Prada Bags or How to Overcome a Cultural Shock

Since I am writing this blog you can assume I am alive, worked through the shock and ready for the "dragon boat" experience (if I finally stop promising and really go to that training on Saturday). But back to my experience of a cultural shock which was not as much based on seeing different people around me but more the conditions at work and how is the "business as usual" done in Asia.

Kiasu 

To understand a bit of local culture I have to explain again what is "Kiasu". Due to my understanding, and correct me if I am wrong, Kiasu is a really workaholic approach to life. Actually, one has no choice I'd say since people have at least 44 hours working week (French and Danish people must be shocked now :P). 

However, usual working week is even longer since there is a clause sneaked in your working contract (or at least in mine it is) saying "if needed stays also after usual office hours" - btw, I haven't seen the usual office hours stated anywhere ... Anyways, I feel really bad packing and leaving office at 6pm sharp since everyone seems to be still at their computer "saving the world".

Food Talks

I have already discovered that you cannot meet a Singaporean person avoiding a huge portion of some nastily caloric local food. Anyhow you wish to go around this rule, I think it's impossible since even instead of "How are you?" people rather ask you  "Have you already eaten?"

So one day, not avoiding a greasy banana roti prata, which is a sort of chapati style fried thick pancake, I got a another lesson on Singaporean culture. As explained by a friend, all Singaporeans go for 5 C in their life: Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium and Country club membership.

Meetings and Prada Bags 

Soaking into the kiasu and materialistic culture even more, we get a lot of unexpected meetings at work recently and every single one of them had a word Prada in it - and no, I am not working for a fashion company in any way. 

Basically, it is used by my boss as a motivation for us, ladies, to work hard so he can buy us all Prada bags in return (I am sure that now 90 percent of my western friends look at the monitor with a face like "wtf"). Yes, I have never worn and never plan to wear a Prada bag ... if someone gives me that thing I think I will run into the first shop, sell it and buy me a nice vacation somewhere in Australia :D

BTW, business meetings take around 2 hours, are a complete chaos, noone says anything constructive because they kinda try to be polite and avoid anything that could in any way offend, or better to say challenge, someone and there is never an agenda sent prior to the meeting and same goes for the meeting minutes ... so the total outcome of this businessing in Asia is: no progress.

Gym Heals it All 

Firstly, I thought I wouldn't make it through these kind of meetings and materialistic talks but actually I have somehow digested the way people are maybe also thanks to my everyday gym hang out. In the gym, there is no difference between Asia and the rest of the world ... all this built up bodies and stupid staring into the mirror ... all inclusive!

Stay tuned for the Dragon boat quest! I am sure it will be pretty amazing if I ever make it (I am a bit scared :D). I am also "working hard" to bring you some food stories from Asian cuisine, tasting like crazy creatures of all kinds and fruits you have never seen.