A glimpse of my life experience.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City</a>
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1251529273]<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2231193567_9bfb172c98.jpg" alt="" />



i remember some memories of mine in the alleys of hong kong. there was one day back in the 80s i was looking for a particular place that was located down one of these alleys just like this. the occasional flickering bulb barely lit the long dark hallways. they provided plenty of hiding spots that i was sure dozens of thugs were hiding behind. luckily i had my buddy Ray with me. you did not want to cross Ray. we finally found the place and it was guarded by several stern-looking chinese men. our host said something to one of the guards in cantonese. the guard looked ray and i up and down. he then uncrossed his arms, gave us a thumbs up and said, "O.K., U.S.A." then we went inside and i had the time of my life. broke some bricks, did some splits. i punched a sumo in the nuts. good times.</blockquote>


I am a big fan of when you took care of Chong Li. WTG!



<img src="http://a300.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/7/l_6459d75643fa7df1c643d9bf15302ce3.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="almon" date=1251540622]I like the photo with Lion Mountain in the background...I grew up in North Point with the 8 of us in an 600 sq ft 3-bedroom (no typo) apartment in North Point Estate. My family always told me how lucky my sisters and I were, since the 7 of us (my little sister wasn't born yet) had moved from an 300 sq ft place in Kowloon.



So those stories about Kowloon City Fort (I can't figure out how to translate the 4th word) were all true? Unlicensed doctors, robbers who would mug you outside the boundaries and then quickly run inside, etc., etc.?</blockquote>


The 4th word in translation would be "confined (trapped socially and economically) enclave"
 
[quote author="Astute Observer" date=1251551950][quote author="almon" date=1251540622]I like the photo with Lion Mountain in the background...I grew up in North Point with the 8 of us in an 600 sq ft 3-bedroom (no typo) apartment in North Point Estate. My family always told me how lucky my sisters and I were, since the 7 of us (my little sister wasn't born yet) had moved from an 300 sq ft place in Kowloon.



So those stories about Kowloon City Fort (I can't figure out how to translate the 4th word) were all true? Unlicensed doctors, robbers who would mug you outside the boundaries and then quickly run inside, etc., etc.?</blockquote>


You are indeed very lucky since in my case, it was 4 of us in 175 sq ft.</blockquote>


Shall we start a club called the "tumbleweed dwellers".



I have to remind myself daily with my avatar"
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1251598860]



You are indeed very lucky since in my case, it was 4 of us in 175 sq ft.</blockquote>


Shall we start a club called the "tumbleweed dwellers".



I have to remind myself daily with my avatar"</blockquote>


wow, just wow, I come from the poor desert, but never anything like that.





I have built a few tumbleweed homes in my short time. they are fun! But nothing crazy like that.



-bix
 
When we talked about safety issues here not even South LA could come close to the danger of this 6 acre walled city. There were no place to run or hide. When I was a kid I have seen child molestation in stairs well, rape, drug addict with syringes, robberies, stabbed victim lying in pool of blood, Heroine labs, kids jumped off buildings, wives sold to brothels by their husbands, and etc. This neighborhood had no law and no police jurisdiction. There were many good things as well. Caring people like old men and old ladies eager to help and educate the unfortunate children. There was a safety outpost at one of the floor where citizens took it upon themselves to be the security officers.
 
wow, thanks for answering...it's the type of situations that i would want my kids to be aware of (so they would appreciate what they have more), without actually seeing them in person.



i was 12 when i left hong kong, so do not remember what neighborhoods surrounded the walled city. dumb question - why did most of the residents stay? was it because of lower rent, or did they also work within the city?
 
i try to think about the song "You, Me And The Bourgeoisie" by the Submarines every morning:



"Here we are with all the pleasures of the first world

Laid out for us who are we to breakdown? ..."
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1251607742]Bk, I'm still waiting for word on when you will write a book. You never know, it could become a movie.</blockquote>


Chances are it will be me that writes it. I will let you know.. :)
 
[quote author="almon" date=1251638156]wow, thanks for answering...it's the type of situations that i would want my kids to be aware of (so they would appreciate what they have more), without actually seeing them in person.



i was 12 when i left hong kong, so do not remember what neighborhoods surrounded the walled city. dumb question - why did most of the residents stay? was it because of lower rent, or did they also work within the city?</blockquote>


In America one can buy their way out of the ghetto when they have money. Suburbs are the instant gratification of good schools and less crime. Places like Kowloon Walled City were refuge for the poor families and elderly folks without a family. My father was over seventy at that time without income. His family fortune was lost when Japanese invaded China and the rest just vanished when Mao became the Premier.





There were no public education in Hong Kong. Most families could not afford tuition for their children. Schools and universities were limited in HK to serve the population. 1 out of 1000 students made it to college and the rest either failed to advance. It was a society of survival of the fittest. Without an education people could not find their way out of poverty. This is the reason why Chinese are very competitive.



Immigration was their only option to find educational opportunities in America since all students must advance. The brightest students remain in Hong Kong while the average students seek education abroad.



Poverty in South LA or Appalachia breed more poverty and for generations families could not find their way out. It was not the color of their skin white or black that tied them to their root.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1251644851][quote author="almon" date=1251638156]wow, thanks for answering...it's the type of situations that i would want my kids to be aware of (so they would appreciate what they have more), without actually seeing them in person.



i was 12 when i left hong kong, so do not remember what neighborhoods surrounded the walled city. dumb question - why did most of the residents stay? was it because of lower rent, or did they also work within the city?</blockquote>


In America one can buy their way out of the ghetto when they have money. Suburbs are the instant gratification of good schools and less crime. Places like Kowloon Walled City were refuge for the poor families and elderly folks without a family. My father was over seventy at that time without income. His family fortune was lost when Japanese invaded China and the rest just vanished when Mao became the Premier.





There were no public education in Hong Kong. Most families could not afford tuition for their children. Schools and universities were limited in HK to serve the population. 1 out of 1000 students made it to college and the rest either failed to advance. It was a society of survival of the fittest. Without an education people could not find their way out of poverty. This is the reason why Chinese are very competitive.



Immigration was their only option to find educational opportunities in America since all students must advance. The brightest students remain in Hong Kong while the average students seek education abroad.



Poverty in South LA or Appalachia breed more poverty and for generations families could not find their way out. It was not the color of their skin white or black that tied them to their root.</blockquote>
i see...you just reminded me another thing -> my father worked for the board of ed, and my mother was a teacher. if the US had waited another 2 or 3 years before calling our names, they would have sent me to boarding school in england (using the govt employee discount else they could have never afforded it). funny how life turns out from decisions pre-destined...did you arrive in the US with a green card?
 
I feel bk need to elaborate a bit on the statement of "There were no public education in Hong Kong..." You have to put a time span on that, otherwise, it is misleading.
 
Schools were limited to the brightest creme of the crops and those with mediocre intelligence would have to rely on private schools. Due to limited spaces available only kids with scholastic merits were allowed to continue with higher education. For those who did not pass the proficiency test the kids had to join the work force.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1251704344]Schools were limited to the brightest creme of the crops and those with mediocre intelligence would have to rely on private schools. Due to limited spaces available only kids with scholastic merits were allowed to continue with higher education. For those who did not pass the proficiency test the kids had to join the work force.</blockquote>
(doing this from memory, so please pardon if you spot any mistake...)



during the 70s, hong kong had 2 universities and 2, ummm, for lack of better word, community colleges. and a population of about 4.5 million (some estimated with another .5 million of illegals from china). competition to get into these universities was fierce. the english education sytem used by hong kong featured plenty of chances to measure yourself versus others in class/in school. i recall every semester in elementary school, every student would receive a ranking so each person knew exactly where he stood in class. basically, if you weren't in the top 3 in a top or 2nd tier school, your family would be making plans to get you overseas sometime during high school or afterwards, because the chance of getting into a local university was slim to nil.



the system also gave plenty of chances to encounter failure. there was a citywide test in 6th grade to compete for a good middle school (middle schools there go from 7th to 13th grade), another test in 9th grade, then a major test during 11th grade. i left after 6th grade so wasn't a victim of the system, but methinks (back me up here, bk) the annual suicides would usually come from students failing the 11th grade exam. i think the consequence of failing the 11th grade exam was actually repeating 11th grade, since 12th and 13th grades were used as college prep years.



so what were your choices if your academics didn't measure up? if your family was upper or upper-middle class, usually boarding school overseas during high school years (to hone your english) and then go to a "wild chicken university" (no-name school willing to accept lower academics/bad english for tuition money). country of choice would be england, canada, australia (british commonwealth members charged less), then usa.
 
[quote author="almon" date=1251717708][quote author="bkshopr" date=1251704344]Schools were limited to the brightest creme of the crops and those with mediocre intelligence would have to rely on private schools. Due to limited spaces available only kids with scholastic merits were allowed to continue with higher education. For those who did not pass the proficiency test the kids had to join the work force.</blockquote>
(doing this from memory, so please pardon if you spot any mistake...)



during the 70s, hong kong had 2 universities and 2, ummm, for lack of better word, community colleges. and a population of about 4.5 million (some estimated with another .5 million of illegals from china). competition to get into these universities was fierce. the english education sytem used by hong kong featured plenty of chances to measure yourself versus others in class/in school. i recall every semester in elementary school, every student would receive a ranking so each person knew exactly where he stood in class. basically, if you weren't in the top 3 in a top or 2nd tier school, your family would be making plans to get you overseas sometime during high school or afterwards, because the chance of getting into a local university was slim to nil.



the system also gave plenty of chances to encounter failure. there was a citywide test in 6th grade to compete for a good middle school (middle schools there go from 7th to 13th grade), another test in 9th grade, then a major test during 11th grade. i left after 6th grade so wasn't a victim of the system, but methinks (back me up here, bk) the annual suicides would usually come from students failing the 11th grade exam. i think the consequence of failing the 11th grade exam was actually repeating 11th grade, since 12th and 13th grades were used as college prep years.



so what were your choices if your academics didn't measure up? if your family was upper or upper-middle class, usually boarding school overseas

during high school years (to hone your english) and then go to a "wild chicken university" (no-name school willing to accept lower academics/bad english for tuition money). country of choice would be england, canada, australia (british commonwealth members charged less), then usa.</blockquote>


For those who did not make the Universities in Hong Kong but families are wealthy the choices are Cambridge, Oxford, University of BC, Ivy League, and Stanford.



The next tier is Cal Berkeley, UCLA and USC but rarely the rest of the UC campuses.
 
What happened to the "Thank you" buttons?



Now, seeing that, who thinks that Irvine-raised kids have any chance in competing with the Chinese? This can't be much different from where current rural migrants live in the outskirts of Shanghai. There better be some creativity skills you get from wallowing in fat, to compete with academic determination from living in these conditions.
 
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