Wednesday, August 09, 2006

All about the HongBao

One of the first things I do everyday is purchase my morning paper.

As a kid, the newspaper was delivered every morning without fail by a kindly gentleman on his motorcycle - timed so well that you could almost set your clock by it. Reading had become a passion of mine and there was nothing like flipping through the first few pages of the first copy just before leaving for classes. Even when I left for medical school, it soon became a routine for me to grab a fresh copy from the vendor just before morning lectures. Since then, it has actually become a habit indelibly written in my subconscious that I do it almost without thinking sometimes.

Early Edition

Always find it just a little bit odd to find that there are people out there who actually don't read the papers. Aren't they interested in exactly who's quarrelling in the Middle East these days? Don't they even want to know how delicious Dominic Lau looks in the His section of the Sun today? How do they even find the best deals in town?

While for me a bit of spare change is needed each day to buy the papers, there are certain fortunate people such as Charming Calvin who get a free read at work everyday. Lucky bugger. And others like my ISO who thinks the world - and therefore the news - revolves around him.

Paul : What?! You don't read the paper?
My ISO : Never have.
Paul : You don't read the paper? What's wrong with you?
My ISO : Sometimes I'm forced to at the dentist.
Paul : You don't read the paper?
My ISO : I watch porn.

Really. I don't purport to read it front to back religiously like my mother - who even skims through the obituaries for some oddly morbid reason - but I do try my best to glance through most of the articles. Still, the price of the papers is certainly worth it - especially to while away my time while I'm standing line somewhere paying my boring bills.

And after all if I'm hurting for that little bit extra, I can always start charging my patients that thank you hongbao, can't I? Those who are staring in abject disgust obviously haven't had the chance to read today's paper. Almost makes me wanna uproot to work in Shanghai. Seems that patients in China normally offer a hongbao to thank the doctors after treatment - and astonishingly, the doctors ( who have been getting measly wage all the while like me ) take it all too willingly. At the moment, I'm not sure exactly what to think. Although the ethical goody-two-shoes part of me would rant vociferously against such practices ( that would have Hippocrates turning in his grave ), there is a small desperately needy part that certainly wouldn't mind that little bit extra cash.

After all, there is a sale.

And my minimal salary is barely able to sustain my pathetically spartan lifestyle.

24 comments:

Alex said...

No way I'm going to give doctors hongbao after treatment! The medical bill is enough to drain my savings!
Doctors are poor? Maybe in Bangladesh, but not here...

Dave said...

Skip the Godivas, buy 2nd hand books, cut down on the number of branded shirts, pants and ties, cook at home more often...and you can save a lot of money.

See?? That's the way i have to use to keep myself suriving at the moment. The army has been draining money from my monthly allowance for my insurance and club fees etc. No more $$$ for new tight fitting tees, branded briefs, new Converse Chuck Taylor, jeans from Topman and DVDs...'sob sob'.

Sue said...

No way I would give hongbao to any docs here. Even the surgeon that saved my life only got a hug. You should have seen the bills!

I used to have the New York Times as my homepage until the news got so depressing. Now my blog is my homepage. I watch Jon Stewart for the news. At least he has a sense of humor about it.

Anonymous said...

Paul is poor, pity him with the huge work load and the tiny salary. Even I might be earning more than him.

Please donate to him generously.

Anonymous said...

charm.calvin:

Please donate to him generously

LOL. So cute la you. ;)

- Evan

nyonyapenang said...

"as a form of reward or thank you gesture BEFORE treatment..."

make sure the angpow is as BIG as you can afford, if not they might not be able not assure you that no tweezer or something else is left inside you.

Xavier said...

i dont read the newspapers unnecessarily

bite me ;p

Anonymous said...

I read three different newspapers every morning but I am not a journalist. :-) I think I am addicted to reading. That could be it?

S said...

OMG, you read my newspaper?!

I like to read the actual paper when I can, but I never buy one b/c it gets really expensive (I just go to the library and skim it for free).

Jay said...

Unfortunately callcentre workers don't get hongbaos. Maybe I can set up a paypal scheme.

With the amount of shopping and travelling you do, NOBODY believes that you're poor, hun.

Just Me said...

I hardly ever read the paper. I normally catch up on the news online and I listen to NPR, BBC or some other online news cast. I stay pretty up to date on what is going on in the world.

The only time I ever pick up the paper is when I go out for breakfast with friends and we sit at a dinner waiting for our food.

hrugaar said...

No wonder paul seems poor if he does so much shopping la. ;oP

Anyway, hey, our family always read the 'births, marriages and deaths' columns straight away, heh. Otherwise I don't read newspapers - because all the rest of my relatives read them, and follow news avidly on TV and radio. I just pick up on the news because everyone is telling me about it all the time!

The one time I do make an effort to watch TV news (but not read newspapers, takes far too long) is when I'm travelling, 'cause then I don't have my network of spies around with me to keep me up to date.

Also, newspapers are such a huge waste of environmental resources! Why kill billions of trees just to pulp them and print trashy human gossip all over them? :o\

MrBunnyBan said...

I don't read them much either. Big big news gets to you, somehow or another. And there's always news highlights on tv and radio.

Michael said...

I feel for you, brother. In fact, I feel for you so much that I'm willing to take those rugs you picked up in Istanbul off your hands for a fair price.

And I feel you on the papers. I read the paper every day, without fail. Usually two--a national and a local one. Even when traveling, when I probably should give it a rest, I'll search for a New York Times.

Annie said...

Everybody here earns more money than Paul. He's a doctor for Calvin's sake! Even *I* make more money than Paul and I'm a stay at home mom! LOL..
... and I'm with Sue, I prefer to watch Jon Stewart's news.. When I feel like slicing my wrists and getting more depressed, I'll read CNN.com or MSNBC.com.. cheaper than a bottle of wine. News is depressing. No wonder you're down Paul. WTF?

Annie said...

oh.. forgot this:

*SLAP across the back of Paul's head*

Stop reading the news! Save your quarters. You might need them for gas to put in your car so you can drive off that cliff.

Lifebook said...

I read online newspapers and actual newspapers daily.. :)

Agreed with alex on no poor doctors here, only have the lazy doctors.. hehe

Joseph said...

I grab a free copy of the Sun occasionally when I bypass the paperstall near to my work place. I switch on CNN most of the time in the morning before I leave for work. And I leave the TV on at CNN sometimes when I am doing chores at home - I guess it should cover all the main news; Google Desktop is also a good alternative to keep yourself updated with news. I guess the living pace is getting faster - I adjust the routines towards rather mobilely.
Holding a copy of newspaper, flipping through them in the morning has become a bit sentimental to me -

and Hongbao treat I don't think it's a bad idea; anyway - it is not an obligation, I guess if I happen to meet a good doctor I may give an Hongbao, it's warm and simply expresses my gratitude for his cares.

RRP said...

like you paul, i love to read the paper every morning. but lately i've been noticing that i just skim from one article to another. i normally now just read the first paragraph or two - simply have no time or patience to read the whole thing.

i think it's a product of reading too many bite-sized portioned blogs.

ps. love early edition.

Kihu said...

I wonder how much of the hongbao would be in charmin calvin pocket if we really that generous! ahhaaha Don't think it is necessary to give here since well we all might still earn lesser than doctors. huh

Patrick said...

I only offer hongbao to virgin. Don't think it's applicable to you anyway.

savante said...

We are only little better than Bangladesh, Alex :)

GASP! Dave, skip the branded clothes! We have a clothing allowance and are supposed to maintain an image!

Don't be shocked, sue, but the hospital gets a large share of the bills.

Yes. Do what Calvin says!

Sarcasm doesn't bother me. So do what Calvin says!

Isn't it amazing that they condone such an act, nyonya!?

Xavier, will bite you when I see ya. On the nipple?

Same over here, shigeki. Try to get my hands on everything legible.

Your newspaper, Steven!

I need more, darlin Jay :) How else could I go visit you for a spot of shopping in London?

GASP! Et tu, cr!

WHy do you read the births, marriages and deaths, ru?!

By the time the news gets to ya, everyone else would be on the helicopter bound for higher ground and you're left holding the paper, Bunny. :)

Fair price? A few thousands would do fine, michael :)

Whatever gave you the idea that doctors earn a lot, Anniiieei?

Certainly lazy. Maybe you've got a point, lifebook.

Ah, asmadi, trimming corners. Sigh. Does that mean I can't shop at Starhill anymore?

Good attitude, JojO!

Not much time to read everything too, Ryan. Usually skim through some and go through the ones that interest me.

Earn less? I doubt it famezgay!

Patrick I can revirginize myself!

Paul

William said...

Charge the "HongBao" under the medical insurance claims-- "Misc. Fees".

The more we earn, it seems the more we spend. Takes more to "sustain" our lifestyle. Perhaps spartan is not too bad.

hrugaar said...

Why do we read the 'hatched, matched & dispatched' columns? Well, cos we're in a small community where we have a lot of friends, acquaintances and contacts, it's one way of keeping track of the 'milestones' as the community grows and changes.

Tolkien's hobbits are obsessed with family trees, and he based them on rural English folk (which we are, by origin) so I guess it's a cultural thing.