Last last week, I went to Vietnam. My long awaited trip to my perceivingly far far away homeland "Mecca," lasted only 2 and a half hours, that is from Hong Kong. After one episode of Sex and the City and two more of 30 Rock, staring blankly and a full meal, we arrived in Saigon. At first the airport scene was nothing new, typically empty with Vietnamese speaking people. However, the minute I stepped outside to catch our taxi, the humidity and mega infrastructure overhead were immediate indicators of how much Saigon has changed from my parents' romantized depictions of the old Saigon.
My cab ride to our hotel in the heart of the city was eye opening. The flow of traffic seemingly chaotic at first-- full of mopeds and cars and people all at onces-- has a very rythmic flow of order, people move with the flow rather than being regulated with traffic lights and traffic signage, how freeing. The city itself, fully urbanized with stores, offices, luxury condos from all periods of architectural form. The French have definitely left their mark on Saigon, as the entire layout of the city consisted of tree lined boulevards intersecting at monumental sites, and well dispersed public squares and parks. It was an overwhelming sight, 3-5 story dense perimeter block buildings amongst the masses of mopeds and people seemingly hovering randomly in the streets.
In a sense, the current day Saigon, now HCM city is no longer a reflection of little Saigon, it is contemporary, Europeanized, and economically booming with global businesses. The romantized outlook on the once French colonized city has transformed into modern day living.
On the other hand, the province of Ninh Thuan, 8 hours North-East of the capital, is rural in character, untouched by communism or globalization, true depictions of Vietnam's history. Ninh Thuan inhabits Vietnam's localized small village lifestyle, a more simple way of life within agricultural fields and fishing seaports. Colorful housing units of all sizes, shapes and period of typology reflect the Vietnamese culture's playful and charming way of life. The local character of towns are shown through the faces of many of the inhabitants there, openly friendly with eye to eye smiles. The sense of humor in my interactions with people as well as the shyness shown across young faces is a true characteristic of what I've come to know and love about my culture.
Ninh Thuan has left a mark in my heart.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Monday, 8 March 2010
At the Office past Midnight....
While feeling completely unjust about staying so late tonight, especially after having spent the weekend here, I just wanted to write down my immediate thoughts regarding the working culture in HK, while plotting out our site documents for my trip to Ninh Thuan, Vietnam tomorrow.
If there is a place in the world where workaholics fit in perfectly, it's here. Hong Kong is super modern, competitive and highly globalized for a reason. It's because the work ethics is sooo well ingrained into the culture, it's a way of life. It's the first time in my life I could not outlast my own peers in working long hours, and I don't intend to. Funny thing is that my department is by far the latest group to stay night after night. They actually jokingly call themselves the "Panda" crew because of the dark circles characteristic of pandas, symbolizing bags under their eyes. Staying late into the night apart from work is a time for bonding and socializing over dinner.
So the work ethics is very admirable and the work produced is at the utmost quality. People here take great pride in their work, you could even find yourself talking about work outside of the office. As the modo in China goes, "time is money," and money makes the world go around. "o yeu dor di chin!!," that is, "I want more money!" was my first phrase learned instead of "I need to go to the bathroom!"...It's all about capital flow, super free markets and super lucrative finance. People work long hours not only because they are profit driven but also because they enjoy being a part of the larger system; and it's a custom, a daily ritual. I think that it replaces family and religious traditions here.
So I couldn't have picked a better place to go all out and work my ass off. At least here, everyone else is working hard and barely complaining about it, so it almost feels habitual. Within 2 years time I will have probably gained 5 years experience. I'm confident that all this hard work will pay off in the long run, it's definitely a way of speeding up the process. Tomorrow I go to Vietnam to survey 5 different zones within Ninh Thuan province. We'll be working on 5 different masterplans in 4 month!!
If there is a place in the world where workaholics fit in perfectly, it's here. Hong Kong is super modern, competitive and highly globalized for a reason. It's because the work ethics is sooo well ingrained into the culture, it's a way of life. It's the first time in my life I could not outlast my own peers in working long hours, and I don't intend to. Funny thing is that my department is by far the latest group to stay night after night. They actually jokingly call themselves the "Panda" crew because of the dark circles characteristic of pandas, symbolizing bags under their eyes. Staying late into the night apart from work is a time for bonding and socializing over dinner.
So the work ethics is very admirable and the work produced is at the utmost quality. People here take great pride in their work, you could even find yourself talking about work outside of the office. As the modo in China goes, "time is money," and money makes the world go around. "o yeu dor di chin!!," that is, "I want more money!" was my first phrase learned instead of "I need to go to the bathroom!"...It's all about capital flow, super free markets and super lucrative finance. People work long hours not only because they are profit driven but also because they enjoy being a part of the larger system; and it's a custom, a daily ritual. I think that it replaces family and religious traditions here.
So I couldn't have picked a better place to go all out and work my ass off. At least here, everyone else is working hard and barely complaining about it, so it almost feels habitual. Within 2 years time I will have probably gained 5 years experience. I'm confident that all this hard work will pay off in the long run, it's definitely a way of speeding up the process. Tomorrow I go to Vietnam to survey 5 different zones within Ninh Thuan province. We'll be working on 5 different masterplans in 4 month!!
Sunday, 7 March 2010
My Neighborhood in Lai Chi Kok
So I've finally settled into my new apartment, it's located in Lai Chi Kok, in the heart of a local community, an urban regenerated post industrial area, within convenient access to Central (Hong Kong Island) and work (of course). I'm on the 11th floor and my apartment is South-East, facing an amazing portion of the city of Kowloon looking towards HK Island. It has been my retreat from the craziness of the city and my everyday work madness. So I've gotten over not going sight seeing. What I'm more into for the moment, is local culture and being a part of it =) (promise I'll get back to the touristy trips later!).
Today was a beautiful misty Sunday afternoon. Having been recommended a few local bargain places to buy furniture by some of my colleagues, I decided to go furniture hunting around town-- without knowing where it's really located. So as expected, I got lost and wandered my way into Sunday's open air markets, which was a pleasant surprise. I meandered through the narrow streets, as always, full of people, this time truly Chinese and only Cantonese speakers. The past few weeks have been a slow yet gradual Cantonese learning process (I was even named in Cantonese by all of my colleagues!), so I thought I'd take a shot at buying stuff in Cantonese though I wasn't any good. Having regressed back to my cravings for fast food (KFC, Mc Donald's), I also took the opportunity to buy some fresh produce and even fish!
It was nice to see the less materialistic side of HK though a bit of a sight with ducks, chickens and pigs hung across the way and live fish ready to be eaten. Blocks after blocks of fresh & raw food stacked up out in open air, so at times my thoughts went into how sanitary things might be and whether or not I should attempt to purchase them. But the flower markets and clothing vendors made up for that sight, I will definitely have a collection of flower pots to arrange at my balcony-- how I love the freedom of having your own place to live!
Well, that's my spill for now. I never got to the furniture store. fyi, work has been very hectic as I prepare for site surveys and meetings in Vietnam. I am scheduled to go there next week and will be gone for an entire week. I'm excited yet afraid of what lies ahead, lots to be done in Vietnam, wish me luck!
Today was a beautiful misty Sunday afternoon. Having been recommended a few local bargain places to buy furniture by some of my colleagues, I decided to go furniture hunting around town-- without knowing where it's really located. So as expected, I got lost and wandered my way into Sunday's open air markets, which was a pleasant surprise. I meandered through the narrow streets, as always, full of people, this time truly Chinese and only Cantonese speakers. The past few weeks have been a slow yet gradual Cantonese learning process (I was even named in Cantonese by all of my colleagues!), so I thought I'd take a shot at buying stuff in Cantonese though I wasn't any good. Having regressed back to my cravings for fast food (KFC, Mc Donald's), I also took the opportunity to buy some fresh produce and even fish!
It was nice to see the less materialistic side of HK though a bit of a sight with ducks, chickens and pigs hung across the way and live fish ready to be eaten. Blocks after blocks of fresh & raw food stacked up out in open air, so at times my thoughts went into how sanitary things might be and whether or not I should attempt to purchase them. But the flower markets and clothing vendors made up for that sight, I will definitely have a collection of flower pots to arrange at my balcony-- how I love the freedom of having your own place to live!
Well, that's my spill for now. I never got to the furniture store. fyi, work has been very hectic as I prepare for site surveys and meetings in Vietnam. I am scheduled to go there next week and will be gone for an entire week. I'm excited yet afraid of what lies ahead, lots to be done in Vietnam, wish me luck!
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