In Christmas spirits...

After days of personal imprisonment, I finally got a quick breath of fresh air before jumping into a car heading to the ever crowded Potomac Mills for some Christmas shopping.

As we arrived at the destination, despite my commitment to cut cost and an occasional enthusiasm with low-budget shopping, I quickly found myself sickened by the mountain of neglected last-season clothes and the flow of low-educated and badly-dressed shoppers. The Christmas spirits, instead of dorning a beaming glow on everyone, somehow managed to add a few more lines of stress across the faces already paled by the cold and the previous snow storm. People stood in lines for hours for some small little things that, to me, were often minute in value, ridiculous in design, and potentially zero in utility. They threw their new purchases into a cart and pushed it along the stream of similarly unhappy families at the mall.

Half way through the mile long mall, I decided to get some Auntie Anne sugar cinnamon sticks - an unavoidable treat for every trip to a shopping mall. Sitting at a plastic bench still haunted by the odeur of fast food (I would say Chicken McNugget, fries, and a large order of Coke!), I was suddenly intrigued by the couple next to me. As the man was looking through the shopping bags, the woman checked off a list of gift items written neatly on a pieace of pink post-it. At the end of the stock-taking exercise, she let out a tiny, albeit tiring, smile, reaffirming the man of some little girl who would be very surprised receiving these gifts.

Then, I suddenly forgot about the river of exhausted human beings flowing by me and thought of a family surrounding a Christmas tree full of presents. Despite all the pre-holiday angst and fatigue, at that very moment on Christmas Day, they would all be worth it when the receiver found some little surprise wrapped with love. And that, to me, more than these minutias, was what Christmas represented - a season of love for everyone.

A year-end contemplation...

December and the pre-holiday rituals of Christmas party madness rolled out so fast that in the blink of an eye, two-third of the month had already passed. It didn't help either that December was one of the busiest times of the year at work, as people pushed to wrap up unfinished business before their year-end vacations. In the midst of those social and professional maelstroms, a sudden snow storm temporarily brought me to a halt and contemplate the year that is about to end.

2009 was marked by 3 major achievements: my master's degree termination, my professional embarkation, and my social reconnection. In May, I graduated from one of the top school in International Affairs, and joined the most prestigious development institution as a consultant. There's still a lot of room to develop within this institution or within the sector, but given the economy's slow recovery, it was a privilege and comfort to be there. On the social front, I managed to spend a lot more time with friends, old and new, including a special trip to Vietnam for my best friend's wedding. It was a special moment, and topped with a much desired qualification for Star Alliance Gold status, which I got for the first time after 8 years flying with the Alliance. Given these achievements, 2010 looked even more exciting!

As I sat contemplating what I have achieved and looked to the future, I remembered what my friend Selina told me, "You should save something for the future, so that you have something to look forward to." Well, I believed as we achieved something, we would create new goals to reach, and that was how we should live our lives. Per suggestion of Will, I listed 5 things I would like to achieve, as of this moment.

1. Learn to ballroom dance - a passion and a dream that had been burning inside me, but due to time and financial constraints I had not got to do. I would like to learn all, and master at least the Viennese Waltz and the Argentine Tango.

2. Travel to Russia - a very special place, not only because of our Communist/Socialist connections, but also for the kind-hearted Russian men, the Red Square, the willow tree, and the burgeoning design paradise.

3. Renovate my parents' apartment in Hanoi - this 13-year-old 2-floor penthouse would be converted into a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment according to my masterplan, which should start within the next 2 - 3 years or so.

4. Take my sister on a trip to Europe - showing her the Europe that I loved, and bonding in a cafe somewhere on Champs Elysees.

5. Train to swim better - but I would be the one who set the standard to measure what "better" meant, right?

Some short-term, some medium-term, but I thought it was a good idea to at least put them down in writing and keep them on the back burner for now... So swim lesson first?

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010 everyone!

Photo Credit: Snow in DC - by Natalia Esina

Is it good to always have a plan B?

I got back to the US in one very upsetting piece.

Apart from my long layover in Singapore (half of which spent on an Asian-size stone-hard recliner at Changi Airport) and my 2 endless flights (both in economy cabin without personal video screen), my jetlagged ass arrived at work Monday morning with the possibility of losing my precious little office. Apparently soon (dunno when!) they would make consultants bring our own computer and find an undesignated space to work.

My Facebook friends probably saw pictures from my cute little office – my own little space where I could close the door and shut down noises and bureaucracy from outside. So you could imagine how I felt about the threat of losing it. In that context, it’s no surprised that my over-thinking mind has been overworking to figure out actions to maintain my fortress. But as I frantically called up compassionate colleagues to vent and seek advice, my ACS shook my shoulder and told me to take a chill pill. “Let it happen first,” he said, “then worry later!”

Let it happen first? Wow, I thought this guy didn’t know me at all. Growing up with extremely careful parents, I learned to have plan B (and C and D and so on) for everything. Every action, in my mind, came in the format of “If…, then…” clauses. Naturally I would like to be as prepared as possible when something happened. Examples of unpreparedness, such as my Thai friend who stood at the crossroad of separation worried about a divorce with his partner, reinforced my propensity to over-think even more.

Then I remembered about my meeting with a friend before her wedding and she mentioned having thought about the worst case scenarios when her relationship would not work out. “Then,” she said, “I would just fly away and recreate my life somewhere else, away from this country.” At first I thought that was such a great thing – her coming into this all thought out and prepared! And then, it struck me that the action that she was about to take was not just an impulse purchase or a detour on her way home; it was a life-changing step that should have been culminated from a solid love between her and her partner. Coming into that with a worst-case scenario mentality is not the type of preparation you want at all.

Suddenly, it seemed quite ok to let things happen first before you start worrying about them…and with that, I felt that I should enjoy my office, at least when I still had it for myself.


Photo credit: Mexico - by Hang Do

Bravery

What I really enjoy from my trips to places is not the stamps I get in my passport, or the surprise purchases I find, but the friends I get to catch up with.

This time in Hanoi, I had dinner with my dear angel N before her upcoming marriage in December. Part of our little Charlie & Angels group, she was the first to get hitched and even in a very prompt manner. But leaving behind a Sex & the City life with adventures, she felt a bit cowardish to choose such a family life. I kinda laughed at the idea - as I found her so brave to make such a decision while I couldn't even get myself in a relationship. Men after men, I shook my head and escaped as soon as I found a tiny reason to do so, therefore avoiding the tiniest possibility of failure. There she was, braving herself through a marriage with optimism - I considered her very strong and admired her so very much.

The following day I took a flight to Bangkok. Sitting in the evening traffic jam, I cringed at the thought of living here and suffering this jam everyday. The noise, the dirt, the bottleneck frustration represent the general feeling I get from Hanoi's political and social atmosphere. I can't wait till the first chance to get out.

As I yearned for the moment I would sit comfortably on the plane, I was a tiny bit troubled by such demonstration of my very own cowardice. Here milions of people braved though that chaotic madness to live by - people like my family who escaped the frustration outside to find even more sadness at home. My brother in law just declined a scholarship to Japan to stay and help out with the family. When facing options, not everyone rush for the first exit. And that's what I would call bravery.

If they can deal with that, why can't I brave through the tiny bits of bureaucratic hurdles at work to enjoy and make the most our of life?

An apartment built for one....

In the blink of an eye, the year-end holidays are already around the corner. As David Archuleta's new Christmas album suddenly seems so fitting with popperies and bubbling hot cinnamon apple cider - a night at home or indoor is never better justified.

Speaking of home - I ended up not having to move any time soon until possibly next June when my contract is up for renewal. This continuation calls for some shake up in the interior decor, as the fickle me cannot stand living in the same "condition" for so long. There is no better time for such a make-over project, especially with the current of interior hunting among my dear DC friends, who have bookmarked websites such as Craigslist and made more trips to Marshalls, Tjmaxx, Homewood, and the like than grocery stores.

So as part of my interior design adventures, yesterday I passed through West Elm with Alan for, partially, him to check out furniture for his up-coming home office. Somewhere halfway through our shopping adventure, I had a distinctive unease - something half sadness, half anger, and topped by a grin of exhaustion. I couldn't name it or understand where it had come from, but it was lingering somewhere in the back of my mind.

Later, I went to Tim & Huong's for dinner and to check out their new pad. As I was listening to my friends' grand ideas and like-steal purchases, I got to pause for a few seconds to think about "home-making." More than putting pieces of furniture together according to some model home from Elle Decor or Architectural Digest, my friends are building a home for themselves, be it a cozy loveshack of Huong & Tim, a 2+ cohabitation of No&Toan, or an indoor-playground-included family of Diep&Phi. There's something there that fits them, that sparks love, that nurtures their relationship through fun, fights, and fears.

And then at that very moment, I realized what had struck me earlier that day - I was home-shopping with a man I was not building a home with - and the result not necessary a home, but a well-decorated space - for one. As Huong's earlier observation - "I think you always look for a big love!" - rang in my head, I shrugged at the long yearning for a home-building partner, with an air of exhaustion blanketing my mind.

I am never pessimistic - but there are just moments like this, when I look back, look again, and then just have to shake myself hard to regain the optimism to look ahead.

Photo credit: Fashionation - by Elle

In conversations...

Autumn is supposed to highlight beautiful foliages adorned by glittery coats of soft sunshine and giggling in mildly chilly breezes - but this Fall, it has been pretty much just cold rains or cloudy sky in Washington.

In that weather, it is not unusual that I am spending more and more time indoors, even though I have been trying to diversify that with different ambiances and venues - from cozy cafes to fun fiestas - to improve the moodiness that the outdoors inflicted upon me. As a result, I ended up in a number of interesting conversations, among which, one particularly got stuck in my head was the one I had yesterday with my friend Linh.

As we exchanged stories about our childhood and youth insecurity, Linh mentioned the blatantly obvious preferential treatment for better looking individuals. These pretty ones - athletes, beauty queens, models - could sometimes have it so easy for them that they would not need to work as hard. I recalled a basket ball player in college who, despite his mediocre academic and sport record, became the posterboy of the economics department and went on getting some offer from an accounting firm. Again, big generalization here, as many so-considered "pretty ones" worked just as hard, and some less good-looking ones did get lucky at times - and for a self-claimed social scientist, I valued some hard evidence with rigorous evaluation before jumping into conclusion.

Yet, as I was left getting ready for a birthday party after Linh had left, I couldn't help wondering to what extent look could influence the success of our lives. This puzzle became even more intriguing as I observed some interesting phenomenon at the party I went. Two slightly older Asian gentlemen - one average looking, the other outstandingly tall, dark, and somewhat handsome. As the night progressed, it seemed obvious that a crowd gradually gravitated toward the latter, while the former struggled to fit in - even though I would concede that they were roughly equal in conversational quality (ok - very bad comparison here, but you get the point!). This difference left me thinking, if look could help one be social without being considered slutty, flirty but not aggressive, forward but not creepy, then one is guaranteed an entry-point comfortable and confident enough to show his true beautiful self. In social settings, that's halfway to success already.

If professional success is partially driven by interpersonal relations, then how much can look leverage personal success? Obviously this varies in different settings - and no study, no matter how rigorous, can specify the magnitude look influence professional success. But I think it is safe to say, if one is good looking, then the good hard-earned results can be enhanced exponentially.

Too bad I will never get to that point - so right now, just have to continue the hard-working life of a consultant. Enough for the weekend, xoxo.


Photo credit: Autumn by Slime.

On ICT - again...

So I finally got my driver license last Friday!

I put off driving lessons for a long while - thinking I will either become rich enough to have a chauffer or never become rich enough to have a car. Well, Zipcar changed that concept drastically and I finally said to myself that I needed to learn - and so I did. In 6 weeks, thanks to my friend Toan, I went from never touching the wheel to passing the Virginia road skills test and possessing my very own driving license. It was a big deal, yeah, so within seconds I managed to post an exclamatory remark on Facebook, via my Iphone. Ten minutes after that, I already got several replies from all over the world, before I even touched the temporary driving permit.

Facebook and IT have majorly changed our mode of interactions - I don't need to say much about this obvious fact but would only like to zero in the significant speed by which we are updated about our friends' lives. Even during an important meeting, I did no fail to update on my friend's break-down and efficiently sent a consoling little card. Even in between deadlines, I never forgot to timely wish a friend a happy birthday. Facebook saved me the hassle of searching for information, as they are all readily available, just seconds after the events themselves.

Yet as my friend Will contemplated keeping his blog - a mechanism to let his friends worldwide know about his adventures and daily minutias - I realized that Facebook, like any other utilility-generating mechanism in this world - was also driven by the law of diminishing marginal returns. The more information we get, the less utility we gain from each information. This is a big generalization I know, but I think it does take away a little bit of excitement to learn about a friend's new dog, new job, or new man (or men, to be precise).

So, what do we do? Should we change our mode of access to information? I personally think that the changes in IT is inevitable - and what we should do is to change our own attitude of embracing it. Go for specialization - a blog is for something more special, more personal, as opposed to daily updates to be posted on Facebook. But that in itself is a challenge, because not every blog can paint the best picture of the owner's life and thoughts.

But we live for challenges, don't we?

Photo credit: Spoongraphics.

Curiosity

As humans, we are born with curiosity.

Some people are constantly curious, such as my friend Alan who consistently looks up meaning of phrases or does basic info check on different things - an obsession that has been severed by the arrival of his IPhone. Some people are selectively curious, like myself for example - I only want to know certain things, and only do it when I have time.

Yet no matter what level of curiosity we have, there is always a topic that each and every one of us dies to know as much, if not everything, as possible – that is relationship. One date and all we can think of is how to get into the other’s head, exploring every single emotion and thought of ourselves that he/she may have had. There are thousands of questions are to be answered – while there’s no way to be asked. They creep into our head and haunt us for as long as we are still excited about the guy/girl. Recently I went on a date with this charming guy who I was very curious to learn more about. Somewhere between the gentleness of his kisses and the smoothness of his skin against mine, I felt indescribably comfortable and safe, like a haven of silky smooth cushions in which I crawled up and slept away. But as I left wanting more and more, my mind started to twirl with the thousands of questions which I bombarded on a common friend of ours. Questions like "What kind of guy is he?" "Is he worth pursuing?" and ultimately, “is he into me?” erupted like a volcano in our G-chat window as the charming gentleman texted me for a second date.

Such curiosity, however, was met by a harsh splash of cold reality – on which I will spare you the detail. Such disappointment, however, made me think of curiosity. We are living in an era of accessible information, when copyright-protected AI are easily cracked, when Google revolutionized the way we search for info, and when IPhone brings Google to any place with 3G connection. In such time when curiosity is so easily satisfied, does it oversupply information – including those we do not need to know?

Then I remember that it is us who choose our source of information and it’s my professors who always stressed the importance of primary sources. It is fine to be human. It is ok to be curious – but just have to make sure that we get the truest and most incredible source of the information inquired.

And just like that, I closed the g-chat window and texted a positive reply.

Photo credit: Curiosity by Jon Bertelli

Changing Season

It worked like clockwork.

No more sluggish August days. September suddenly came – and everything in Washington started running with high speed. Everyday there were several deadlines, which managed to punctuate the day in a fashion that guaranteed either a working lunch or a working through lunch. With such business, it was hard to find time to enjoy the cool breezes and the chilly temperature perfect for a light cotton cardigan.

Hidden by that sudden jolt of reality, it seems that Washingtonians are putting extra effort to find occasions for get-togethers, making sure that we get out as much as possible before the cold finally hits the city – from the institutionalized birthdays, housewarmings, welcome-back, good-byes (?!?!), to the random long-time-no-sees. My social calendar thus got a sudden boost of pride as I desperately need it to keep track of various types of engagements that I once thought I could keep all in my head.

Yet it is almost ironic that in the middle of this season, I started to feel the discomfort of being a social butterfly. With connections becoming more superficial from one event to another, I yearn for the cozy human contacts of close friends with whom I can share just about everything. It was suddenly dawned on me, however, that many of those are relocated to half-way around the world – and despite what we say about being only a phone call away, we are still half a world apart.

As a breeze naughtily blew through my collar, I shivered and thought of my friends, of our impromptu phone conferences, our own get-togethers, our special birthday presents, our road trips, and our special friendship. Out there in Hanoi, Saigon, Singapore, New York, or elsewhere, are you thinking the same?

Credit: Autumn Breeze - Kathryn Abernathy

Summer Fling

This past week, as Washington perseveres the late-summer humidity, it was dawned on me that the window for a summer fling is almost closed. With young interns packing up their belongings, the District waves goodbye to some beautiful summer memories - and yearns for the next May to come. In that spirit, I found it the perfect time to wrap up what was left from my summer romance and shrug off the dramas and baggages it carried.

It started out just glittery and romantic as those fireflies that sparkled the little trail from M Street to Georgetown when we walked through, hand in hand, starry eyes, and occasional kisses. He was so good on paper: 30, lawyer, avid runner, worldly and smart. Sure there were a few shortcomings. Sure he was not very much my physical type. But in some way, he was like a fedora - I knew it's not my style, but it was right there, so I tried it on anyway. Somehow throughout the improtu meet-ups and the abnormally frequent dates, the ideas of having him along was pleasant enough that it became almost like a bad habit - you know you should stop but it's too painful to go through the awkward conversation.

Yet as the summer gradually closed, I knew it was time to stop the realistically cruel romance when one night I painfully put on my shoes to go meet his friend in Georgetown. Sitting through what seemed to be an endless (or bottomless?) cup of coffee - I told myself it was too excruciating (and costly) to carry on. And I stopped it.

As I contemplated my summer and my fair share of summer flings, I couldn't help wondering why they have become so frequently addictive - is it because of the summer weather, an overly warming heart, or simply a groin in heat? It's hard to tell. But what is more mind-blogging is the gradually lessened degree of pain associating with it - I was heart-broken saying good-bye to Adrian, sad to see it ended with Gary, but this time, I only felt lightly regretful - without even knowing what I regretted about...

And then, suddenly, I realized that I was regretting the ability to feel crazy and angry, to feel the pain of a broken heart, of shattered memories. As we go through life and try to be stronger - there is just that little trade-off of becoming more jaded and cynical about life, about love, about others...

... or is it not so little at all?

Photo credit: Summer Fling by Megan Aroon Duncanson

family

I realized today that I don't blog about my family very often.

It's not a typical gay-son-distanced-from-his-family story. As a matter of fact, I love my family dearly, and probably even more since I left for school. Being far away from home, I hold on to only beautiful memories of my family members and cherish the little time we have together each year - even though at the end of each visit, I often feel like I've got enough of a family dose that can last well until the next one.

The reason for my revelation today is that I've been absolutely hooked on Brothers & Sisters. This show is beautiful put together and exploits to the core the family dynamics that everyone of us can identify with, be it the overly worried and boundary-blind mother; the subtly loving but equally secretive father; the other woman and her daughter who unavoidably take part in the whole family drama; and an uncle who struggles to have his own life outside of this dysfunctional family. Yet above that is the demonstrably immense love and support for each other of the siblings who share no secrecy, who fight like cats and dogs but always show up for each other when in need.

The series constantly evoked more beautiful memories of my family members - especially when I desperately needed help: my father worrily sitting at my bedside to attend to my fever, begging me to eat just another spoon of porridge; my mother making dozens of call to help me figuring out the bureaucracy of my scholarship; and my sister comfortly hugged me before I left the country and especially this summer, when she finally accepted me as who I am.

Yet, as much as I find strength and support from my family, I sometimes wonder if the family structure and its underlying Asian structure are always so supportive. First, the emphasis on maintaining an idealistic family structure can be doubly destructive. I feel that I was lucky to be born in such time when sending kids abroad was popular and feasible. Looking at my sister and her generation, when the common ideals were to get married, have a family and a stable government job, and survive the rest of your life. She didn't know, at the time, that she could dream of flying away, of experiencing different things. What I see in her family, as well as my cousins who still live at home, is solely a sense of surviving their life. That family pressure was imposed on them and finally coopted them into a prestructured life without much personal enjoyment. Of course, my sister may feel perfectly happy with her choice - I couldn't help wondering if she would have chosen something else if she were in my shoes, or even now, with exposure, albeit late, to different things.

Second, while providing an unequivocal safety net to family members, it can become a source of over dependency. As my friend Will explains it, a lot of young people in various countries across Asia live with their families, so their income can be spent on themselves. With that, they have less incentives to try harder to pursue something much bigger than a mediocre job. I find this relatively true for quite many people.

Yet, it is not an excuse to blame our families for everything. All these aside, family is still our eternal source of strength. I know mine is, for both me and my sister - especially in times like this when she needs more help than ever with her children. At the end of the day, when you know that there are people who love and support the you you are, it is truly an utmost comfort and luxury.

looking for the comfortable fit....

In these past few weekends, I have become quite resentful of packing overnight bags or for weekend trips. The truth is that I don't have a bag that is reasonably big for a lot of options - so I often find myself scratching my head, thinking of what to wear the following day(s). While convincing myself that the light bag will ultimately benefit my form in the long run, I often end up with more headache than needed, and definitely more late records at work.

I used to have this sturdy Ben Sherman weekender that was of just the perfect size - with every single feature you can imagine for a short weekend trip, such as designated compartments for toiletries and shoes - until my friend Dash broke it without replacement (Ehem!). Since then I have been looking for another that fits, and to my disappointment, I am faced with more annoyance and hassles before every single weekend trip.

I guess looking for a perfect fit is what we constantly do in life - something comfortable, like a keepall that can, well, keep all that we desire. Sometimes we know things don't fit just by looking, but most times, we often like to try them out - even though we many times we have to regretfully take all the stuff out and repack again. Relationships are just like that. Take my friend Viet, who we saw in Philadelphia. For years he bent himself backward, trying to fit into some conventionally expectation of a romantic partner with unexpected long-distance visits, romantic dinners accompanied by roses and piano recitals at luxury hotels, exclusive classical concerts, etc. They worked, to a certain extent, but those relationships never lasted, leaving him with quetions about his choice of girls. And then he met Minh - a down-to-earth girl with a lot of character and charms - and they fell in love just like that, organically and beautifully, without pretentious tactics. By staying true to himself, Viet has found a comfortable fit.

Is this process of constantly trying a nightmare? Yes, indeed, but at the end of the day, a perfect fit is most likely going to make us very happy. A sturdy bag carries a long way just like a fitting relationship that lasts for years... Just one thing though, a relationship carries with it a lot more emotional baggages than a bag (not that a bag doesn't come with emotional attachments, just less!) - how thick-skin can we be to constantly trying?

* Photo credit: Sir Sean Connery for Louis Vuitton - the new Waterproof Keepall.

A summer surprise in Chicago

I hadn't fully overcome my jetlag from the Asia trip when I boarded my UA flight to Chicago last Friday. But that exhaustion quickly disappeared as the summer breeze caressed my bare arms and kissed upon my cheeks. (My hair, thanks to good products, stay intact.)

In the summer, Chicago adorns a colorful outfit that glitters in the soft sunshine. For a few warm months of the year, Chicagoans can spend as much time outdoor as humanly possible - and that's exactly what they do: lying on the grass, playing in the park, showering under the water fountain, or best, eating outdoor. Chicago has a great number of excellent restaurants that pleasantly surprise their patrons. Two of my most favorites include:

* Ralph Lauren's RL Bar & Grille

The vision and decor of Ralph Lauren compliment the classic all-American cuisine served by waiters wearing polo-embroidered shirts and stripe ties. The salon has several luxurious leather armchairs that you just want to sink into and spend an indefinite amount of time reading books, or admiring the beautiful photos artfully hanged on the wall.

* Le Colonial

This upscale French-Vietnamese restaurant captures the beauty, romance, and spirits of the French colony in the 1920s with floor-to-ceiling French windows, lush potted palm and banana trees, brick tiled ceiling, and nostalgic black-and-white photos of Saigon in the early century. The food is delicious and relatively authentic, which will take your mind out of both place and time.

But the most pleasant surprise of all has to be the new $300bn Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, which is interestingly connected to the Millenium Park by a long upward bridge. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, the Modern Wing with its light-color wood and white interior provides a refreshing home for the museum’s collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. A true must-see!

And just like that, I carry those beautiful memories back to work - longing for the next visit out to the midwest....

Beijing - a new land of fantasy?

I took 3 days in Beijing on my way to Hanoi, and let me tell you, it’s a fascinating time to be in Beijing right now.

I didn’t just say that out of the ostentatious level of wealth possessed by some Chinese families these days, even though I was absolutely surprised, and rather annoyed, by the number of kids running around and crying in the Business Class cabin.

I didn’t just say that out of the somewhat expected degree of pollution, either, even when it really brought the worst out of some people, such as my Singaporean friend Selina, who uncharacteristically swore at everything, from her uncontrollably frizzy hair to Chinese rudeness.

Beijing is fascinating because of its burgeoning art scene. From beautiful architectures to a vibrant art community filled with amazing galleries and hard-working art dealers, it’s no better place to be than in the Chinese capital. Indeed, a friend of mine quitted her job in New York to work for an art gallery in the 798 art zone. Now she no longer spends sleepless nights to meet deadlines but surfs from one gallery opening to another meeting with art patrons. Dressed in style, surrounded by a beautiful art crowd, she never felt more alive.

And so do art lovers such as myself – or anyone with a tiny bit of appreciation for beautiful grand things. As I strolled through contemporary exhibitions and admired bold, iconic infrastructures, I was taken to a land of fantasy, where the dreams of becoming bigger, better, and more beautiful are woven and realized at a speed that, well, could very much be as fast as their economic growth.

But art can even offer a better escape. In a country where Facebook is blocked, artists are apparently left relatively free to express their point of view, even their criticism of the government. As my Chinese art dealing friend explained to me, Chinese artists are still testing the water to see where the boundaries are… As a country in transition, both the government and its citizens still have to see where to draw the appropriate line… but exactly for that reason, art is blooming in some very unexpected directions.

Just try to avoid the summer, but otherwise, go see it for yourself.

A new journey

Two months after my graduation, and I am here taking the first few steps of my new journey – the one that would last lifetime.

You know, I have taken many trips in life - traveling is one of my biggest passions. I have been living away from home - and I really mean a long way, as in half way around the world long - for almost 7 years. I have traveled to 25 countries. I have reached the bottom of Singaporean sea in a kayak trip and trekked up the mountain in India; eaten koala and kangaroo meat in Sydney and dined in style with foie-gras and wine in Paris; delivered aid to the cyclone-infected delta in Burma and worked with junior delinquants in Scotland; as well as strutted on the grand avenues of New York, London, Milan, and Hongkong - the biggest fashion capitals.

Yet, I have to confess. This new journey is a bit daunting. Because I am entering the real life. With a real job.

With an M.A. in International Affairs from the top school in this field, I have entered the work force with my first real job ever at a multilateral development agency. It's not my first time "working" with big multilaterals, but for the first time, I am undertaking real responsibility, having real worries, something much substantial than what to wear today, or how much time I would have at the gym.

So I decided to start this blog - not to rant about the difficulties at the new job - but to celebrate life as it is – très magnifique! It's not meant to be a professional blog, even though I am sure I will have a lot of interesting things to say about my job - because I absolutely love it! But this blog is meant to share the emotions and thoughts of someone who starts his career in an approximately 9-5 job but is unwilling to surrender to the salaryman conundrum and committed to pursue his passions of traveling, arts, dance, design, passion, men, and many more.

So until the next time.
Biz.