Quite like the sound-bytes from Vincent Wong of CRHK, have listened to him every morning when I am driving to work around 9:10am from the local radio 95.8FM (they broadcast different sound-bytes and programmes from RTHK/CRHK/MetroRadio during the day mixing with their own low-budget ones in between which some of them are pure torture to both the ears and the mind). The sound-byte is like 5 minutes long but he manages to speak about something really interesting every time. In one occasion he even talks about CPPIB, which of course all shareholders of Auckland International Airport would not be unfamiliar with. His international perspectives on things have kept me listening, and today again he has raised an interesting issue.

Some researchers have studied the differences in perspective and priority between eastern and western people with some simple tools in experiments – like a picture of an elephant in a forest or a set of ball pens with 4 of them are red and 1 of them is yellow. Result? Eastern people would tend to focus on the forest and pick a red pen; while western people would be opposite in their choice. Researchers think that this has a huge implication of how eastern and western people are different from their minds to their choices and finally their actions. Eastern people is more comparative in nature, they like to compare and understand the relationship between themselves and others prior to anything else. Western people on the other hand are more self-centered, they like to understand themselves first before the environment they are in. So in an example of a particular outbreak of disease, eastern people would tend to find out how it is being transmitted first while western people would concern more about getting a vaccine. In doing business, eastern people requires trust and personal relationship establishment before they can conduct business with others; and perhaps western people would do the exact opposite. They will only form personal relationship with others once they have worked together.

I am not sure how accurate this research is, especially I have seen the alternatives from both sides, but indeed there are differences among the East and the West. Being in New Zealand for about 13 years now, about half of my whole life is here. Yet no matter how much I like the weather and clean air in this country, I do find myself not fitting in with the culture completely. What would be interesting is that one day if I am back to Hong Kong and find that I cannot cope with their culture neither, then I would be absolutely screwed! What would be the middle point between East and West then? Maybe I should consider move to Indonesia as it is mid-way between Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Actually I am not certain if New Zealand is West… maybe South-west? Wonder if there is any differences between the North and the South?