No, I dont care about A&F in Hong Kong

Ok, so if you have been keeping up with social media, been in Central, seen advertisements of half naked men, been recruited around town, or heard obnoxious testosterone noise pollution in Hong Kong- you probably know Abercrombie & Fitch is opening on August 11th in Central, right by the MTR station.

I’m just going to be honest and put it out there that I really don’t care for the giant flagship store that caused Shanghai Tang and other store owners to close down and lose their job. More over, I don’t care about the 100+ male models that were flown in for promotion. Don’t get me wrong, they are hot and really good looking, I also definitely understand all the infatuation with them but is all the hype really necessary?

I don’t blame all the girls and picture snapping woo-ing these guys boosting their ego, but I do blame the way they are advertised. It’s one thing to have a few guys outside the store, but its another to have a parade of “play-boys” riding around town half naked screaming and clapping. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3RVfb4EkOY&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

The image of a “perfect” guy or girl is already skewed in our world. To be hot and popular, girls have to be almost anorexic and guys have to have 8 packs and every muscle defined. To be totally transparent, I love working out and I want to look like those female olympic athletes but I’m willing to eat nutritious and work for it- while not comprising my health to fit into the “worlds norm”.

With all these guys walking around town, and the way they are promoted (aka, the YouTube video focused on their defined 8 packs), we are adding to this unrealistic image and unrealistic expectations for both females and males. The following quote is an example, taken from a random tumblr page (sorry!):

“But yeah got some photos with some of the dudes but OMG I can’t believe it happened and OMG I’m going Mad, Whole new standards for the men now for me… Seriously I died inside…”

With that being said…

  • DEAR MALES: it’s absolutely ok to NOT look like Abercrombie & Fitch models, if you do… great! We are impressed but don’t be a jerk just because you are hot. Keep your ego in tact. If you want to look like them, do your research and do it the right way. It’s not as easy as it looks.
  • DEAR FEMALES: Stop telling your boyfriend to look like that. Stop judging guys by the amount of muscles and six packs they have. Yeah, they look amazing. but you know what? if they treat you like a princess, give you comfort and security- that’s even more amazing!

I am absolutely not judging models, especially because I have some good friends who are but all I’m saying is, think twice next time before you drool over these men or put yourself down because you don’t look like that.

You are beautiful just as you are.
You are handsome just as you are.
Don’t let the world’s expectations get in the way of being YOURSELF.

Gather under the moonlight

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This photo intrigues me every time I look at it. It was taken at around 4:30 AM during beer fest. I had taken a friend visiting HK out that night to have a few drinks. After successfully showing my friend a good time, and might or might not have intoxicated him a little too much, we went on our merry ways home to get some rest.

Every weekend, this corner at the bottom of LKF is always quite lively with people walking by constantly and more often than not, many will stop and enjoy the music played by the street musicians that are there all night. I will admit to singing along with the songs every time I walk past. No matter what mood I’m in, that split second of music gives me joy.

Correct me if I’m wrong but street performers seem to be popping up more and more in Hong Kong. It’s quite fantastic, the art scene in HK is growing as well and it gives me faith that we will be able to fight whatever China wants to implement to our country. Oops, I meant city but I really just think its a country. Nonetheless, that was the first time I’ve seen so many people sit on the floor and listen to the live band.

I don’t know these live musicians but if I did, I’d ask them how they felt with so many audience that weren’t on the move. I’d imagine they touched many hearts that night with their songs. Maybe someone got the courage to share their feelings with someone they liked after listening to a love song. Maybe a bunch of friends sang and danced along to moves like jagger and flagged it as the grand finale of their night. Maybe someone was upset and simply needed the energy from the live band and the audience to lift them up. There were so many different memories being created. If I wasn’t so tired, I’d probably stay to observe the crowd and create a new memory for myself.

Never underestimate the power of music and community.

Perspective of an International student

Disclaimer: Below is simply my personal opinion. I apologize if I offend anyone.

I’ve had a lot of life talks this summer. Where are you going to be after graduation? What are you going to do? All the questions that make us college students cringe. Most of my classmates from high school have graduated this year (I took a gap year). Some have secured a job, some are going into grad school, and many of frantically trying to find a job in the midst of the chaotic job market.

Although what I want to tell you about doesn’t exactly relate, it did spark a conversation between my father and I this past weekend. He commented on how as  I start my final year at Emerson, I should begin looking for jobs, the earlier I start- the bigger advantage I have and if my Ushering job with Arts Emerson isn’t all that important, I don’t need to do it so I can focus on job hunting.

Despite not knowing what job I want to apply for, I agree I should start thinking about it early but I also found myself very reluctant in the idea of not working the Ushering job. As an international student fortunate enough to study in America without having to worry too much about financial issues, I think (correct me if I’m wrong) more often than now, others look at us differently. Understandably, we are looked upon as spoiled, spending extra money on things that we might not need but simply want. In a way, I’d agree we are.

Growing up in HK, especially in an international school, its unusual to work any sort of part time jobs while studying. Honestly, that idea has never really crossed my mind- until I started university in Boston and began to learn about a different culture and lifestyle. “I really need to find a job. I worked here and there during high school. I’ve got work today, etc” were conversations I would hear almost on a daily basis. My international friends and I had more free time than other classmates because we didn’t have any other obligations besides going to class.

Gradually, the idea sifted into my head. Sitting in our dorms on Facebook and Youtube during all this free time while other friends were earning money at work was a bit unsatisfying. Is it about fitting in? Perhaps, subconsciously. Though I never received any criticisms about being spoiled or being an international student, I think I felt if I were able to contribute to the “I’ve got work tonight, I can’t go to dinner” conversations, I’d feel more in place and be able to not be associated so much to the “spoiled international students” circle.

The process of applying for the on-campus job, the anticipation of an email from the employer, going for interviews, and getting the acceptance email was exciting. It felt good, almost as if I’ve become more responsible- I’ve moved up in the world.

Did getting a part time job really help me fit in with the college life? Did it help me make more friends? Maybe not. Maybe it’s all in my head. Maybe with or without the job, I’d still have fit into the culture just right. I know I don’t need the job, but its now become a part of my life in Boston. It helps me feel more secure in the midst of the uncertainty of what will happen after I graduate next year.

And plus, I get paid to watch professional and student run theater productions.

It’s a win-win situation.
Have you had a similar experience or thought? Please feel free to comment.