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- Thread starter socal78
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NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
Ok, that makes sense. Only thing is, we're not in Hong Kong. I have a friend whose dad literally calls someone every time he has to change the AC filter. After so many years (35+) of being a homeowner here in America where, I would think that's totally doable. Actually, he doesn't know how the AC works at all. When it doesn't keep the house cool, he lowers the temp lower & lower & lower, churning and burning that thing over-time like a workhorse... until the repair man tells him the filter is completely clogged!
They have special classes for new homeowners around town that teach basic things like how to shut off the power, the gas, etc. I think it would be in every homeowner's best interest to know these things if they are going to own. I mean, where do they draw the line? Call somebody every time the toilet clogs??
That seems a little extreme. I am not really all that handy but I can fix a few things around house (toilet/filters) but I know my limitations. It's just generational, most Asians have the kids focused on education rather than hands on skills like construction or auto. There are plenty of Asians who do construction work and are handy. I think that most Asians in Irvine/OC are white collar in nature and thus may not be as good at home projects.
im actually not very hand myself. but i do cut my own lawn and edge my own grass. although as a home owner now i am getting a bit more handy, i installed shelving in our under stairs storage closet so that it would double as a pantry (right next to kitchen) as well as this thing that holds our swiffer, broom etc on the wall.
I base this on the fact that any asian mechanic I've worked with, is usually Vietnamese. Any IT guy, usually Vietnamese.
I think Koreans are also up on the handy scale because painters/handymen I know are Korean.
I'm not sure if this is a generalization, a stereotype or racism.
I don't think it necessarily is. My husband is very handy and can fix anything. It's an attractive quality.
He grew up as "the man of the house" with just his mom, so maybe that has something to do with it.
Oh, your hubby grew up overseas?? Good for him looking after his mom.
I agree with you Trace, it is a very attractive quality!! I love a handyman! It is one of the things I love about my husband.
I think the white collar vs. blue collar somebody mentioned earlier probably has a lot to do with it. I grew up in a blue collar home and now live life a little differently as my dh is white collar. People's interests and capabilities differ. Hard to get used to, I guess. I always thought I would grow up and marry a warehouseman or construction worker or at least somebody who takes a big green Stanley thermos to work. It turned out differently than I thought. He is less capable in some areas and more capable in others than what I'm accustomed to.
Actually he and his mom moved here when he was about 10, so I guess he technically grew up in both places. So I don't know if he's considered fobby or not.
I think if they grew up overseas in Taiwan or China or Hong Kong, there's just not a lot of space for them to be "handy". There's no yards to take care of and very little space to work with in general. Also, in places like HK, it's super cheap to get someone to build something completely custom for you. The other thing is... in order to be handy, you'll need tools. In a tiny HK apt, there's no place to store these tools (there's no garages) so I think that also plays a part.
cubiczirconia
New member
Between music, debate, math, language and school (they run more than 180 days a year in Asian countries) they never had the time to learn anything else. Also, if everyone takes care of their own stuff, where will the caretakers go? Live, let live..
ETA: It's easy to find someone to do stuff for you in Asian countries than in US.
Live, let live..ETA: It's easy to find someone to do stuff for you in Asian countries than in US.
socal78
Well-known member
bones said:
Ok, that makes sense. Only thing is, we're not in Hong Kong. I have a friend whose dad literally calls someone every time he has to change the AC filter. After so many years (35+) of being a homeowner here in America where, I would think that's totally doable. Actually, he doesn't know how the AC works at all. When it doesn't keep the house cool, he lowers the temp lower & lower & lower, churning and burning that thing over-time like a workhorse... until the repair man tells him the filter is completely clogged!
They have special classes for new homeowners around town that teach basic things like how to shut off the power, the gas, etc. I think it would be in every homeowner's best interest to know these things if they are going to own. I mean, where do they draw the line? Call somebody every time the toilet clogs??
Irvinecommuter
New member
SoCal said:
That seems a little extreme. I am not really all that handy but I can fix a few things around house (toilet/filters) but I know my limitations. It's just generational, most Asians have the kids focused on education rather than hands on skills like construction or auto. There are plenty of Asians who do construction work and are handy. I think that most Asians in Irvine/OC are white collar in nature and thus may not be as good at home projects.
qwerty
Well-known member
SoCal said:qwerty said:asians aren't handy cause they have small hands and we all know what that means
How handy are you?
im actually not very hand myself. but i do cut my own lawn and edge my own grass. although as a home owner now i am getting a bit more handy, i installed shelving in our under stairs storage closet so that it would double as a pantry (right next to kitchen) as well as this thing that holds our swiffer, broom etc on the wall.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
This goes along with my opinion that Vietnamese are very handy.cowlemon said:
I base this on the fact that any asian mechanic I've worked with, is usually Vietnamese. Any IT guy, usually Vietnamese.
I think Koreans are also up on the handy scale because painters/handymen I know are Korean.
I'm not sure if this is a generalization, a stereotype or racism.
nosuchreality
Well-known member
I'm not Asian and there's how handy I am, how handy I think I should be and how handy reality is when I attempt to fix previous owner Tim the Toolman Taylor's handy-work.
traceimage
New member
SoCal said:
I don't think it necessarily is. My husband is very handy and can fix anything. It's an attractive quality.
He grew up as "the man of the house" with just his mom, so maybe that has something to do with it.
socal78
Well-known member
traceimage said:
Oh, your hubby grew up overseas?? Good for him looking after his mom.
I agree with you Trace, it is a very attractive quality!! I love a handyman! It is one of the things I love about my husband.
I think the white collar vs. blue collar somebody mentioned earlier probably has a lot to do with it. I grew up in a blue collar home and now live life a little differently as my dh is white collar. People's interests and capabilities differ. Hard to get used to, I guess. I always thought I would grow up and marry a warehouseman or construction worker or at least somebody who takes a big green Stanley thermos to work. It turned out differently than I thought. He is less capable in some areas and more capable in others than what I'm accustomed to.
homer_simpson
Well-known member
Small things that don't take a lot of time I will fix. Difficult fixes I will just call a professional. Time is money... I don't have much time left over after work and the time I have I wanna spend with the Fam.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Yep... in my younger years I relished building things, fixing things and what not... even built a media cabinet for our living room TV in our first house.
But other than occasional furniture assembly, everything else I leave to the pros... my time costs way more than theirs (also why I don't want to be a landlord anymore).
But other than occasional furniture assembly, everything else I leave to the pros... my time costs way more than theirs (also why I don't want to be a landlord anymore).
traceimage
New member
SoCal said:
Actually he and his mom moved here when he was about 10, so I guess he technically grew up in both places. So I don't know if he's considered fobby or not.
locolocal
New member
I know a German woman from a super rich family who lives in a tiny apartment and can fix anything. She comes from a long line of mechanical engineers. I know a French man who can fit any kind of gay stereotype you can think of. He is helpless unless you have a kid who needs help with any kind of nonsense literature questions. I have distant Scandinavian relatives who came to California during the gold rush and worked as carpenters. The houses they built are still standing. Unfortunately, none of those genes and knowledge were passed on.