抓流莺
我们在熙熙攘攘的人群中，马上认出流莺。不止一个，而是很多个。我们等了将近两个小时，还是没有亲眼目睹她们当众拉客。原来，要在大庭广众招徕生意，出卖肉体，也不是一份简单的工作。报道频频见报和上电视，她们还敢敢一直出现。生活沦陷到要出卖身体这种地步，她们也算是值得同情的一群人。
生命是廉宜的，肉体也是廉宜的。
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
几米语录
两个多星期以来，面对太多的死亡，我现在须要的是，一点点喘息的空间。
“亲爱的小孩：
曾经我也像你一样，抬头仰望一片新叶、看一朵飘过的云，就会觉得快乐。
曾经我也能静静地站在树下，听风翻舞树林、小鸟鸣唱，就会觉得感动。
昨天我在公园里学你，听鸟唱风吹，看绿叶云飘，竟觉得十分地萧索无趣。
我感到微微地震撼，心情郁闷地走进一家高级餐厅，点了昂贵的餐，还喝了红酒。后来，我态度倨傲地抱怨鱼子酱不新鲜、指责牛排不够嫩……其实我只是借故发挥，舒缓我躁郁难平的情绪……我一直很懊恼，我怎么会变得如此可憎呢？
我嫉妒你，痛心哀悼我逝去的。
大花证券 王董 四月六日”
摘自几米的《我只能为你画一张小卡片》
两个多星期以来，面对太多的死亡，我现在须要的是，一点点喘息的空间。
“亲爱的小孩：
曾经我也像你一样，抬头仰望一片新叶、看一朵飘过的云，就会觉得快乐。
曾经我也能静静地站在树下，听风翻舞树林、小鸟鸣唱，就会觉得感动。
昨天我在公园里学你，听鸟唱风吹，看绿叶云飘，竟觉得十分地萧索无趣。
我感到微微地震撼，心情郁闷地走进一家高级餐厅，点了昂贵的餐，还喝了红酒。后来，我态度倨傲地抱怨鱼子酱不新鲜、指责牛排不够嫩……其实我只是借故发挥，舒缓我躁郁难平的情绪……我一直很懊恼，我怎么会变得如此可憎呢？
我嫉妒你，痛心哀悼我逝去的。
大花证券 王董 四月六日”
摘自几米的《我只能为你画一张小卡片》
Monday, June 28, 2004
A rather exciting day and a couple of FIRSTS today:
(1) Concealed my identity and went into the den alone to satisfy my curiosity. Reports should be out on the papers soon. I'm glad nothing happened to me. I'm proud of myself. Ha.
(2) Went undercover and called a prostitue to get some data. They are really careful after the series of reports recently. Disgusted.
(3) Saw blood stains for the first time, when handling an accident in which an unknown male fell to his death from an HDB apartment.
(1) Concealed my identity and went into the den alone to satisfy my curiosity. Reports should be out on the papers soon. I'm glad nothing happened to me. I'm proud of myself. Ha.
(2) Went undercover and called a prostitue to get some data. They are really careful after the series of reports recently. Disgusted.
(3) Saw blood stains for the first time, when handling an accident in which an unknown male fell to his death from an HDB apartment.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Saturday, June 26, 2004
死亡和记者
原来，我并非完全冷血。
昨天得知有同事自杀死去的事，给了我不小的震撼。
我并不认识她，怎么想也想不明白为什么一个年龄还不到 30 岁的学姐（她是我的圣公会学姐，也是报馆海外奖学金得主）会选择这种方式，突然离开。8 年的 bond 都好象还没有满。
我已经不是第一次知道有报馆的人自杀了，前几年也有一个 Straits Times 的 scholar 自杀。
自己的背景和他们差不多，就理所当然地开始胡思乱想。
记者的生活是很 stressful 的，这点无可否认。昨天，又有同事跟我说，你在报馆工作一天所见的世面，等于你同辈的人做其他工作的三倍。换句话说，做记者比同辈做其他工作，会“老”、“成熟”得更快。这是好，还是坏？
选择自杀，是因为做记者让他们看破了什么吗？我不晓得。
或许，正如村上春树在《挪威的森林》里说：“死不是生的对极，而是潜伏在我们的生之中。”……“在生的正中央，一切的一切都绕着死为中心而旋转着。”把死亡当成是家常便饭，生活或许会好过一些。
原来，我并非完全冷血。
昨天得知有同事自杀死去的事，给了我不小的震撼。
我并不认识她，怎么想也想不明白为什么一个年龄还不到 30 岁的学姐（她是我的圣公会学姐，也是报馆海外奖学金得主）会选择这种方式，突然离开。8 年的 bond 都好象还没有满。
我已经不是第一次知道有报馆的人自杀了，前几年也有一个 Straits Times 的 scholar 自杀。
自己的背景和他们差不多，就理所当然地开始胡思乱想。
记者的生活是很 stressful 的，这点无可否认。昨天，又有同事跟我说，你在报馆工作一天所见的世面，等于你同辈的人做其他工作的三倍。换句话说，做记者比同辈做其他工作，会“老”、“成熟”得更快。这是好，还是坏？
选择自杀，是因为做记者让他们看破了什么吗？我不晓得。
或许，正如村上春树在《挪威的森林》里说：“死不是生的对极，而是潜伏在我们的生之中。”……“在生的正中央，一切的一切都绕着死为中心而旋转着。”把死亡当成是家常便饭，生活或许会好过一些。
Friday, June 25, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
昨天三则
（1）
昨天早上，去了勿洛水池路的湿巴刹采访。巴刹凌晨被火神光顾，很多摊位被烧毁。对我而言，这只不过是另一次普普通通的火患罢了，又没有人命伤亡，我想我真的已经 desensitise 了。
（2）
昨天下午，我和明皇在城市中寻觅兜转，为即将执行的任务做准备，后来碰到一位实在让我们俩都差点作呕的人。我想，岛国的确是小，但是什么样的人都有。很多表面上看起来很保守的人事物，其实都另有乾坤。欲知我们的任务会有什么收获，请留意《联合晚报》（以任务的困难度而言，这则新闻应该很难上电视吧，因为拍照已经是很大的问题了，更别说录影）。
（3）
昨天晚上在滨海南吃火锅汗流浃背的时候是很爽，过后是满身汗臭味，自己都受不了。岛国的天气让我又爱又恨。此时此刻的天气很 London。
（1）
昨天早上，去了勿洛水池路的湿巴刹采访。巴刹凌晨被火神光顾，很多摊位被烧毁。对我而言，这只不过是另一次普普通通的火患罢了，又没有人命伤亡，我想我真的已经 desensitise 了。
（2）
昨天下午，我和明皇在城市中寻觅兜转，为即将执行的任务做准备，后来碰到一位实在让我们俩都差点作呕的人。我想，岛国的确是小，但是什么样的人都有。很多表面上看起来很保守的人事物，其实都另有乾坤。欲知我们的任务会有什么收获，请留意《联合晚报》（以任务的困难度而言，这则新闻应该很难上电视吧，因为拍照已经是很大的问题了，更别说录影）。
（3）
昨天晚上在滨海南吃火锅汗流浃背的时候是很爽，过后是满身汗臭味，自己都受不了。岛国的天气让我又爱又恨。此时此刻的天气很 London。
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Monday, June 21, 2004
Saturday, June 19, 2004
The Lion's Den
My job is getting more and more exciting. This is the first piece of news story that I am actually getting excited about. I will be concealing my identity as a journalist and entering the lion's den. I'm really glad that the supervisor is giving me such a great chance. Can't reveal any more details now. Shall update more when my mission is accomplished. :)
(Obviously I'm not doing this alone.)
My job is getting more and more exciting. This is the first piece of news story that I am actually getting excited about. I will be concealing my identity as a journalist and entering the lion's den. I'm really glad that the supervisor is giving me such a great chance. Can't reveal any more details now. Shall update more when my mission is accomplished. :)
(Obviously I'm not doing this alone.)
Friday, June 18, 2004
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
意外记者
今天一天内跑了四个地方：mortuary、Sengkang、Sembawang，还有 Bishan Junction 8，全都是意外。我们第一个问的问题就是：“有没有人死掉（或者受伤）？”是冷酷，是无情，习惯就好。要问这样的问题实在不容易。
其中印象最深刻的是，采访一名 14 岁男孩去年圣诞节被一名年仅 16 岁的青年泼汽油，然后点火导致全身烧伤，看到他，满身都是伤，很是心酸，毕竟只不过是个 14 岁的年轻小伙子。
现在才发现，原来，意外记者才是最厉害的，开始对《晚报》和《新明》的记者另眼相看。
（今天有了两个第一：第一个 by-line 上电视，还有第一个 by-line 见报，虽然我得承认我的部分做的不多。 ）
今天一天内跑了四个地方：mortuary、Sengkang、Sembawang，还有 Bishan Junction 8，全都是意外。我们第一个问的问题就是：“有没有人死掉（或者受伤）？”是冷酷，是无情，习惯就好。要问这样的问题实在不容易。
其中印象最深刻的是，采访一名 14 岁男孩去年圣诞节被一名年仅 16 岁的青年泼汽油，然后点火导致全身烧伤，看到他，满身都是伤，很是心酸，毕竟只不过是个 14 岁的年轻小伙子。
现在才发现，原来，意外记者才是最厉害的，开始对《晚报》和《新明》的记者另眼相看。
（今天有了两个第一：第一个 by-line 上电视，还有第一个 by-line 见报，虽然我得承认我的部分做的不多。 ）
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Monday, June 14, 2004
晚报
回报馆也是超现实的。有些人还在，有些人退休了，有些人跳到新传媒，有些是新面孔。Newsroom 则没有多大变化。今天第一天没有写到任何字，没有译到任何篇章，简单的来说，完全没有用到脑。不过，我知道这样闲空的日子只有今天而已。现在开始期待日后可能将面对的惊险和刺激，比如明天去警方记者会，还有后天去 mortuary （验尸房）。
Euro cup
我就知道主任会问我有没有看足球，所以为了避免招惹不必要的额外负担，我跟他说只要是 sports 我都不看。这样就轻易逃过晚上追球，隔天早上赶稿的痛苦。不过，England 对垒 France，的确有点可惜。Portugal 那场也是。
领成绩
刚刚打电话回伦敦询问第一年的 provisional 考试成绩是不期望会听到什么好消息的，毕竟知道自己今年不很努力。结果，从电话的另一端却传来 "all courses average 1st class"。有点莫名其妙。或许是自己听错。一个月后等正式的 transcript 来再说吧。
回报馆也是超现实的。有些人还在，有些人退休了，有些人跳到新传媒，有些是新面孔。Newsroom 则没有多大变化。今天第一天没有写到任何字，没有译到任何篇章，简单的来说，完全没有用到脑。不过，我知道这样闲空的日子只有今天而已。现在开始期待日后可能将面对的惊险和刺激，比如明天去警方记者会，还有后天去 mortuary （验尸房）。
Euro cup
我就知道主任会问我有没有看足球，所以为了避免招惹不必要的额外负担，我跟他说只要是 sports 我都不看。这样就轻易逃过晚上追球，隔天早上赶稿的痛苦。不过，England 对垒 France，的确有点可惜。Portugal 那场也是。
领成绩
刚刚打电话回伦敦询问第一年的 provisional 考试成绩是不期望会听到什么好消息的，毕竟知道自己今年不很努力。结果，从电话的另一端却传来 "all courses average 1st class"。有点莫名其妙。或许是自己听错。一个月后等正式的 transcript 来再说吧。
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
回国后
回国真的有种超现实的感觉。一切很熟悉，却仿佛跟自己毫无瓜葛。有些东西没变。有些东西看起来没变，其实却在我离开的 9 个月中缓缓地在变，不很明显，但还是变了。有些东西则是全新的，从来没看过，象我家附近的几座公寓。
（一）首次出门
昨天首次出门到市区 (Bugis)，是心惊胆跳的。怕出门，因为我真的忘记怎样搭巴士和地铁，怎样用 ezlink。甚至提款时，也忘记原来这里的密码是六个号码，而不是伦敦的四个号码。但是，岛国的交通费还真的很便宜。
（二）手提电话
这个玩意儿这里叫做 handphone（在伦敦叫做 mobile），而且岛国的人还是很喜欢发 SMS（在伦敦叫做 text）。我已经有一段时间没用简讯，习惯直接打电话，比较快，且直接。实在懒得浪费时间输入简讯。
（三）Incredibly Irritated
看到的很多东西让我很不顺眼，也不顺耳。一走出列车，就在地铁月台上，听到“拜六礼拜，会不会开”，实在想揍唱的人（是李国煌吗？）。又不是很悦耳，却到处都可听到。很烦。当然，我可以选择听而不闻。
还有，或许要在自动扶梯 "Please Keep Left" 的牌子上，加上 "Offenders, Fine $1000"，岛国的人才会乖乖守秩序。国人依旧被动。
（四）天气
前几天，岛国的白云蓝天确实很漂亮，但空气还是很潮湿。还没适应，只能一天冲三次凉，忍受潮湿的空气。伦敦的天气则是天天 gloomy and dreary，但温度很舒服。没有一个地方是十全十美的。
（五）大雨
很久没有看到像现在这样的大雨滂沱。很久没有听到打雷，很久没有看到闪电。伦敦是没有 thunderstorm 的，所以现在感觉很爽。
（六）Jetlag
已经三天了，以为已经摆脱 jetlag 的蹂躏，却仍然和它纠缠不清。或许还需要多几天的时间。
（我现在很想坐在 Takashimaya 的 Coffee Club 一整个下午，喝杯 cappucino，看几米的书，还有看街上的岛国人。）
回国真的有种超现实的感觉。一切很熟悉，却仿佛跟自己毫无瓜葛。有些东西没变。有些东西看起来没变，其实却在我离开的 9 个月中缓缓地在变，不很明显，但还是变了。有些东西则是全新的，从来没看过，象我家附近的几座公寓。
（一）首次出门
昨天首次出门到市区 (Bugis)，是心惊胆跳的。怕出门，因为我真的忘记怎样搭巴士和地铁，怎样用 ezlink。甚至提款时，也忘记原来这里的密码是六个号码，而不是伦敦的四个号码。但是，岛国的交通费还真的很便宜。
（二）手提电话
这个玩意儿这里叫做 handphone（在伦敦叫做 mobile），而且岛国的人还是很喜欢发 SMS（在伦敦叫做 text）。我已经有一段时间没用简讯，习惯直接打电话，比较快，且直接。实在懒得浪费时间输入简讯。
（三）Incredibly Irritated
看到的很多东西让我很不顺眼，也不顺耳。一走出列车，就在地铁月台上，听到“拜六礼拜，会不会开”，实在想揍唱的人（是李国煌吗？）。又不是很悦耳，却到处都可听到。很烦。当然，我可以选择听而不闻。
还有，或许要在自动扶梯 "Please Keep Left" 的牌子上，加上 "Offenders, Fine $1000"，岛国的人才会乖乖守秩序。国人依旧被动。
（四）天气
前几天，岛国的白云蓝天确实很漂亮，但空气还是很潮湿。还没适应，只能一天冲三次凉，忍受潮湿的空气。伦敦的天气则是天天 gloomy and dreary，但温度很舒服。没有一个地方是十全十美的。
（五）大雨
很久没有看到像现在这样的大雨滂沱。很久没有听到打雷，很久没有看到闪电。伦敦是没有 thunderstorm 的，所以现在感觉很爽。
（六）Jetlag
已经三天了，以为已经摆脱 jetlag 的蹂躏，却仍然和它纠缠不清。或许还需要多几天的时间。
（我现在很想坐在 Takashimaya 的 Coffee Club 一整个下午，喝杯 cappucino，看几米的书，还有看街上的岛国人。）
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Adapting
I'm slowly adapting to the temperatures now. Still suffocating though. Went out to get some stuff settled and perspired like mad. Don't think I'm stepping out of my house these few days. Rejected a primary school gathering tonight (Sorry! I'm still suffering from jetlag. Next time bah!)
(My luggage has been found after 36 hours. Finally.)
I'm slowly adapting to the temperatures now. Still suffocating though. Went out to get some stuff settled and perspired like mad. Don't think I'm stepping out of my house these few days. Rejected a primary school gathering tonight (Sorry! I'm still suffering from jetlag. Next time bah!)
(My luggage has been found after 36 hours. Finally.)
Sunday, June 06, 2004
写在 SQ319 上，还有之后
（一）
心不在焉看了 《21 Grams》 和《魔幻厨房》，结果看到不知道戏在演些什么。或许也是因为昏昏欲睡，只睡了一个小时，然后逼自己醒来试图调整生理时钟。
昨天，到达 Heathrow 看到飞机上的那红白星月国旗，还真的兴奋了好一会儿。还有，终於在九个月后首次听到有人（当然是新加坡人）正确地念出我的 surname，暗自爽了几分钟。现在听孙燕姿的“The Moment”专辑，还有 3 小时 44 分钟，3231 公里，已经飞了大概 7600 公里。
在印度上空
新加坡时间：1018
伦敦时间：0318
当地时间：0748
（二）
反复听孙燕姿，我在飞机上，哭了。
在 Bay of Bengal 上空
新加坡时间：1059
伦敦时间：0359
当地时间：0729
（三）
飞机从 Phuket 一路颠簸到 Langkawi ，跳了好几次，跟我一样兴奋，还有一小时。
新加坡时间：1302
伦敦时间：0602
当地时间：1302
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
然后入境后，check-in 的行李不见了，他妈的。现在一点心情都没有，请别惹我。Jetlag 来了，我现在要睡觉。他妈的。
（一）
心不在焉看了 《21 Grams》 和《魔幻厨房》，结果看到不知道戏在演些什么。或许也是因为昏昏欲睡，只睡了一个小时，然后逼自己醒来试图调整生理时钟。
昨天，到达 Heathrow 看到飞机上的那红白星月国旗，还真的兴奋了好一会儿。还有，终於在九个月后首次听到有人（当然是新加坡人）正确地念出我的 surname，暗自爽了几分钟。现在听孙燕姿的“The Moment”专辑，还有 3 小时 44 分钟，3231 公里，已经飞了大概 7600 公里。
在印度上空
新加坡时间：1018
伦敦时间：0318
当地时间：0748
（二）
反复听孙燕姿，我在飞机上，哭了。
在 Bay of Bengal 上空
新加坡时间：1059
伦敦时间：0359
当地时间：0729
（三）
飞机从 Phuket 一路颠簸到 Langkawi ，跳了好几次，跟我一样兴奋，还有一小时。
新加坡时间：1302
伦敦时间：0602
当地时间：1302
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
然后入境后，check-in 的行李不见了，他妈的。现在一点心情都没有，请别惹我。Jetlag 来了，我现在要睡觉。他妈的。
Saturday, June 05, 2004
REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK: The Last and Fifth Stage of CULTURE SHOCK
～～回家之前（十一）
（倒数 4 小时）
Out of the 5 stages, I've experienced all of the first four phases. The fifth one is definitely coming soon. (Read the article below to know more about the 5 distinct stages of culture shock.)
Here's what some other people (from US) wrote about reverse culture shock:
“Basically, this consists of feeling out of place in your own country, or experiencing a sense of disorientation. While everything is familiar, you feel different. Even walking through the airport and hearing American English spoken can be a very surreal experience.”
“My year abroad was a great adventure. It became a 24-hour-a-day obsession to take advantage of where I was, the time I had, and the people with whom I lived. I had never been so continuously stimulated intellectually and personally. It was a letdown to return home.”
“I think that some people feel intimidated because they don’t understand the experiences I’ve had. They don’t know where I’m coming from and can’t grasp how it would be to live somewhere else.”
“I was so much more critical of things that are considered normal in the US once I had adapted to another culture that did things differently. When I was overseas, I ate differently, I looked at time differently, I socialized and studied differently. Once I arrived in America, I felt as though I really didn’t have a home culture anymore.”
I'm actually looking forward to experiencing the last stage. I'm giving myself 7 days to re-adapt to the weather and to recover from my jetlag and 1 whole month to get out of reverse culture shock. Being away for 9 months isn't short.
有开始就需要有结束，这样或许才会圆满。
CULTURE SHOCK: A FISH OUT OF WATER
Written by Elaine Addison
Kalvero Oberg was one of the first writers to identify five distinct stages of culture shock in 1958. He found that all human beings experience the same feelings when they travel to or live in a different country or culture. He found that culture shock is almost like a disease: it has a cause, symptoms, and a cure.
Whenever someone travels overseas they are like "a fish out of water." Like the fish, they have been swimming in their own culture all their lives. A fish doesn't think about what water it is in. Likewise, we often do not think too much about the culture we are raised in. Our culture helps to shape our identity. Many of the cues of interpersonal communication (body language, words, facial expressions, tone of voice, idioms, slang) are different in different cultures. One of the reasons that we feel like a fish out of water when we enter a new culture, is that we do not know all of the cues that are used in the new culture.
Psychologists tell us that there are five distinct phases (or stages) of culture shock. It is important to understand that culture shock happens to all people who travel abroad, but some people have much stronger reactions than others.
STAGE 1: HONEYMOON PHASE
During the first few days of a person's stay in a new country, everything usually goes fairly smoothly. The newcomer is excited about being in a new place where there are new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes. The newcomer may have some problems, but usually accepts them as just part of the newness. They may find themselves staying in hotels or with a home-stay family that is excited to meet the foreign stranger. The newcomer may find that "the red carpet" has been rolled out and they may be taken to restaurants, movies and tours of the sights. The new acquaintances may want to take the newcomer out to many places and "show them off." This first stage of culture shock is called the "honeymoon phase."
STAGE 2: REJECTION PHASE
Unfortunately, this honeymoon phase often comes to an end fairly soon. The newcomer has to deal with transportation problems (buses that don't come on time), shopping problems (can't buy their favorite foods) or communication problems (just what does "Chill out, dude." mean?). It may start to seem like people no longer care about your problems. They may help, but they don't seem to understand your concern over what they see as small problems. You might even start to think that the people in the host country don't like foreigners.
This may lead to the second stage of culture shock, known as the "rejection phase." The newcomer may begin to feel aggressive and start to complain about the host culture/country. It is important to recognize that these feelings are real and can become serious. This phase is a kind of crisis in the 'disease' of culture shock. It is called the "rejection" phase because it is at this point that the newcomer starts to reject the host country, complaining about and noticing only the bad things that bother them. At this stage the newcomer either gets stronger and stays, or gets weaker and goes home (physically, mentally or both).
STAGE 3: REGRESSION PHASE
If you don't survive stage two successfully, you may find yourself moving into stage three: the "regression phase." The word "regression" means moving backward, and in this phase of culture shock, you spend much of your time speaking your own language, watching videos from your home country, eating food from home. You may also notice that you are moving around campus or around town with a group of students who speak your own language. You may spend most of this time complaining about the host country/culture.
Also in the regression phase, you may only remember the good things about your home country. Your homeland may suddenly seem marvelously wonderful; all the difficulties that you had there are forgotten and you may find yourself wondering why you ever left (hint: You left to learn English!). You may now only remember your home country as a wonderful place in which nothing ever went wrong for you. Of course, this is not true, but an illusion created by your culture shock 'disease.'
STAGE 4: RECOVERY PHASE
If you survive the third stage successfully (or miss it completely) you will move into the fourth stage of culture shock called the "recovery phase" or the "at-ease-at-last phase." In this stage you become more comfortable with the language and you also feel more comfortable with the customs of the host country. You can now move around without a feeling of anxiety. You still have problems with some of the social cues and you may still not understand everything people say (especially idioms). However, you are now 90% adjusted to the new culture and you start to realize that no country is that much better than another - it is just different lifestyles and different ways to deal with the problems of life.
With this complete adjustment, you accept the food, drinks, habits and customs of the host country, and you may even find yourself preferring some things in the host country to things at home. You have now understood that there are different ways to live your life and that no way is really better than another, just different. Finally, you have become comfortable in the new place.
It is important to remember that not everyone experiences all the phases of culture shock. It is also important to know that you can experience all of them at different times: you might experience the regression phase before the rejection phase, etc. You might even experience the regression phase on Monday, the at ease phase on Tuesday, the honeymoon phase on Wednesday, and the rejection phase again on Thursday. What will Friday be like?
STAGE 5: REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK
Much later, you may find yourself returning to your homeland and -guess what? - you may find yourself entering the fifth phase of culture shock. This is called "reverse culture shock" or "return culture shock" and occurs when you return home. You have been away for a long time, becoming comfortable with the habits and customs of a new lifestyle and you may find that you are no longer completely comfortable in your home country. Many things may have changed while you were away and it may take a little while to become at ease with the cues and signs and symbols of your home culture.
Reverse culture shock can be very difficult. There is a risk of sickness or emotional problems in many of the phases of culture shock. Remember to be kind to yourself all the time that you are overseas, and when you get home. Give yourself time to adjust. Be your own best friend. If you do these things you will be a much stronger person. If you do these things, congratulations, you will be a citizen of the world!
～～回家之前（十一）
（倒数 4 小时）
Out of the 5 stages, I've experienced all of the first four phases. The fifth one is definitely coming soon. (Read the article below to know more about the 5 distinct stages of culture shock.)
Here's what some other people (from US) wrote about reverse culture shock:
“Basically, this consists of feeling out of place in your own country, or experiencing a sense of disorientation. While everything is familiar, you feel different. Even walking through the airport and hearing American English spoken can be a very surreal experience.”
“My year abroad was a great adventure. It became a 24-hour-a-day obsession to take advantage of where I was, the time I had, and the people with whom I lived. I had never been so continuously stimulated intellectually and personally. It was a letdown to return home.”
“I think that some people feel intimidated because they don’t understand the experiences I’ve had. They don’t know where I’m coming from and can’t grasp how it would be to live somewhere else.”
“I was so much more critical of things that are considered normal in the US once I had adapted to another culture that did things differently. When I was overseas, I ate differently, I looked at time differently, I socialized and studied differently. Once I arrived in America, I felt as though I really didn’t have a home culture anymore.”
I'm actually looking forward to experiencing the last stage. I'm giving myself 7 days to re-adapt to the weather and to recover from my jetlag and 1 whole month to get out of reverse culture shock. Being away for 9 months isn't short.
有开始就需要有结束，这样或许才会圆满。
CULTURE SHOCK: A FISH OUT OF WATER
Written by Elaine Addison
Kalvero Oberg was one of the first writers to identify five distinct stages of culture shock in 1958. He found that all human beings experience the same feelings when they travel to or live in a different country or culture. He found that culture shock is almost like a disease: it has a cause, symptoms, and a cure.
Whenever someone travels overseas they are like "a fish out of water." Like the fish, they have been swimming in their own culture all their lives. A fish doesn't think about what water it is in. Likewise, we often do not think too much about the culture we are raised in. Our culture helps to shape our identity. Many of the cues of interpersonal communication (body language, words, facial expressions, tone of voice, idioms, slang) are different in different cultures. One of the reasons that we feel like a fish out of water when we enter a new culture, is that we do not know all of the cues that are used in the new culture.
Psychologists tell us that there are five distinct phases (or stages) of culture shock. It is important to understand that culture shock happens to all people who travel abroad, but some people have much stronger reactions than others.
STAGE 1: HONEYMOON PHASE
During the first few days of a person's stay in a new country, everything usually goes fairly smoothly. The newcomer is excited about being in a new place where there are new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes. The newcomer may have some problems, but usually accepts them as just part of the newness. They may find themselves staying in hotels or with a home-stay family that is excited to meet the foreign stranger. The newcomer may find that "the red carpet" has been rolled out and they may be taken to restaurants, movies and tours of the sights. The new acquaintances may want to take the newcomer out to many places and "show them off." This first stage of culture shock is called the "honeymoon phase."
STAGE 2: REJECTION PHASE
Unfortunately, this honeymoon phase often comes to an end fairly soon. The newcomer has to deal with transportation problems (buses that don't come on time), shopping problems (can't buy their favorite foods) or communication problems (just what does "Chill out, dude." mean?). It may start to seem like people no longer care about your problems. They may help, but they don't seem to understand your concern over what they see as small problems. You might even start to think that the people in the host country don't like foreigners.
This may lead to the second stage of culture shock, known as the "rejection phase." The newcomer may begin to feel aggressive and start to complain about the host culture/country. It is important to recognize that these feelings are real and can become serious. This phase is a kind of crisis in the 'disease' of culture shock. It is called the "rejection" phase because it is at this point that the newcomer starts to reject the host country, complaining about and noticing only the bad things that bother them. At this stage the newcomer either gets stronger and stays, or gets weaker and goes home (physically, mentally or both).
STAGE 3: REGRESSION PHASE
If you don't survive stage two successfully, you may find yourself moving into stage three: the "regression phase." The word "regression" means moving backward, and in this phase of culture shock, you spend much of your time speaking your own language, watching videos from your home country, eating food from home. You may also notice that you are moving around campus or around town with a group of students who speak your own language. You may spend most of this time complaining about the host country/culture.
Also in the regression phase, you may only remember the good things about your home country. Your homeland may suddenly seem marvelously wonderful; all the difficulties that you had there are forgotten and you may find yourself wondering why you ever left (hint: You left to learn English!). You may now only remember your home country as a wonderful place in which nothing ever went wrong for you. Of course, this is not true, but an illusion created by your culture shock 'disease.'
STAGE 4: RECOVERY PHASE
If you survive the third stage successfully (or miss it completely) you will move into the fourth stage of culture shock called the "recovery phase" or the "at-ease-at-last phase." In this stage you become more comfortable with the language and you also feel more comfortable with the customs of the host country. You can now move around without a feeling of anxiety. You still have problems with some of the social cues and you may still not understand everything people say (especially idioms). However, you are now 90% adjusted to the new culture and you start to realize that no country is that much better than another - it is just different lifestyles and different ways to deal with the problems of life.
With this complete adjustment, you accept the food, drinks, habits and customs of the host country, and you may even find yourself preferring some things in the host country to things at home. You have now understood that there are different ways to live your life and that no way is really better than another, just different. Finally, you have become comfortable in the new place.
It is important to remember that not everyone experiences all the phases of culture shock. It is also important to know that you can experience all of them at different times: you might experience the regression phase before the rejection phase, etc. You might even experience the regression phase on Monday, the at ease phase on Tuesday, the honeymoon phase on Wednesday, and the rejection phase again on Thursday. What will Friday be like?
STAGE 5: REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK
Much later, you may find yourself returning to your homeland and -guess what? - you may find yourself entering the fifth phase of culture shock. This is called "reverse culture shock" or "return culture shock" and occurs when you return home. You have been away for a long time, becoming comfortable with the habits and customs of a new lifestyle and you may find that you are no longer completely comfortable in your home country. Many things may have changed while you were away and it may take a little while to become at ease with the cues and signs and symbols of your home culture.
Reverse culture shock can be very difficult. There is a risk of sickness or emotional problems in many of the phases of culture shock. Remember to be kind to yourself all the time that you are overseas, and when you get home. Give yourself time to adjust. Be your own best friend. If you do these things you will be a much stronger person. If you do these things, congratulations, you will be a citizen of the world!
原来，读书不只是读书而已
～～回家之前（十）
（倒数 14 小时）
我想我这辈子永远无法忘记抵达伦敦的第一周。
曾经很多的未知，已经演变成今天难得的记忆。
从一个小小小小的岛国，来到大大大大的伦敦，转变非常大，而且没有时间让你慢慢调整。好象心理学家 William James 在十七世纪时，形容婴儿出世后面对新世界所说的 "in a buzzing blooming confusion"。
乱。很乱。太乱。
太多的新事物。太少的时间。
就等你一个人死在让人窒息的大城市中。
这才恍悟新加坡有多么地小，小到根本完全彻底地微不足道。
也因此，短短的头几天所发生的所有大小事，都很难忘记。
我记得，我是在清晨五点半抵达伦敦，在 Heathrow 等了老半天，到了中午才等到我的 Minicab 司机。他妈的。
我记得，我的第一餐是 Tesco 的 water cress and egg sandwich，自从那次之后，就发誓再也不会吃同样的 sandwich。实在难下肚，而且价钱一磅多（新币三块多），还是我当时找到最便宜的晚餐。
我记得，我 jetlag 前前后后 lag 了整整三天。很奇怪，乘搭 SQ 322 by right 是不会 lag 的，偏偏我就 lag 了三天。或许是因为在飞机上睡得不够。
我记得，第一次踏出宿舍，自己一个人从 Camden 走路到 Tottenham Court Road 的 Tube Station 和 LT 会面，为了省钱，当时没有搭 Tube，也没有伦敦地图，就凭着知觉，在大城市中迷了路，还绕了 Regent's Park 一整圈（Regent's Park 的面积跟海德公园有的比）。原本只需四十分钟左右的路程，结果前后却花了我一个小时半。
（我还记得有一次去 LT 的家，为了省钱，我竟然从 Camden 走路到 Tower Bridge，前后花了两个小时多，现在觉得自己当时是发疯了。请注意，Camden 在伦敦西北部，Tower Bridge 在东部，乘搭 Tube 也需要至少半个钟头的车程。就好象从 Bedok 走路到 Raffles City 一样。）
我记得，抵达伦敦的首三天，没有棉被，没有 duvet，只有我从新加坡带来的枕头，LT 带我去 Tottenham Court 的 Argos 买，duvet 已经断货，晚上睡觉冷到半死，冷了三晚，结果在 Camden 的 Argos 买到了床单和 duvet，高兴地不得了。
还有很多很多的事，无法说尽。
或许，这都是出国的留学生才能体验得到的。
出国留学之后，才赫然发现，原来，读书不只是读书而已。
出国读书，等同于把你抛进大海里，让你自己自生自灭，让你学习如何不让自己溺毙，然后渐渐享受海的湛蓝。
我很庆幸，自己并没有选择呆在安逸的岛国，太过安逸，脑是会腐烂的，就象很多岛国的学生一样，身在福中不知福。你是其中一个吗？有机会的话，请去国外 exchange。
（我实在同情岛国的大学生们，尤其是 NUS 的学生。自从施ＸＸ教授掌权之后，我就一直 condemn 他。他是怎么做校长的嘛？）
～～回家之前（十）
（倒数 14 小时）
我想我这辈子永远无法忘记抵达伦敦的第一周。
曾经很多的未知，已经演变成今天难得的记忆。
从一个小小小小的岛国，来到大大大大的伦敦，转变非常大，而且没有时间让你慢慢调整。好象心理学家 William James 在十七世纪时，形容婴儿出世后面对新世界所说的 "in a buzzing blooming confusion"。
乱。很乱。太乱。
太多的新事物。太少的时间。
就等你一个人死在让人窒息的大城市中。
这才恍悟新加坡有多么地小，小到根本完全彻底地微不足道。
也因此，短短的头几天所发生的所有大小事，都很难忘记。
我记得，我是在清晨五点半抵达伦敦，在 Heathrow 等了老半天，到了中午才等到我的 Minicab 司机。他妈的。
我记得，我的第一餐是 Tesco 的 water cress and egg sandwich，自从那次之后，就发誓再也不会吃同样的 sandwich。实在难下肚，而且价钱一磅多（新币三块多），还是我当时找到最便宜的晚餐。
我记得，我 jetlag 前前后后 lag 了整整三天。很奇怪，乘搭 SQ 322 by right 是不会 lag 的，偏偏我就 lag 了三天。或许是因为在飞机上睡得不够。
我记得，第一次踏出宿舍，自己一个人从 Camden 走路到 Tottenham Court Road 的 Tube Station 和 LT 会面，为了省钱，当时没有搭 Tube，也没有伦敦地图，就凭着知觉，在大城市中迷了路，还绕了 Regent's Park 一整圈（Regent's Park 的面积跟海德公园有的比）。原本只需四十分钟左右的路程，结果前后却花了我一个小时半。
（我还记得有一次去 LT 的家，为了省钱，我竟然从 Camden 走路到 Tower Bridge，前后花了两个小时多，现在觉得自己当时是发疯了。请注意，Camden 在伦敦西北部，Tower Bridge 在东部，乘搭 Tube 也需要至少半个钟头的车程。就好象从 Bedok 走路到 Raffles City 一样。）
我记得，抵达伦敦的首三天，没有棉被，没有 duvet，只有我从新加坡带来的枕头，LT 带我去 Tottenham Court 的 Argos 买，duvet 已经断货，晚上睡觉冷到半死，冷了三晚，结果在 Camden 的 Argos 买到了床单和 duvet，高兴地不得了。
还有很多很多的事，无法说尽。
或许，这都是出国的留学生才能体验得到的。
出国留学之后，才赫然发现，原来，读书不只是读书而已。
出国读书，等同于把你抛进大海里，让你自己自生自灭，让你学习如何不让自己溺毙，然后渐渐享受海的湛蓝。
我很庆幸，自己并没有选择呆在安逸的岛国，太过安逸，脑是会腐烂的，就象很多岛国的学生一样，身在福中不知福。你是其中一个吗？有机会的话，请去国外 exchange。
（我实在同情岛国的大学生们，尤其是 NUS 的学生。自从施ＸＸ教授掌权之后，我就一直 condemn 他。他是怎么做校长的嘛？）
Friday, June 04, 2004
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Please
～～回家之前（八）
All flights in UK (I initially thought only England was affected) were grounded today early morning due to a glitch in the computer system at a control centre near London. Flight delays, disruptions, cancellations...
Operations are resuming now though.
Hope nothing goes wrong this Saturday. I already had a very bad experience at Schizpol Airport (Amsterdam) a few months ago. Flight disruptions aren't fun at all and they disrupt every single other plan.
I don't want to get stranded at Heathrow. Please.
～～回家之前（八）
All flights in UK (I initially thought only England was affected) were grounded today early morning due to a glitch in the computer system at a control centre near London. Flight delays, disruptions, cancellations...
Operations are resuming now though.
Hope nothing goes wrong this Saturday. I already had a very bad experience at Schizpol Airport (Amsterdam) a few months ago. Flight disruptions aren't fun at all and they disrupt every single other plan.
I don't want to get stranded at Heathrow. Please.
解读城市
～～回家之前（七）
（倒数 2 天）
以游客的心态解读一座城市，和长住于一座城市，原来是迥然不同的。
人往往把长住的城市当作理所当然，直到要离开之前才恍然大悟原来自己并不很了解这座已经住了好几个月或几年甚至一辈子的城市。
然后，在离开之前，尽量了解城市，尽量游走城市，试图挽留一点什么，捕捉一点什么。
前几天，再次去了 Camden Market，还有终于去了 Notting Hill 和 Portobello Market，看到了 Hugh Grant 在戏里的世界。又去了 Four Seasons 花了 15 英磅 （45 新币）吃了全世界最好吃的鸭饭……又想起初到伦敦的震撼：以往只能在 Monopoly 游戏看到的地名，竟然全部在眼睛前跳跃，像 Trafalgar Square, Mayfair, Park Lane, Oxford Street, Bond Street 等等等。曾经的殷切向往，已经变成彩色真实，然后转换成黑白记忆。
很微妙。
所以，回国后决定重新解读岛国。岛国是小，但不至于无处可去，只是被人忽略罢了。
旅行新加坡可能会有意外的收获喔！
（我还想去看一下夏天的海德公园，还有 River Thames。）
～～回家之前（七）
（倒数 2 天）
以游客的心态解读一座城市，和长住于一座城市，原来是迥然不同的。
人往往把长住的城市当作理所当然，直到要离开之前才恍然大悟原来自己并不很了解这座已经住了好几个月或几年甚至一辈子的城市。
然后，在离开之前，尽量了解城市，尽量游走城市，试图挽留一点什么，捕捉一点什么。
前几天，再次去了 Camden Market，还有终于去了 Notting Hill 和 Portobello Market，看到了 Hugh Grant 在戏里的世界。又去了 Four Seasons 花了 15 英磅 （45 新币）吃了全世界最好吃的鸭饭……又想起初到伦敦的震撼：以往只能在 Monopoly 游戏看到的地名，竟然全部在眼睛前跳跃，像 Trafalgar Square, Mayfair, Park Lane, Oxford Street, Bond Street 等等等。曾经的殷切向往，已经变成彩色真实，然后转换成黑白记忆。
很微妙。
所以，回国后决定重新解读岛国。岛国是小，但不至于无处可去，只是被人忽略罢了。
旅行新加坡可能会有意外的收获喔！
（我还想去看一下夏天的海德公园，还有 River Thames。）
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
头发篇
～～回家之前（六）
（倒数 2 1/2 天）
I went crazy again. Went to cut my hair for the third time in London.
The most expensive haircut ever in my entire life.
73.80 pounds (a discounted price from 82 pounds because I'm a poor pathetic student).
That's 232 SGD (today's rate was 1 GBP = 3.146 SGD)!
I could have gotten myself at least 20 barber haircuts in Singapore with this amount of money.
Whatever, I actually felt nothing when I handed my credit card to the receptionist. My heart is starting to ache a bit now though.
Since this was the first time colouring my hair, I decided not to let a trainee touch my hair. I wanted to go to a proper VS salon initially, but I reckon it would have cost me twice of what I paid today, so I found Colournation, a hair salon in the heart of Soho (click here if you wanna know more), which boasts having the capability of offering 270 different colours.
Anyway, the service was quite good, highlighting technique not bad, cutting not as professional as VS though, but still decent.
Didn't cut much hair, retained the assymetrical VS style I had since months ago. Highlighted chunks of hair this colour which is a combination of blond and medium brown, looks golden to me actually (dunno the colour's exact name). The stylist recommended violet and blue in the first place which are the colours I've always wanted but I know I shouldn't have blue hair now.
So, a new style from central London for homecoming and summer and work.
～～回家之前（六）
（倒数 2 1/2 天）
I went crazy again. Went to cut my hair for the third time in London.
The most expensive haircut ever in my entire life.
73.80 pounds (a discounted price from 82 pounds because I'm a poor pathetic student).
That's 232 SGD (today's rate was 1 GBP = 3.146 SGD)!
I could have gotten myself at least 20 barber haircuts in Singapore with this amount of money.
Whatever, I actually felt nothing when I handed my credit card to the receptionist. My heart is starting to ache a bit now though.
Since this was the first time colouring my hair, I decided not to let a trainee touch my hair. I wanted to go to a proper VS salon initially, but I reckon it would have cost me twice of what I paid today, so I found Colournation, a hair salon in the heart of Soho (click here if you wanna know more), which boasts having the capability of offering 270 different colours.
Anyway, the service was quite good, highlighting technique not bad, cutting not as professional as VS though, but still decent.
Didn't cut much hair, retained the assymetrical VS style I had since months ago. Highlighted chunks of hair this colour which is a combination of blond and medium brown, looks golden to me actually (dunno the colour's exact name). The stylist recommended violet and blue in the first place which are the colours I've always wanted but I know I shouldn't have blue hair now.
So, a new style from central London for homecoming and summer and work.
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
机场
～～回家之前（四）
（倒数 4 天）
前几天，从德国飞回伦敦，在 Stansted 机场，我仿佛找到自己喜欢机场的原因。可是，现在却又无法用文字表达出来。每每在离境大厅看着人送人，然后哭红的双眸望穿玻璃窗直到那人离开视线为止，这种场面很温馨。曾经的离开，是为了日后的回来。每每在入境大厅看着人们不停的张望，等啊等，然后是拥抱又是哭红的双眼，机场再冰冷，也不至于把人的血给冻僵。
到过很多机场，不管是哪个机场，Amsterdam 的 Schizpol 机场，抑或是 London 的 Heathrow 机场，还是Singapore 的 Changi 机场，每个都是一样的。
其实何止机场，（火／巴士）车站也是。
送人的感觉，被人送的感觉，接人的感觉，被人接的感觉，机场一点都不冷。
你有过这种感觉吗，有的话，那你我都是幸福的。
（现在，开始对 Changi 有一点点的期待了。）
～～回家之前（四）
（倒数 4 天）
前几天，从德国飞回伦敦，在 Stansted 机场，我仿佛找到自己喜欢机场的原因。可是，现在却又无法用文字表达出来。每每在离境大厅看着人送人，然后哭红的双眸望穿玻璃窗直到那人离开视线为止，这种场面很温馨。曾经的离开，是为了日后的回来。每每在入境大厅看着人们不停的张望，等啊等，然后是拥抱又是哭红的双眼，机场再冰冷，也不至于把人的血给冻僵。
到过很多机场，不管是哪个机场，Amsterdam 的 Schizpol 机场，抑或是 London 的 Heathrow 机场，还是Singapore 的 Changi 机场，每个都是一样的。
其实何止机场，（火／巴士）车站也是。
送人的感觉，被人送的感觉，接人的感觉，被人接的感觉，机场一点都不冷。
你有过这种感觉吗，有的话，那你我都是幸福的。
（现在，开始对 Changi 有一点点的期待了。）
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