His only penalty is that sometimes he has to make up that lost time later.
In social situations, it can be even more extreme. At parties or social outings, sometimes my Brazilian friends will arrive and hour or two after the agreed upon time. One time a friend showed up to a party five hours after it started! The crazy thing is that often there isn't even a reason for it. Nor does anyone view this as being "late". The word is hardly used. People just get caught up doing other things and don't feel pressured to leave until they are finished.
In my experience in the United States, folks are generally on time or no more than 15 minutes late. But I have grown accustomed to lateness in Brazil. It is common to not hear from my friends about when they might show up for a social event. But I have learned that it is not due to a lack of care (as it is often interpretated in the U.S.). Because ultimately, they do show up, and when they do they are very present. All of their attention is focused on what we are doing together. This perspective has encouraged me to take my time and try to be more relaxed when doing almost anything. It also has given me the freedom to revel in positive experiences. If I am enjoying myself when I am at the park, or out with friends, or alone at home with coffee, I can continue to rest in that enjoyment a bit longer here in Brazil. Because ultimately, people will not get frustrated if I show up a bit late after doing so.
