Darhling! I felt I must respond to your previous post. I have definitely pondered those thoughts independent from your post (which is why we have such a WANG mind meld!). Yet recent events have caused me to revise my thinking.
Yes, the economy can ruin marriages, relationships, and the like. Yes, it can be a huge barrier in either moving forward, or moving on. But in the end, the key element in whether it works - is you. You and him/her. You, him/her and your family. We're Gen Y! Having grown up in an age where individualism, achievement and a "you can do it" attitude reigned supreme. My thesis is, it's on you. If you want it enough, you can make it happen. Examples? Cause in the end Gracie...you have to be with your family in TW, no? And as for supposed love separated by oceans? Well love is only sustainable when you try to make it work. Otherwise it's just a bunch of pretty words.
After all, my fav. CMU non-prof, Randy Pausch said "Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want something badly enough. They are there to keep out the other people."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Love and the Economy
It is all too common to reference the state of the economy in relation to jobs found and jobs lost, but what about in relation to lovers lost and found?
It's no secret that money problems are often cited as the most common cause of failed marriages. The recent financial crisis has also seemingly had polar effects one way or another, either by forcing the couple to continue living under the same roof or by accelerating the split of a not-very-happy marriage. But my real question (well, mainly of concern) is...how is this financial meltdown affecting younger unmarried couples? In other words, how is it affecting my own and (the majority of) my friends' relationships with their significant others?
Perhaps coming back home to Taipei was inevitable but I can't help but think that if the economy were in a better state, and jobs were easier to come by, then I would still be living in NYC working a somewhat respectable job. Or I would maybe have had fewer applicants to beat out for Columbia b-school. So yes, this economy has definitely had a resounding impact on my career prospects (obvi!) but maybe less obvious is the fact that leaving NYC meant leaving someone special that I deeply cared for. Oh, and of course, all my fabulous friends in NYC =)
Similarly, the more-than-abysmal job market in Hong Kong is also keeping apart two very distant lovers..
It's no secret that money problems are often cited as the most common cause of failed marriages. The recent financial crisis has also seemingly had polar effects one way or another, either by forcing the couple to continue living under the same roof or by accelerating the split of a not-very-happy marriage. But my real question (well, mainly of concern) is...how is this financial meltdown affecting younger unmarried couples? In other words, how is it affecting my own and (the majority of) my friends' relationships with their significant others?
Perhaps coming back home to Taipei was inevitable but I can't help but think that if the economy were in a better state, and jobs were easier to come by, then I would still be living in NYC working a somewhat respectable job. Or I would maybe have had fewer applicants to beat out for Columbia b-school. So yes, this economy has definitely had a resounding impact on my career prospects (obvi!) but maybe less obvious is the fact that leaving NYC meant leaving someone special that I deeply cared for. Oh, and of course, all my fabulous friends in NYC =)
Similarly, the more-than-abysmal job market in Hong Kong is also keeping apart two very distant lovers..
Monday, April 20, 2009
Ex-bankers Make Soap!
I always hear endless anecdotes of ex-bankers going out and opening up their own bakery, cupcake shop, bar or yo-yos. But here's a new one - SOAP!
An ex-colleague of mine, who was a fantabulous lady banker has now since left the tax-exempt/taxable municipal housing bond world (oh so exciting) and joined the ranks of countless recession-braving career-changing entrepreneurs and opened up her own handmade boutique (oh very exciting! no sarcasm this time)!
Her new boutique offers all-natural soaps and lotions made from pure botanical. My personal fav looks to be a convenient lotion stick with a pleasant grapefruit scent (mmmm citrusy!). So this Wang's suggestion is to visit www.ZaoNaturals.com and check it out. :)
An ex-colleague of mine, who was a fantabulous lady banker has now since left the tax-exempt/taxable municipal housing bond world (oh so exciting) and joined the ranks of countless recession-braving career-changing entrepreneurs and opened up her own handmade boutique (oh very exciting! no sarcasm this time)!
Her new boutique offers all-natural soaps and lotions made from pure botanical. My personal fav looks to be a convenient lotion stick with a pleasant grapefruit scent (mmmm citrusy!). So this Wang's suggestion is to visit www.ZaoNaturals.com and check it out. :)
Monday, April 13, 2009
To b-school or not to b-school?
The eternal question of 20-something-year olds around the globe. And currently, a big lurking problem in this Wang's life. There's plenty of dialogue out there as to each viewpoint on this topic...but my favorite comes from the Brazen Careerist who casts pithy well-written doubts on why b-school may not be the most efficient choice for current 20-something-year-olds.
And this is sentiment then leads to follow-up discussion on the difficulties in sorting this all out via a timeline. (with the deadline at the big 3-0)
And this is sentiment then leads to follow-up discussion on the difficulties in sorting this all out via a timeline. (with the deadline at the big 3-0)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
My 15 Min Morning Train Ride Thought
Long before Randy Pausch popularized the notion of CMU as a breeding ground for innovative thinking and knocking down brick walls, a young starry eyed class of 2005 sat in Gesling (that's the stadium for all you people who, like myself, never, ever dared venture to a CMU football game given the horror of it all) listening in on another grey-haired fellow imparting some droplets of wisdom. No, it wasn't our keynote speaker, who's name I forget but speech I regretfully remember as a mesh of timed pauses, 24, jack bauer and something about 'squares'.... But rather our illustrious president, Jared Cohen who spoke to Tim Friedman's concept: Globalization 3.0. Back in May 2005, he said something which always stuck with me for it's improbability, it's increduality: "this class in front of me, on average you will changes jobs seven different times and work in seven different countries"*
Yet now, nearly four years later...his predictions are surprisingly on track! As I leave my apt every morning for work, I pass by my half-sized fridge every morning out the door, on which is tacked a photo of five girls cheesing for some unknown cameraman (actually, it's most likely Llama). This morning, I actually stopped to take stock of the photo. From these five in nearly four years, have resulted seven different jobs with three distinct job changes and four different geographies: Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo & most recently Taipei... Hm. Looks like Cohen was on to something there.
Side note: So then people, if that is the case. We must prep and need on Globalization 3.0's strong infrastructure - get on skype!! Also, for those of you in need of a good webcam: I highly recommend (kick-arse Logitech 900 webcam).
Yet now, nearly four years later...his predictions are surprisingly on track! As I leave my apt every morning for work, I pass by my half-sized fridge every morning out the door, on which is tacked a photo of five girls cheesing for some unknown cameraman (actually, it's most likely Llama). This morning, I actually stopped to take stock of the photo. From these five in nearly four years, have resulted seven different jobs with three distinct job changes and four different geographies: Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo & most recently Taipei... Hm. Looks like Cohen was on to something there.
Side note: So then people, if that is the case. We must prep and need on Globalization 3.0's strong infrastructure - get on skype!! Also, for those of you in need of a good webcam: I highly recommend (kick-arse Logitech 900 webcam).
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Matter of Semantics
P.S. - Amy, I believe the appropriate term here is wang-ify. As in "beaut-ify". Or wang-erize. Wang-ionize?! We sound like a labor union.. or atomic particles ;)
Homeward Bound: The (literally) Breathless Journey
After a full 24 hours traveling from NYC's UWS to Taipei, I think I've somehow already beaten the jetlag and my internal clock is set to Taipei time. A somewhat triumphant beginning to my new life back home. But the trip itself wasn't all fun and games.
It started out smoothly enough. I arrived at the check-in counter somewhat behind schedule but EWR's international terminal seemed eerily quiet. No lines, no screaming children or hollering security guards directing traffic. I sauntered up to the EVA check-in counter with probably the biggest suitcase you can imagine (and I KNOW it exceeded weight restrictions) and two duffel bags (yes, amounting to a total of 3 bags) to check in. Thankfully, it's all been taken care of beforehand and Daddy already had his ppl call the arlines ppl. One of the baggage men, upon seeing my overweight luggage, demanded me to pay the overweight fee. I ignored him, and the check-in girl shushed him and handed him some Priority tags to put on my 3 bags. Then she handed me my boarding pass and a VIP lounge pass. Merci beaucoup! I couldn't help but let out the teensiest smirk.
As I approached my assigned seat, I saw that the entire row was empty. Awesome! This was going to be a wonderful trip. If only they had shut the gates a few minutes earlier. A panty old Vietnamese couple came running in as the engines revved up. I waited with baited breath as they headed towards me down the aisle. Then they fatefully stopped next to me. %(*%$$%! My dreams, shattered! I scooted in to give them their seats and was immediately assaulted by the foulest smell I have EVER experienced in my life. I have never inhaled that smell before and couldn't even begin to identify it. All I know is that I immediately felt nauseous and sick to my stomach and began to hatch an escape plan. The moment we were in the air, I was going to move all my belongings to another empty seat.
No such luck. Despite it being "low season", all the seats were taken (interestingly, mostly by Vietnamese ppl. At one point, I wondered if I was indeed on a flight back to TPE because I could not understand a single word of the chatter that surrounded me). Well, I was going to have to suck it up (the putrid smell, i mean). I soon realized that it was coming from a plastic bag the old lady next to me had in front of her. As the flight wore on, I was dying 1) from asphyxiation and 2) to find out from what monstrosity a stench like that could emanate. But all I could do was to try to breathe through my mouth and to elevate myself for any gasp of fresh air I could get.
By the 18th hour, as we began our descent, I was delirious from lack of air and food. I had lost any appetite I had on the flight. I pledged to myself that I would not let that toxic monstrosity into this country in which I will now permanently reside. I must do this is for my (new) countrypeople! I imagined myself grabbing a customs officer by the arm and pointing him to the bag like a drug-sniffing dog. He would open it, inhale it and immediately gaggle and choke in tears. Oops, teehee, I should have warned you!
As we deplaned, I surreptitiously kept my eye on the old couple, tagging closely behind them. I was on a mission, though I wasn't sure I had the balls to actually carry out my plan. Whew! It turns out I didn't have to. They made the turn towards transfers. I was relieved of my patriotic duties. Whatever they were carrying was going home with them back to Vietnam. Booyah!
On the car ride home with Mom and Dad was when I felt it all sink in - the realization that this was not another 2-week visit and that I needed to learn and settle into this ever-so-familiar yet increasingly-foreign country. Here I am again after 12 years. It's amazing to think I left this country at 13, crying for my parents and begging them to please, please let me stay. But at present, I feel both a sense of dread and anticipation for this new life I will begin to rebuild here.
This blog is where I will attempt to chronicle my adventures and thoughts as I re-acclimate myself to Taiwanese life. But more importantly, this is for all my friends back in NYC and everywhere else in the US and in other parts of the world, to keep you updated on my progress. (Since I'm not always very good at keeping in touch.) Thanks for reading! =) if in fact you did make it to the end of this extremely long entry.
And thanks, Amy, my other Wang, for sharing this blog with me. We are now thousands of miles apart but I know we are forever inextricably connected through years of friendship and infinite trouble-rousing-roomie adventures. You'll always continue be my excuse...somehow! =)
It started out smoothly enough. I arrived at the check-in counter somewhat behind schedule but EWR's international terminal seemed eerily quiet. No lines, no screaming children or hollering security guards directing traffic. I sauntered up to the EVA check-in counter with probably the biggest suitcase you can imagine (and I KNOW it exceeded weight restrictions) and two duffel bags (yes, amounting to a total of 3 bags) to check in. Thankfully, it's all been taken care of beforehand and Daddy already had his ppl call the arlines ppl. One of the baggage men, upon seeing my overweight luggage, demanded me to pay the overweight fee. I ignored him, and the check-in girl shushed him and handed him some Priority tags to put on my 3 bags. Then she handed me my boarding pass and a VIP lounge pass. Merci beaucoup! I couldn't help but let out the teensiest smirk.
As I approached my assigned seat, I saw that the entire row was empty. Awesome! This was going to be a wonderful trip. If only they had shut the gates a few minutes earlier. A panty old Vietnamese couple came running in as the engines revved up. I waited with baited breath as they headed towards me down the aisle. Then they fatefully stopped next to me. %(*%$$%! My dreams, shattered! I scooted in to give them their seats and was immediately assaulted by the foulest smell I have EVER experienced in my life. I have never inhaled that smell before and couldn't even begin to identify it. All I know is that I immediately felt nauseous and sick to my stomach and began to hatch an escape plan. The moment we were in the air, I was going to move all my belongings to another empty seat.
No such luck. Despite it being "low season", all the seats were taken (interestingly, mostly by Vietnamese ppl. At one point, I wondered if I was indeed on a flight back to TPE because I could not understand a single word of the chatter that surrounded me). Well, I was going to have to suck it up (the putrid smell, i mean). I soon realized that it was coming from a plastic bag the old lady next to me had in front of her. As the flight wore on, I was dying 1) from asphyxiation and 2) to find out from what monstrosity a stench like that could emanate. But all I could do was to try to breathe through my mouth and to elevate myself for any gasp of fresh air I could get.
By the 18th hour, as we began our descent, I was delirious from lack of air and food. I had lost any appetite I had on the flight. I pledged to myself that I would not let that toxic monstrosity into this country in which I will now permanently reside. I must do this is for my (new) countrypeople! I imagined myself grabbing a customs officer by the arm and pointing him to the bag like a drug-sniffing dog. He would open it, inhale it and immediately gaggle and choke in tears. Oops, teehee, I should have warned you!
As we deplaned, I surreptitiously kept my eye on the old couple, tagging closely behind them. I was on a mission, though I wasn't sure I had the balls to actually carry out my plan. Whew! It turns out I didn't have to. They made the turn towards transfers. I was relieved of my patriotic duties. Whatever they were carrying was going home with them back to Vietnam. Booyah!
On the car ride home with Mom and Dad was when I felt it all sink in - the realization that this was not another 2-week visit and that I needed to learn and settle into this ever-so-familiar yet increasingly-foreign country. Here I am again after 12 years. It's amazing to think I left this country at 13, crying for my parents and begging them to please, please let me stay. But at present, I feel both a sense of dread and anticipation for this new life I will begin to rebuild here.
This blog is where I will attempt to chronicle my adventures and thoughts as I re-acclimate myself to Taiwanese life. But more importantly, this is for all my friends back in NYC and everywhere else in the US and in other parts of the world, to keep you updated on my progress. (Since I'm not always very good at keeping in touch.) Thanks for reading! =) if in fact you did make it to the end of this extremely long entry.
And thanks, Amy, my other Wang, for sharing this blog with me. We are now thousands of miles apart but I know we are forever inextricably connected through years of friendship and infinite trouble-rousing-roomie adventures. You'll always continue be my excuse...somehow! =)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Hello and Welcome!
Hello and welcome to A Wangs World, a small little blog about two fantabulous Wangs living, eating, dancing, and generally causing a stir about two very different towns. The world is a big big place, but we're out to Wang-ionize it! :) Enjoy!
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