Rich People Make Me a Sad Panda

Outside of my regular purchases of clothing and consumer goods here in Hong Kong, I am on a side quest for cultural things I can bring back from China to the states. Jade. Sculptures. Paintings. Books. Something that is more long lasting than any tie or shirt I buy at a boutique.

I've had an inkling, since an episode in a park, to purchase a Mahjong set. I don't play Mahjong - my grandmother did though. I use to construct things out of her Mahjong tiles.

It's a memory I have of my Grandma that I cherish. My Mom and Dad are about to go down memory lane.

However! I haven't been able to find one. I've not looked very hard though - I've put off buying cultural items for awhile because I don't know where to buy it, and I don't want to buy cheap rip offs. I also don't want to spend a fortune at a store near the Mandarian Oriental either. So I haven't found a Mahjong set, not one.

So ... to my story:


I was shopping in Central, which is what I do on almost a religious basis. There's always some designer brand flagship store I can walk into and made to feel small, poor and unable to afford this stuff ever because I am a business reporter, not a businessman.

I walked into the Gucci flagship store in Hong Kong. It's literally brand new - opened on Oct. 14. It's three stories and absolutely stunning. I have two items from Gucci - and love both of them.

Anyways, I look to my left, and in a glass case is a Gucci Mahjong set.

... yes.

Traditional Mahjong Set, meets:

Well, I had to see this for myself. Now, a bit of background. I walked into Gucci with a Chanel Bag. I bought a tie at Chanel (yes, I bought a man's tie at Chanel, yes it cost a fortune, and yes it was totally worth it). Chanel gave me this huge-ass bag, and I am dressed quite well today, so I look like I am some rich-ass American with taste.


"YES! I command thee, oh, Gucci store people. Show me the Gucci Mahjong Set."

Well, let's just say if I had HK$22,000 and no soul, I would buy it. They had five in the store. What else could be more unique than a Gucci Mahjong set? I asked to see it, and because I had my Chanel bag qualifications, they pulled out a set for me.

Well, I know my Xmas gift for myself. Let's not send Ken to Tibet, China, or Thailand. Let's buy him a Gucci Mahjong set. YAY!

You know Grandma would be proud.

Please Mind the Gap - and my souless behavior.

Ken

This Post's Covet Item:
In honor of the consumerist culture of Hong Kong, I shall build my Holiday Wish List with each post I put online from here on out.

Well, the Gucci Mahjong Set, obviously. And a Chanel J12 Watch. Black - the small one.

"Oh! You're not a person. ... sad."

Despite the melodramatic subject, I will try to be more upbeat in this post. Everyone was depressed by my last one.

But, yes - I am not a person. In fact, I really don't exist.

No, I haven't been reading "The Stranger" and other French Existentialist writing while I a muse the evenings away in Hong Kong. Nor have I sold myself into some type of slavery - although knowing some of my readers, that might be something that would perk their ears.

No, in the end, I just don't have business cards.

As I have become a quasi-adult, I find myself in more and more awkward situations where I don't have a business card or 37 to give to sources or random people I meet. In the U.S. - you're just looked at as clumsy by forgetting your business card in a professional environment.

And, usually in the Western World, as I have gotten to know, you exchange business cards after you meet someone and have already conducted business. It's a symbol of "thank you, please remember me, I appreciated our time together." Like you're dating them or something.

In Asia... completely different. Let's go patented Ken Dialogue:

Asian Businessperson: "Hello, thank you for meeting with me. I am Qu Ting."
Ken: "Hello, I'm Ken Sweet with (fill in somewhat important professional aspect here."

Asian businessperson proceeds to pull out silver or gold business card holder, removes a business card. Holding it by the edges, businessperson bows just slightly, holding business card with appropriate language of conversation upwards for recieval. It is held out like an offering.

Now, at this point, I am supposed to take the business card and then provide the same ceremony to the same person, and then business would commence.

What really happens is:

Ken: "Um, I don't have businesscards. Here is my contact infor..."
Businessperson: (in an abrupt tone) "Why don't you have a business card?"
Cue awkward moment.

Business cards are the life blood of people around here. It establishes your place in society. And you give business cards before anyone commences business. And you always bring more than you possibly could need. Today, I had to go the Ritz Carlton hotel to meet with some fund managers. My editor, knowing that I would probably be crucified like Jesus for not having any, gave me seven business cards. I know because I dropped them on the way out of the building (fouling my business cards on the granite floor).

I ran out of them halfway through, and by the time I got to the important person I needed to give a businesscard to, I was out.

Cue Awkward Moment

Please Mind the Gap - and bring business cards.

Ken