Paradigm shift

[sfllaw]

My trip to Hong Kong has really changed how I perceive the world. It's difficult to explain, as I've tried to do to the people at work, but maybe I can do better here.

Going to Hong Kong was like getting in a spaceship and blasting off to another world. Although Hong Kong is a first-world city, it's mind-blowingly different. Sure they have

Comments

Its like the man said:

[swestrup]

"The end of our exploring will be to arrive at where we started, and to know the place for the first time."

- T.S. Eliot

[pphaneuf]

Examining these things you've always "just believed" and questioning them, taking what's good and true, leaving the bad behind... True freedom. A big responsability, a lot of work, you have to do it yourself, instead of just taking what is handed to you and "just believing it", but totally worth it.

It's one of the things I've discovered on my own in the last few months, and made me reach wholly new levels of happiness. Sometimes, you discover something deep inside of yourself, and these things you "just believe" contradict them, so there's always this tension, this fight inside of you. Getting rid of this is very relieving!

It's funny...

[evildrgo]

I've always wondered if Punks and Goths could survive in HK. I'm leaning towards the endangered species end of things. You just had the trip I've always wanted as an adult. All my family is now here in Canada. I have no reason to go other than to visit...

Sounds like a great trip. Welcome home.

Re: It's funny...

[sfllaw]

It was a bittersweet trip, but I'm glad that I went. It's good to be back.

Ethnic homogenity...

[cpirate]

If you want to see somewhere where everyone looks the same (albeit not like yourself) without travelling so far, you need only go to Newfoundland. I still freak out a little bit sometimes when I realize that I'm in a crowd and not everyone is white. Alternately, it's a shock if I happen to set foot in the mall back home. Stupid lack of immigration.

On the other hand, there's a lot less racism in Newfoundland than you'd find in most other places with similarly small levels of visible minorities - the only minorities who ever move to Newfoundland are basically doctors or professors, so if anything there's this culture of "wow, immigrants are really smart. Let's try to get some more." The opposite of the usual bias, but reassuring in its way.

Re: Ethnic homogenity...

[cpirate]

Well, I'm from town, where there was at least this small amount of immigration by various professionals. Out in the sticks there would have been very little, so you get a bit of the "deep south" effect. *sigh*.

Hello

[anonymous]

I'm new here, just wanted to say hello and introduce myself.