Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Random Observations

Things I've noticed since arriving in Hong Kong:

  • at 5' 4", I tower above the average HK adult female (this is most obvious while standing in the MTR)
  • the streets of HK are as crowded as the streets of NYC
  • the pedestrians on the streets of HK are less orderly than those on the streets of NYC 
  • taxi drivers drive like hellions whether it's on a straight stretch of highway or on the winding hilly roads of the Mid Levels
  • I hear a lot more Mandarin now compared to a few years ago
  • people moan about the air pollution in HK.  But I say you ain't seen pollution till you've seen it in Beijing
  • there are a lot of androgynous-looking people here (not a judgement, just an observation)

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Election Fever

The final count is happening now.  Despite having lived in the USA for several years, I never quite "got" the election process.  Electoral college, popular votes.... to me, it doesn't quite make sense.  I know the history of how this process came about, but for heaven's sake, we are living in the 21st century now.  I am sure there is a fairer (and more democratic) way of voting.

And partisan politics is just messed up.  You do something because it makes sense, not because it's the Democratic or Republican stance.  Sometimes when I watch some of the campaign speeches and ads, I just want to put on my maternal hat & say, "Now, children, play nice and work together....you'll probably end up achieving better results that way."