I’m, like, so fashionable… October 4, 2006

So, on the subject of my post yesterday, have I sold out or what? I mean, working for a fashion designer? Who saw that coming? Be honest.

Suddenly, I find myself consumed with nothing but aesthetics, adornments and questions like “Who is the ‘It’ girl right now?”

Seriously, who is she? I’ve been out of the loop for two years (a self-imposed exile), and apparently pop-culture has continued on without me. In my personal opinion, Beyonce is where it’s at. She’s the only one whose charms have kept me interested to the point I still check for her. But there must be others. Who’s fashionable. Who’s with it? Who’s now? L & K, I’m after your help on this one. I’m in way over my head. (*)

So, continuing on the whole consumer/fashion theme (my favourite subject, ask anyone), I heard something interesting today. Apparently, the reason the service industry in Hanoi is so stilted goes much deeper than I originally imagined. It seems that the Northern Vietnamese mindset is such that if I work in retail or the service sector and I act overtly friendly or helpful towards you as a customer, that act lowers my social standing. You and I are no longer equals. I have become your SERVANT.

This explains a lot in terms of shopping in Northern Vietnam (or North Vietnam as Hugo Chavez calls it). It’s not that shop staff here are rude, per say. They just aren’t very helpful. Now, I know why. Evidently, the tendency is less pronounced if a customer is particularly well-dressed or otherwise gives off an air of superiority. But when my friend – an attractive young professional looking Vietnamese woman bereft of any pretension whatsoever – came into our shop this afternoon, our sales staff completely ignored her. Of course, she’s quite used to this behaviour. She tells me that whenever she’s in an up market hotel in Hanoi (she’s involved in event management), she gravitates towards the foreign staff whenever she has a question or a request.

It’s not the same in the south. People there are much more comfortable just being friendly. There isn’t the same self-consciousness. It’s much more like Thailand.

Just another of the little quirks of Hanoi. I blame the French.

Until next time…

* Obligatory Simpson’s Quote:

“I used to be with it. Then, they changed what it was. Now, what I’m with isn’t it. It’ll happen to you.”

-Abraham “Grandpa” Simpson