Tuesday, July 08, 2008
SZ24
Soon I will be on my way lugging my two luggages and a bagpack to HK! How exciting, except for the gloomy sky that was very apparently a few moments ago. I know I'm going to miss SZ as much as I missed my old place when I first moved. The food, people and places I've been to - it'll form memories.
Despite my less than fantastic stint here, I did feel like I've seen and learn more. I guess being a city of immigrants, SZ would be very similar to Singapore. But it isn't. Migrants came to Singapore when Singapore was a fishing village and today, two to three generations have emerged. Most ties with their ancestors in PRC have been lost. In SZ however, most of the people here have families in the countrysides whom they still very much have contact with. They work here, perhaps have families here, but they still return home on new year, which could be some 2000km away. In short, SZ is not considered their first home, unless they grew up here in the first place.
Because of this demographic mix, the lifestyle here is surely different from Singapore. Needless to say, the type of people here also vary. In a bustling city, you can still come across people who just wish to live simply - no ambition of a BMW or ten credit cards. All they want is to earn some money, send some back to mummy, and spend/save the rest. They don't seem to be in a hurry to plan for their future. Singaporeans of my age now are wondering when we're going to nail that apartment down River Valley or Grange Road, or wonder if we'll ever have the chance to have our own office in UBS, Switerland.
I suppose it's because these people whom I've talked about haven't got the chance to study much. They probably know only mandarin and their dialect. It's not difficult to see why some of them have to resort to escorting or low-paying jobs in SZ.
On the other hand, there are those who've been to universities. They are more forunate to have a position in downtown or in MNCs. This group of people is similar to Singaporeans. They yearn to excel in work. Of course, with their much higher pay, they can afford to spend some time playing golf or go to pubs on a weekly basis. Some can be so rich they spend several thousand yuan in one night.
The rest who don't fall into these two categories are those who have either been to universities but work in smaller firms. hence middle-income, or have had enough working experience to land them a decent job despite not having a certificate.
It is not easy to stereotype people here because there are just a myriad of Chinese from different provinces who come to SZ to work and live.
Because most of them come here alone, the people here make friends with others and form groups of their own through a messenging system that's similar to MSN. From there, they make more friends and that's how most people overcome the issue of loneliness. It is not uncommon for friends to address one another as brother or sister. Some would also share a rented apartment or have gatherings on a weekly basis.
In my own words, this is like an American lifestlye in an oriental concept. Like Americans, one comes out to work and live alone, spending very little time with the family. Yet, one has ensure that his/her family is well-taken care of at home by sending back money or something else of sort (filial piety). It is something which will never happen in Singapore because our workplace is located at most two hours away from our residence, and that's if one is travelling by bus. But if one is working overseas then it's another matter altogether.
As I wrap up my last entry in SZ, I also seal up the memories I've had here (including the day I spent my 24th birthday here).
Despite my less than fantastic stint here, I did feel like I've seen and learn more. I guess being a city of immigrants, SZ would be very similar to Singapore. But it isn't. Migrants came to Singapore when Singapore was a fishing village and today, two to three generations have emerged. Most ties with their ancestors in PRC have been lost. In SZ however, most of the people here have families in the countrysides whom they still very much have contact with. They work here, perhaps have families here, but they still return home on new year, which could be some 2000km away. In short, SZ is not considered their first home, unless they grew up here in the first place.
Because of this demographic mix, the lifestyle here is surely different from Singapore. Needless to say, the type of people here also vary. In a bustling city, you can still come across people who just wish to live simply - no ambition of a BMW or ten credit cards. All they want is to earn some money, send some back to mummy, and spend/save the rest. They don't seem to be in a hurry to plan for their future. Singaporeans of my age now are wondering when we're going to nail that apartment down River Valley or Grange Road, or wonder if we'll ever have the chance to have our own office in UBS, Switerland.
I suppose it's because these people whom I've talked about haven't got the chance to study much. They probably know only mandarin and their dialect. It's not difficult to see why some of them have to resort to escorting or low-paying jobs in SZ.
On the other hand, there are those who've been to universities. They are more forunate to have a position in downtown or in MNCs. This group of people is similar to Singaporeans. They yearn to excel in work. Of course, with their much higher pay, they can afford to spend some time playing golf or go to pubs on a weekly basis. Some can be so rich they spend several thousand yuan in one night.
The rest who don't fall into these two categories are those who have either been to universities but work in smaller firms. hence middle-income, or have had enough working experience to land them a decent job despite not having a certificate.
It is not easy to stereotype people here because there are just a myriad of Chinese from different provinces who come to SZ to work and live.
Because most of them come here alone, the people here make friends with others and form groups of their own through a messenging system that's similar to MSN. From there, they make more friends and that's how most people overcome the issue of loneliness. It is not uncommon for friends to address one another as brother or sister. Some would also share a rented apartment or have gatherings on a weekly basis.
In my own words, this is like an American lifestlye in an oriental concept. Like Americans, one comes out to work and live alone, spending very little time with the family. Yet, one has ensure that his/her family is well-taken care of at home by sending back money or something else of sort (filial piety). It is something which will never happen in Singapore because our workplace is located at most two hours away from our residence, and that's if one is travelling by bus. But if one is working overseas then it's another matter altogether.
As I wrap up my last entry in SZ, I also seal up the memories I've had here (including the day I spent my 24th birthday here).
I never doubted that I would miss home because at some point in time I will. With less than a week left till I get back, I'm already looking forward to getting out of SZ. I'm running low on cash and I can't wait to get away from the CNP. Of course, there's the mahjong sessions that I have missed for more than two months.
When I first came to SZ I fell sick. Now, days from my departure, my throat is beginning to itch. I have been told to avoid the clinics and hospitals here. Apparently their form of treatment for most symptoms is to put the patient on a drip. But I think that's an exaggeration. Maybe something like that would happen five years back. But now?
No obvious reasons have crossed my mind but I've observed that various hospitals advertise on TV here. There is a humanity hospital, beauty hospital, male hospital, gynaecology hospital, etc. Each advertisement boasts a team of dedicated and skilled nurses, tonnes of promises of excellent hospitality and ends with a two-second take of a group of nurses standing in front of the reception desk with billion-dollar smiles (except for what seemed to be the matron who just didn't look like she wanted to be in the picture at all). Then I begin to convince myself that perhaps hospitals of SZ today has already improved a lot. However I suspect they use the same designer for their logos and same advertising company for their adverts. The overall effect kind of reminded me in a subtle manner that I am still in communist PRC; standardized colours and advertising style.
Another interesting observation here was that clinics were located in rather obscure places. You find a row of shops selling famous chicken claypot and seafood. But unexpectedly, right in the middle of the row, a dental clinic appears. What's worse is that this row of restaurants are found in the red light district. Just behind the row of restaurants, is a small fluorescent-lit alley. Along this alley, one finds many shop fronts that are well lit but without signboards. Instead, women clad in sexy mini skirts and revealing tops are seated on couches or chairs, waiting to tout for customers. If you get too close, the "mummy" will grab your shirt or elbow...
Anyway, I thought it would have been more appropriate had the hospitals been located somewhere else. Perhaps near the metros. I feel that there's a serious lack of clinics in crowded areas. Also, if one finds them in places like red light districts. It's not difficult for people to think of them as STD clinics. But well... Just a thought.
I just hope to get well before getting back. Maybe I should go search for that cooling tea No. 8 my colleague recommended.
When I first came to SZ I fell sick. Now, days from my departure, my throat is beginning to itch. I have been told to avoid the clinics and hospitals here. Apparently their form of treatment for most symptoms is to put the patient on a drip. But I think that's an exaggeration. Maybe something like that would happen five years back. But now?
No obvious reasons have crossed my mind but I've observed that various hospitals advertise on TV here. There is a humanity hospital, beauty hospital, male hospital, gynaecology hospital, etc. Each advertisement boasts a team of dedicated and skilled nurses, tonnes of promises of excellent hospitality and ends with a two-second take of a group of nurses standing in front of the reception desk with billion-dollar smiles (except for what seemed to be the matron who just didn't look like she wanted to be in the picture at all). Then I begin to convince myself that perhaps hospitals of SZ today has already improved a lot. However I suspect they use the same designer for their logos and same advertising company for their adverts. The overall effect kind of reminded me in a subtle manner that I am still in communist PRC; standardized colours and advertising style.
Another interesting observation here was that clinics were located in rather obscure places. You find a row of shops selling famous chicken claypot and seafood. But unexpectedly, right in the middle of the row, a dental clinic appears. What's worse is that this row of restaurants are found in the red light district. Just behind the row of restaurants, is a small fluorescent-lit alley. Along this alley, one finds many shop fronts that are well lit but without signboards. Instead, women clad in sexy mini skirts and revealing tops are seated on couches or chairs, waiting to tout for customers. If you get too close, the "mummy" will grab your shirt or elbow...
Anyway, I thought it would have been more appropriate had the hospitals been located somewhere else. Perhaps near the metros. I feel that there's a serious lack of clinics in crowded areas. Also, if one finds them in places like red light districts. It's not difficult for people to think of them as STD clinics. But well... Just a thought.
I just hope to get well before getting back. Maybe I should go search for that cooling tea No. 8 my colleague recommended.
It is hot in SZ. It is as hot in SG. But the only difference is the trees. There are more trees along Orchard Road than there are here. On top of that, they're bigger and provide more shade. It's not as polluted as compared to other seasons, which means the sky is blue and you can actually make shapes out of cumulonimbus clouds. The rain doesn't come as often and that means clothes dry faster and I don't have to worry that I run out of briefs.
I was just reminiscing with some friends over certain Singapore cuisine that I don't get to eat here. But thinking back, I realized that I'm going to miss the food that I've been eating here more than I would miss food that I've eaten for the past 24 years back home, since I'm not going to be back in SZ for at least some time to come. This started off a fury of ideas on how I should spend my last few days here gorging... Oh... Hunan cuisine, chicken claypot, lambpot, Guilin noodles... In exchange for carrot cake and oyster omelette.
I guess I could eat some of those Chinese cuisine back home. But the standard may vary while the level of hygiene will unfortunately be much better than SZ.
Coming to SZ has been a slightly dreamily trip when I felt that the level of stress has been at an all time low. Despite some shortcomings (Internet censorship and propaganda on TV), it has been a refreshing experience having met other Chinese and made some new friends. The more interesting part was actually to see more "things" than I could have ever seen back home (not supernatural sightings).
I'm glad I only got bored of SZ when it's about time that I leave. Perhaps food would be what I would miss.
I was just reminiscing with some friends over certain Singapore cuisine that I don't get to eat here. But thinking back, I realized that I'm going to miss the food that I've been eating here more than I would miss food that I've eaten for the past 24 years back home, since I'm not going to be back in SZ for at least some time to come. This started off a fury of ideas on how I should spend my last few days here gorging... Oh... Hunan cuisine, chicken claypot, lambpot, Guilin noodles... In exchange for carrot cake and oyster omelette.
I guess I could eat some of those Chinese cuisine back home. But the standard may vary while the level of hygiene will unfortunately be much better than SZ.
Coming to SZ has been a slightly dreamily trip when I felt that the level of stress has been at an all time low. Despite some shortcomings (Internet censorship and propaganda on TV), it has been a refreshing experience having met other Chinese and made some new friends. The more interesting part was actually to see more "things" than I could have ever seen back home (not supernatural sightings).
I'm glad I only got bored of SZ when it's about time that I leave. Perhaps food would be what I would miss.