Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - The Sojourner

Yorick · 03-28-2001, 12:59 PM

O.K. O.K. It's because I've been working. Teaching can be quite draining and puts me in a different mindset. I have actually done a lot of talking and even more listening, with locals, ex-pats, old friends up here teaching as well, and new friends. There are some perceptional phenomenas that have taken place. Both I and a female lecturer here both noticed a change in the way we looked upon the chinese here.

This may sound wierd so hear me out.

When you look at someone, there are subconcious things that you can't help but notice. Age, race, sex, hair colour etc. If you spend time analysing people things like subclass or estimated profession also get noted. Nothing done with the mental note, just a way of the memory filing that person for recollection. (I'm good with faces - rarely forget one)

Anyhow we BOTH after a week of being here each stopped viewing the Chinese as 'Chinese'. Of course to them we are bizzare looking Caucasians, me 6ft tall & with curly light-brown hair/blue eyes, and her with totally natural very blonde hair, both stick out like sore thumbs, but of course we don't see us (other than when we see each other). All day long I'm looking at Chinese faces which are now indistinguishable to me as 'Asian'.

Are you with me? I'm not being racist - nor was I before. I love these guys, I have some great Chinese friends in Sydney - one very close. The people here are some of the most beautiful I've seen, (and I'm more than a little attracted to some of the females here just quietly.)

What I'm talking about is a perceptional shift, and it excites me. Being here has changed the way I'm receiving visual information.

There are aspects of my religious faith that have grown too. Immensely. One can't help it, being surrounded by the joy radiating from 12 000 believers. I only get to see a fraction of them. Their generostity, friendliness, sensitivity, soul, the light in their eyes when they smile.... it overwhelms me, drives me to teach all I have in me, give them that which they seek, answer any question at any time.

I feel like I'm healing from my divorce as well. Every now and then the blackness threatens to challenge my happiness. It comes in a dream, that taunts me as I wake. Or a memory, a regret.

It used to be all I could do to put one foot in front of the other, but now the pain subsides quicker when it rears its head.

My observations on Singapore will be clearer when I leave, I think. Distance helps clarify a bigger picture after all. Some things I've been pondering on though is that the Chinese are like Anglo-Australians in some ways. Recently descended from inhabitants of cooler lands, living in a hotter one. Living in a city founded by British, containing various races, having to deal with the consequences of a minority Aboriginal population. (The Malays are under 15% of the pop. The Chinese 80% )

I have the China bug. I've been reading about the various provinces, the dialects, the histories. If and when Europe unify, it will be no different to that which China did. A merger of cultures, languages and foods.

I have pondered the origins of Spaghetti. Did Marco Polo bring back a new way to shape pasta based on the Chinese noodle? Or was it the other way round?

Singapore has a strong eating out culture. For $2AUD or under a Pound sterling, or U.S. 50c you can get the tastiest Laksa, or curry, or Mee siam, or any other culinary delight that tastes an absolute sensation, is quickly prepared and thus is cheaper and faster than cooking at home. I haven't cooked one meal since I've been here.

There are other intersting things. Singapore is very well ordered. Nothing is out of place. No graffiti exists. Plan, order, cleanliness. Some find this restrictive - the lack of wild. I see that it makes good sense, as I mentioned in an earlier post. It certainly is safe walking the streets at 3am.

Ramon, Bilqis, thanks for your prodding. The personal issues are partly why I didn't post also. I feel like I am challenging my role in this world. I'm challenged by notions of 'society' and 'birthplace'. When I'm with friends from Sydney here, it feels like home and I'll refer to Sydney as "here" when of course it is "there".

I'm teaching tomorrow. Sleep is of the essence.

Adios for now.

------------------
"Check the sustain on this one ... aaaaaaaa, I mean you could go out for a bite and there'd still be aaaaaaaaa"

"Can I touch it?"
"No. It can't be played"
"Can I look at it?
"No we've seen enough of that one....."

A fair dinkum laughing Hyena!

03-28-2001, 12:59 PM	#83
Yorick Very Mad Bird Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Breukelen (over the river from New Amsterdam) Age: 53 Posts: 9,246	O.K. O.K. It's because I've been working. Teaching can be quite draining and puts me in a different mindset. I have actually done a lot of talking and even more listening, with locals, ex-pats, old friends up here teaching as well, and new friends. There are some perceptional phenomenas that have taken place. Both I and a female lecturer here both noticed a change in the way we looked upon the chinese here. This may sound wierd so hear me out. When you look at someone, there are subconcious things that you can't help but notice. Age, race, sex, hair colour etc. If you spend time analysing people things like subclass or estimated profession also get noted. Nothing done with the mental note, just a way of the memory filing that person for recollection. (I'm good with faces - rarely forget one) Anyhow we BOTH after a week of being here each stopped viewing the Chinese as 'Chinese'. Of course to them we are bizzare looking Caucasians, me 6ft tall & with curly light-brown hair/blue eyes, and her with totally natural very blonde hair, both stick out like sore thumbs, but of course we don't see us (other than when we see each other). All day long I'm looking at Chinese faces which are now indistinguishable to me as 'Asian'. Are you with me? I'm not being racist - nor was I before. I love these guys, I have some great Chinese friends in Sydney - one very close. The people here are some of the most beautiful I've seen, (and I'm more than a little attracted to some of the females here just quietly.) What I'm talking about is a perceptional shift, and it excites me. Being here has changed the way I'm receiving visual information. There are aspects of my religious faith that have grown too. Immensely. One can't help it, being surrounded by the joy radiating from 12 000 believers. I only get to see a fraction of them. Their generostity, friendliness, sensitivity, soul, the light in their eyes when they smile.... it overwhelms me, drives me to teach all I have in me, give them that which they seek, answer any question at any time. I feel like I'm healing from my divorce as well. Every now and then the blackness threatens to challenge my happiness. It comes in a dream, that taunts me as I wake. Or a memory, a regret. It used to be all I could do to put one foot in front of the other, but now the pain subsides quicker when it rears its head. My observations on Singapore will be clearer when I leave, I think. Distance helps clarify a bigger picture after all. Some things I've been pondering on though is that the Chinese are like Anglo-Australians in some ways. Recently descended from inhabitants of cooler lands, living in a hotter one. Living in a city founded by British, containing various races, having to deal with the consequences of a minority Aboriginal population. (The Malays are under 15% of the pop. The Chinese 80% ) I have the China bug. I've been reading about the various provinces, the dialects, the histories. If and when Europe unify, it will be no different to that which China did. A merger of cultures, languages and foods. I have pondered the origins of Spaghetti. Did Marco Polo bring back a new way to shape pasta based on the Chinese noodle? Or was it the other way round? Singapore has a strong eating out culture. For $2AUD or under a Pound sterling, or U.S. 50c you can get the tastiest Laksa, or curry, or Mee siam, or any other culinary delight that tastes an absolute sensation, is quickly prepared and thus is cheaper and faster than cooking at home. I haven't cooked one meal since I've been here. There are other intersting things. Singapore is very well ordered. Nothing is out of place. No graffiti exists. Plan, order, cleanliness. Some find this restrictive - the lack of wild. I see that it makes good sense, as I mentioned in an earlier post. It certainly is safe walking the streets at 3am. Ramon, Bilqis, thanks for your prodding. The personal issues are partly why I didn't post also. I feel like I am challenging my role in this world. I'm challenged by notions of 'society' and 'birthplace'. When I'm with friends from Sydney here, it feels like home and I'll refer to Sydney as "here" when of course it is "there". I'm teaching tomorrow. Sleep is of the essence. Adios for now. ------------------ "Check the sustain on this one ... aaaaaaaa, I mean you could go out for a bite and there'd still be aaaaaaaaa" "Can I touch it?" "No. It can't be played" "Can I look at it? "No we've seen enough of that one....." A fair dinkum laughing Hyena!