Korean Barber

Hairdressing is quite a tough job, because you have to stand on your feet pretty much whole day. This is why oz is desperately short of hairdressers these days. When the demand exceeds the supply, the solution is obvious - importing from overseas. This not only applies to goods but human as well! Relax, I am not talking slave trading here, but the so-called skilled immigrants. To me they seem to serve a similar same purpose, the only difference is the modern day twist of the latter.

It is not difficult to notice that a lot of foreign hairdressers have decided to call oz home. I presume they are from everywhere, but Koreans hairdressers seem to be the most obvious group. They are awesome: polite, with strong work ethics and great skills (most of them). I specially like the mutual bowing during greeting hehehe. It is a very Asian etiquette... Ok, I am ready to confess now: yes, my hairdresser is a Korean.

Even though I have been living in oz for quite some time, I had only been to local aussie salons twice. Two different hairdressers, nonetheless, both turned out to be disasters. Asian hair is quite different to typical western hair. It is thicker (in terms of both volume and circumference of a single piece of hair) and straighter (literally). Aussie hairdressers are just not used to handling asian hair. Two disaster cuts are enough for me. I have since decided to be risk-averse and stick with my asian hairdressers.

With a tendency to over-analyse everything, I had my eyes on the male hairdressers. I wonder what would they score on a straight-o-meter. This seems to be a global phenomena that defies race and culture. But I guess it makes sense. I would not trust my hair with blokes who have rough edges. Hairdressers are a distinct breed who pay particular attention and take pride in their appearances (at least their hair). I am confident that they would score really well on the metrosexual-o-meter.

My trip to the church

Next Tuesday will be mid-autumn festival, which is a traditional Chinese festival. The church that my mum goes to is having a buffet today. Everyone has to prepare some food and share it with others. I was dragged along by my mum as well, just like what happened on lunar new year. I did not want to go, but my mum can't drive. I have no choice but to drive her there.

It is a Chinese church and people there are quite nice. The only thing I can bitch about them is that they try too hard to convert everyone they can get their hands on. New arrivals are being majorly targeted, because of their willingness to meet new people and extend their social circle. There are plenty of international students, who remind me of what I was like all these years ago.

Anyway, back to the buffet, I was being kinda anti-social and avoiding talking to others. Because if I do, they would try to convince me to go their weekly youth gathering or bible reading. When this happens, I would need to make up some lame excuses, like 'Sorry I have too much uni work lately'. Imagine if I say, 'I would love to come, but I will be too busy sucking and playing with a dick', the expressions on their faces would be priceless. But hell no, I am not ready to make a fool out of myself in front of them yet.

Another piece of useless information: one of the girl at the church is getting married this November. She is only one year older than me and has just finished uni last year! This kind of news, that people I know getting married, seriously scares me, because it forces me to think about myself and my future. She is quite pretty, I have to say. Long legs, silky straight hair and nice features. Her groom-to-be goes to the same church. How can I use one sentence to describe him? He is ...she can do better is probably what I am trying to say. Am I just being bitter and jealous at the fact that his is more conventional than me???

Doublethinker rocks

"Is that even a word?" This is my first reaction after reading this post titled 'Doublethink'. Well, according to wiki, Doublethink is the act of simultaneously holding two contradictory beliefs while fervently believing both.

I have to admit that this definition cound not have described me more accurately. Born and raised in China and having live in the west for several years, I believe that China should be a democratic country and democracy is a universal value. But I also believe that turning China to a democracy overnight will throw the country into turmoil and the current authoritarian communist party is the best and at the same time the worst party to lead China. I would openly critize the Chinese government, but I would also find subconsciously myself coming to its defense. Call me superficial, but this is me!

To me, doublethink seems like the best way of resolving any internal conflicts. By embracing two contradictory beliefs, one is allowed to find peace within oneself, when a compromise is seemingly impossible. You might call this a coward way of running away from conflicts, but this is sometimes the best way of resolving a conflict, or at least containing it until an ingenious idea presents itself. Take the dispute of Taiwan's sovereignty for example, US constantly affirms to China its One-China policy. On the other hand, US maintains extremely close military ties with Taiwan. This is the doublethinking ability of the US on full display.

Generation 1.5 is probably the most obvious group of doublethinkers. Generation 1.5 immigrate to a new country before or during their early teens, with myself being one. Generation 1 are adult immigrants, who typically hold on to their cultural traditions; the 2nd generation tends to identify more with their adopted country. But generation 1.5 is stuck somewhere in between two distinctly different cultures, beliefs and traditions. The easiest way of dealing of the differences is to embrace the differences. On last night's "Insight", a young Bangladeshi girl talked about her possible dilemma in choosing her future husband. She came to Oz when she was 5. Due to the western education she received, she wants to marry someone she loves, but she understands why her parents want her to get into an arranged marriage. Doublethink again comes to rescue, at least for now.

No one can deny that Hong Kong and Sinpapore are modern and technologically advanced international cities. Who would have guessed Feng Shui masters are one of the most prominent occupations in both cities? All the developers would hire some Feng Shui masters to advise their architects, so that they can achieve the optimal flow of Qi. Science and superstition, two completely opposite beliefs, coexist peacefully in these two cities.

I remember at the start of this year, during one of my engineering design lectures, my lecturer told us that we should think in terms of quadri-parity, instead of duality. Things do not have to be either black or white; they can be black and white at the same time or neither black nor white. (Doublethink chooses the 'both back and white' out of the four options. ) There is no doubt one needs to be flexible to be a doublethinker. Ingeious ideas are likely results of flexible thinkings.