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As i was out cleaning the balcony this morning, (point of fact: even though one has a cleaning woman/housekeeper, there is still much household work to be done) i looked out toward the navy boat. It was the change of shift, i imagine, because there were 5 smaller boats buzzing around the ship. i was reminded of bees around the hive. Something is afoot in this area, i believe. Several days last week there was checkpoint at the roundabout i need to drive half through to take the dog for his run. Yesterday on my way home from work there was a checkpoint on Gulf Road. The checkpoint at the roundabout was a bit scarey for me because i don't take my purse when i run the dog. Therefore, i don't have my papers with me should i be stopped at a checkpoint. Being stopped has never happened, but there is always the possibility. i will probably not start taking my purse with me, though. So far, i have never fit the profile of the person they are searching for. i have my papers out, and they wave me through without so much as a blink of an eye.
The fact that i will probably not begin carrying my purse when i go for the dog run brought to my mind someting i have thought about for a long time. My American/Western European way of thinking has changed. Or maybe it's my liberal democratic way, i don't know. My ming process more like an Asian/Oriental/Middle Eastern mind. My theory is that it works like this:
The Western mind processes in this way; there is a chance it might happen, therefore i will take precautions just in case.
The Asian mind processes in this way; It probably won't happen, and even though there is a possibility, the chances are quite slim, therefore i will proceed without much caution.
It may also be a fatalistic view; If it happens, it happens, and there is nothing i can to to prevent it. Therefore, i will do what is most convenient for me.
As an example of the two mindsets: Once in Taiwan i was at the resort area down south, Kenting. Some British friends and i were walking around the cat's nose, a nature hiking area on the coast. A couple of women in the group were Taiwanese and were not dressed for the trek. Both were wearing 'fashion' sandals, high heels, tiny straps. The others of us tried to convince them that there was some danger in trying to make the walk in that type of shoe. They felt the chance for harm was minimal, and set out anyway. One fell and broke her ankle because mistepped on a rock, which caused her foot to slide the shoe, which caused her ankle to twist and down she went. The westerners saw the potential for danger no matter how small as something to be taken into account before the hike. The Asians saw the potential for danger as being so small, it was not something to be concerned about.
This happens all the time in America. There are warnings on everything, from the potential for danger in opening a jam jar to the surgeon general's warning on cigarette packs. This may have something to do with the litigious nature of Americans, or it may have something to do with their independent spirit. i'm not sure. There were no such warnings on labels when i was in Taiwan, that i do know. Well, i'm not certain about cigarette packs.
The whole point of this ramble is that i wonder if now my mindset is more like an Asian and less like an American. i do know i have a much more fatalistic outlook toward life than Master, or, for that matter almost any member of my family. Pat, who lived in Taiwan with me, is probably close to me in the way he thinks. i don't know if i will move back toward the other end when i return to the states for good.
The fact that i will probably not begin carrying my purse when i go for the dog run brought to my mind someting i have thought about for a long time. My American/Western European way of thinking has changed. Or maybe it's my liberal democratic way, i don't know. My ming process more like an Asian/Oriental/Middle Eastern mind. My theory is that it works like this:
The Western mind processes in this way; there is a chance it might happen, therefore i will take precautions just in case.
The Asian mind processes in this way; It probably won't happen, and even though there is a possibility, the chances are quite slim, therefore i will proceed without much caution.
It may also be a fatalistic view; If it happens, it happens, and there is nothing i can to to prevent it. Therefore, i will do what is most convenient for me.
As an example of the two mindsets: Once in Taiwan i was at the resort area down south, Kenting. Some British friends and i were walking around the cat's nose, a nature hiking area on the coast. A couple of women in the group were Taiwanese and were not dressed for the trek. Both were wearing 'fashion' sandals, high heels, tiny straps. The others of us tried to convince them that there was some danger in trying to make the walk in that type of shoe. They felt the chance for harm was minimal, and set out anyway. One fell and broke her ankle because mistepped on a rock, which caused her foot to slide the shoe, which caused her ankle to twist and down she went. The westerners saw the potential for danger no matter how small as something to be taken into account before the hike. The Asians saw the potential for danger as being so small, it was not something to be concerned about.
This happens all the time in America. There are warnings on everything, from the potential for danger in opening a jam jar to the surgeon general's warning on cigarette packs. This may have something to do with the litigious nature of Americans, or it may have something to do with their independent spirit. i'm not sure. There were no such warnings on labels when i was in Taiwan, that i do know. Well, i'm not certain about cigarette packs.
The whole point of this ramble is that i wonder if now my mindset is more like an Asian and less like an American. i do know i have a much more fatalistic outlook toward life than Master, or, for that matter almost any member of my family. Pat, who lived in Taiwan with me, is probably close to me in the way he thinks. i don't know if i will move back toward the other end when i return to the states for good.
