian phenomenon is illustrated, if, say, only half of the attendees at a conference in Bulgaria have arrived. Twenty minutes later, the chairman announces that they have waited enough, excuses further latecomers as being held up in traffic jams or delays in public transport, and opens the conference. The latecomers might continue to arrive for as much as 40 minutes after the meeting has started.

( I presume the chairman and everyone present know that this is not true?!)
I changed 'dates' to 'appointments'. Did you mean going on a date with a girl? If not, and it is 'appointments', how on earth do doctors and dentists run their practices??