chronicle SINs

A Xiamen Working Trip

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Disappeared to Xiamen, China from 31 Oct - 08 Nov for a working trip.

Xiamen located southeast of China, and in the province of Fujian where most of our Singaporean Hokkien ancestors comes from. The place itself is getting urbanized. Heard from the cab driver on the trip to Xiamen airport at the last day that ten years ago and now the economic growth of Xiamen is tremendous. Cabbie driver was mentioning that the road and city planning most of it were modelled after Singapore city's planning. This was due to the exchange program between Singapore and China back in the early days. And yes I do notice the nice expressways and roads planned with familiar flowers/trees that we have here.

Talking about cab driver, there is one thing that I really cannot stand about them, and also not just them. Spitting seems like a common bad habit that they have there. Anytime, any day while driving as long as their throat are not comfortable, the sounds of grasping and then they will spit out of the cab window. Disgusted by this action but I can only see/watch...And some of their cabs need cleaning, dust accumulating that the seat belt when you buckled over, the layer of dust on it will stain your cloth.

On the weekends, one of the few things that I see makes me feel that I am fortunate to be growing up in this country that I am in. Just outside Xiamen University (one of their top ranking famous uni), a young chap (probably in the 20s age group) was begging for some money. When I went over to Zhong Shan road for a shopping spree, there is another youth doing the same act.

On the tiles of it wrote - "Please give me RMB $8, I haven't ate for days and the money is enough for me to have a meal and take a bus home..." On seeing the first time outside Xiamen University I wasn't having much feelings about it. Maybe it is first time seeing, beside the others who are disabled and begging for money. On seeing the second time at Zhong Hua road, I was a bit sympathized and wanted to donate, but then I realized I don't have small changes. Not that I am stingy, but my principle is that sufficient donation is enough for such scenario, otherwise it might become an abuse of sympathy. So I thought I will go have a dinner and come back to donate but when I was back an hour later, the young chap was not there anymore. Seems like some other generous donor probably have helped him out.

In the middle of writing this blog on Friday's night, I was disrupted by a work feedback and have to fill in the last paragraph over the weekend. But it seems that it has disrupted my mood to write the other stuffs....perphaps another time I can write about part 2 or 3.....

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