This one Sunday morning, I realized that the owner of my apartment was still at home. It was quite strange to see him sittig at the kitchen table and still eating his breakfast as late as 9 a.m. I did not question much about this bazzar event at the time. I thought maybe he was off work.
For the last couple of months, he has been telling me about how slow his restaurant got . He told me who got laid off every other week, but also told me confidently that he would not be the one who will be in the same situation because he was very close to the restaurant owner. He trusted the strong bond and business relationship over ten years with his boss at one of the expensive restaurants on the 5th avenue.
However, he was not special to the owner as much as he thought or wished to be. He lost the job that previous Friday.
He has a family to support three little kids and his wife who just bore a baby. He used ot have a pretty decent life-style. He brought tons of crabs and ripen fruits to the table every weekends,go out to play grounds in different areas by his SUV and for some reason, he is still able to do the same, after losing his job.
I believe that he had been saving money for their kid's education, and now he is spending it little by little to survive this current situation.
It was just nothing but impressing to know the power of preparing for the big changes in life.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Japanese kill themselves, while Americans strive to survive.
Every single day, we are reminded that we are in one of the most economically- challenged times in history. Conversation about lay-off fill offices and fear employees minds. TV morning reports start from the escalating number of unemployment rate. Soon ten out of one person will be jobless.
In these times, people’s true nature comes out. Especially among races. There was a study conducted by my9 in NY. Its report said that Asian American are less willing to ask for help, where as black receive various type of federal aids.
So what do Japanese people do when they face predicaments? According to Kyodo, a Japanese news paper, over 30,000 people committed suicide last year, which is the time when the economy started to disfunction. In January, 2645 people took their lives.
Meanwhile, in America, we rarely hear about the financially related suicide that will appear as a headline on the front page of the paper. Instead, we hear about the efforts that ordinary citizens and governments are making to reboot the economy. People are aware of unemployment benefit, food stamp and shelter programs and try to utilize as much as they can.
It is interesting to see how two different races react to the same situation. Some allow themselves to get defeated by the overwhelming fear, and the other strive to get back their live and keep on trying.
Every single day, we are reminded that we are in one of the most economically- challenged times in history. Conversation about lay-off fill offices and fear employees minds. TV morning reports start from the escalating number of unemployment rate. Soon ten out of one person will be jobless.
In these times, people’s true nature comes out. Especially among races. There was a study conducted by my9 in NY. Its report said that Asian American are less willing to ask for help, where as black receive various type of federal aids.
So what do Japanese people do when they face predicaments? According to Kyodo, a Japanese news paper, over 30,000 people committed suicide last year, which is the time when the economy started to disfunction. In January, 2645 people took their lives.
Meanwhile, in America, we rarely hear about the financially related suicide that will appear as a headline on the front page of the paper. Instead, we hear about the efforts that ordinary citizens and governments are making to reboot the economy. People are aware of unemployment benefit, food stamp and shelter programs and try to utilize as much as they can.
It is interesting to see how two different races react to the same situation. Some allow themselves to get defeated by the overwhelming fear, and the other strive to get back their live and keep on trying.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
New Life for New Yorkers?
MTA is requesting a bail out from the government, there is no definite answer yet. However, if it doesn’t go through, the answer is clear. The fare will go up 23 percent and the trains come less frequently. This is not the matter of possible decrease of ridership. This transit crisis will change New Yorkers life styles dramatically.
According to MTA, 8,505,966 people use subway as the means of transporation every week. Even after midnight, trains still run locally, and different number or alphabet of trains run every twenty minutes. Public transportation in New York is essential to the residents.
Compared to any other major metropolitan cities, New York provides a relatively effective and helpful transportation that helps its people enjoy their lives, especially after work. For example, it is possible to pop on the train from Grand Central after work, go salsa dance in downtown and go back home in Brooklyn. It is possible because transportation is reliable.
MTA has been part of New Yorkers’ lives. Without this convenient system, they will withdraw from night life and find something else to do close to their home. Then, what would symbolize energetic and vibly New York City and new Yorkers? It is hard to imagine a New Yorker keep sitting on their luxurious couches watching a large flat screen TV in nicely decorated condo every single day after work.
According to MTA, 8,505,966 people use subway as the means of transporation every week. Even after midnight, trains still run locally, and different number or alphabet of trains run every twenty minutes. Public transportation in New York is essential to the residents.
Compared to any other major metropolitan cities, New York provides a relatively effective and helpful transportation that helps its people enjoy their lives, especially after work. For example, it is possible to pop on the train from Grand Central after work, go salsa dance in downtown and go back home in Brooklyn. It is possible because transportation is reliable.
MTA has been part of New Yorkers’ lives. Without this convenient system, they will withdraw from night life and find something else to do close to their home. Then, what would symbolize energetic and vibly New York City and new Yorkers? It is hard to imagine a New Yorker keep sitting on their luxurious couches watching a large flat screen TV in nicely decorated condo every single day after work.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday Morning
Sunday morning is essential for people in NY. It is the time for them to relax and return to who they are.
At the whole foods café at the union square, customers dress themselves casually and try to care less about the trifles in their lives. A lady, who must be walking in heels for work, let her hair as it is and allows herself to gobble her lunch in public. Not only her, most of women dress differently from their daily business attires: they are wearing simple T-shirt, sweat pants and sneakers. They put less of everything. They have less accessories and less make-up. They are being who they are, not how they are supposed to be or present themselves as according to the social standard.
At the place, various types of energies and vibes exist , but they have one thing in common: They are enjoying their lives in their spheres at their own pace.
At the whole foods café at the union square, customers dress themselves casually and try to care less about the trifles in their lives. A lady, who must be walking in heels for work, let her hair as it is and allows herself to gobble her lunch in public. Not only her, most of women dress differently from their daily business attires: they are wearing simple T-shirt, sweat pants and sneakers. They put less of everything. They have less accessories and less make-up. They are being who they are, not how they are supposed to be or present themselves as according to the social standard.
At the place, various types of energies and vibes exist , but they have one thing in common: They are enjoying their lives in their spheres at their own pace.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fashion Show In Real Life
Bryant park transform itself according to the season. In December, it turns to become an ice link. In Feburary it becomes a stage for the best fashion show.
However, the real runway exists outside of the white gigantic tent.
However, the real runway exists outside of the white gigantic tent.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Competition
“Give me your sales report for January,” said my boss.
Reluctantly, I e-mailed my report to him. I was not proud of my performance. I was not able to accomplish the “goal of earning $20,000 revenue sale per month”
Now, I am working with two other account executives. Both of them have about twenty years of experience in sales. They spoke in a delicate and sophisticated manner. More than anything else, they have the skill to keep conversation going at least for fifteen minutes with future clients.
This work environment made me competitive about everything in my life. I dislike the emotion and it makes me ugly inside. It is daunting. For the last couple of days, I was blaming my surroundings. However, I realized that it was wrong.
Once I get competitive, my life becomes a game with others. Who wins and loses, who looks better or poor, and who is superior or inferior.
On the way to work, I see thousands of women in high heels with a brand new purse, a pair of shiny high heals and perfect make-ups. They are or at least look put together. I have a four-year-old purse, a pair of worn-out shoes and inperfect make-ups. It is easy not to lose confidence. The worst thing is even if I try to avoid looking at those perfect people around me, even if I keep walking with my head down, I can still see my old shoes.
Finding flaws in my shoes, feeling scaled by my boss at work, I feel incompetent.
In Philadelphia, I rarely compared myself to others. No one had much, but everyone was joyful, and I was happy with that. I never wish to have fashionable clothes, purses and shoes. I wonder how I turned such a competitive person. Is it NY? Is it clothes? Is it work?
I realized it was none of those. I was seeking an answer in the wrong place. It was not the environment that was making me miserable, but it was part of me which wants to feel superior to others. It was never outside, it had been inside.
Reluctantly, I e-mailed my report to him. I was not proud of my performance. I was not able to accomplish the “goal of earning $20,000 revenue sale per month”
Now, I am working with two other account executives. Both of them have about twenty years of experience in sales. They spoke in a delicate and sophisticated manner. More than anything else, they have the skill to keep conversation going at least for fifteen minutes with future clients.
This work environment made me competitive about everything in my life. I dislike the emotion and it makes me ugly inside. It is daunting. For the last couple of days, I was blaming my surroundings. However, I realized that it was wrong.
Once I get competitive, my life becomes a game with others. Who wins and loses, who looks better or poor, and who is superior or inferior.
On the way to work, I see thousands of women in high heels with a brand new purse, a pair of shiny high heals and perfect make-ups. They are or at least look put together. I have a four-year-old purse, a pair of worn-out shoes and inperfect make-ups. It is easy not to lose confidence. The worst thing is even if I try to avoid looking at those perfect people around me, even if I keep walking with my head down, I can still see my old shoes.
Finding flaws in my shoes, feeling scaled by my boss at work, I feel incompetent.
In Philadelphia, I rarely compared myself to others. No one had much, but everyone was joyful, and I was happy with that. I never wish to have fashionable clothes, purses and shoes. I wonder how I turned such a competitive person. Is it NY? Is it clothes? Is it work?
I realized it was none of those. I was seeking an answer in the wrong place. It was not the environment that was making me miserable, but it was part of me which wants to feel superior to others. It was never outside, it had been inside.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Family
Family
‘xyientoayie!” said Chin-san.
“rhwoent!!” said his mother in law.
I did not understand the exact words. Iritation was coming out from both sides. but I knew that they were in argument about noise.
The owner of the apartment, a father does not like noise in the morning. Sneezes or coughs irritates him. The reason is because Chin san comes back home close to midnight working as a chef at one of the famous restaurant on 5th Avenue. He needs to sleep, and he does not allow anyone to disturb his rest. For that, he throws a roommate out of the room without any hesitation. Sleep is crucial for this Chinese man. He is a bread winner, holding a big family together by himself.
So, it was quite difficult for have his mother in law not walking around at 6:30 a.m. washing dishes and mopping the floor. Everyone in the house knows why she is staying, even though she leads a comfortable life in Flushing. This 60-year-old joyful lady keeps moving her fingers with knife to feed two infants.
Of course, she is not a mother of two. Her daughter is. She is at this house in Broolyn for her daughter. She quit her job to support her daughters’ family. She decided to live with roommates that converse with her son-in-law in English. She speaks only in Chinese. However, it seems to be an easy choice: anything for my daughter, for my grandbaby.
Her daughter was expecting a baby and on February 1st just bore the third baby, tiffany, the third girl in Chin san’s family. As much as every member of the family is happy, they are also getting tired of raising another child.
The day the baby saw the first light in her life, her father was filling the documents from the hospital with a small amount of light in the kitchen, alone.
When baby was still and sleeping, Chin-san was awake digging old baby court for the baby to be loved. Everyone sacrificeed something, and devoted themselves in this long process. However no one, not for once, complained.
This morning, for the first time, Mr. Chin snapped at the old Chinese woman. He knows that it is not respectable manner, but he could not resist his temper.
He said, “ I respect her, but she is too sturburn. She does not listen! And she will stay for a month!”
Listening to him, Mrs. Dudy came out of her room. She did not say anything.
She just started mopping the floor again.
Family is precious, but it is not easy to appreciate nor embrace it. Once you can’t reach them, you will miss them for whatever they did, either good or bad. Some might see the situation as break up, but others see as heartwarming.
Probably the latter knows what family truly mean.
‘xyientoayie!” said Chin-san.
“rhwoent!!” said his mother in law.
I did not understand the exact words. Iritation was coming out from both sides. but I knew that they were in argument about noise.
The owner of the apartment, a father does not like noise in the morning. Sneezes or coughs irritates him. The reason is because Chin san comes back home close to midnight working as a chef at one of the famous restaurant on 5th Avenue. He needs to sleep, and he does not allow anyone to disturb his rest. For that, he throws a roommate out of the room without any hesitation. Sleep is crucial for this Chinese man. He is a bread winner, holding a big family together by himself.
So, it was quite difficult for have his mother in law not walking around at 6:30 a.m. washing dishes and mopping the floor. Everyone in the house knows why she is staying, even though she leads a comfortable life in Flushing. This 60-year-old joyful lady keeps moving her fingers with knife to feed two infants.
Of course, she is not a mother of two. Her daughter is. She is at this house in Broolyn for her daughter. She quit her job to support her daughters’ family. She decided to live with roommates that converse with her son-in-law in English. She speaks only in Chinese. However, it seems to be an easy choice: anything for my daughter, for my grandbaby.
Her daughter was expecting a baby and on February 1st just bore the third baby, tiffany, the third girl in Chin san’s family. As much as every member of the family is happy, they are also getting tired of raising another child.
The day the baby saw the first light in her life, her father was filling the documents from the hospital with a small amount of light in the kitchen, alone.
When baby was still and sleeping, Chin-san was awake digging old baby court for the baby to be loved. Everyone sacrificeed something, and devoted themselves in this long process. However no one, not for once, complained.
This morning, for the first time, Mr. Chin snapped at the old Chinese woman. He knows that it is not respectable manner, but he could not resist his temper.
He said, “ I respect her, but she is too sturburn. She does not listen! And she will stay for a month!”
Listening to him, Mrs. Dudy came out of her room. She did not say anything.
She just started mopping the floor again.
Family is precious, but it is not easy to appreciate nor embrace it. Once you can’t reach them, you will miss them for whatever they did, either good or bad. Some might see the situation as break up, but others see as heartwarming.
Probably the latter knows what family truly mean.
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