2022 Q1 Reflections
In the first quarter of 2022, I went through a few rounds of adjustments and re-adjustments — starting the year in Hong Kong, flying back to Taiwan for CNY holidays, and re-adjusting to the WFH ritual in Hong Kong. A change of environment, pace of life, and interpersonal interactions between Taiwan and Hong Kong puts current endeavors in perspective — personal identity established, longer-term blueprints envisioned, and commitments at present.
Remote work
Having spent most of the first quarter working from home, I started off enjoying the flexibility and autonomy that le télétravail grants. Yet luckily as we approach the end of March, HK’s pandemic seems to have subsided gradually, and managers asked for volunteers to return under the 30% office capacity benchmark. What would be your preference, balancing out the pros and cons?
Numerous articles from HBR, The Economist, and Le Monde have delved into the impacts of télétravail and its impacts on women. One HBR articles suggest women face a “double disadvantage” in the hybrid workplace — harder to access mentorship and sponsorship due to decreased visibility, negative assumptions on commitment, harder to maintain interpersonal networks (with family commitments on side), and harder to speak up (and being heard) in meetings. Yet, other articles have cited better work-life (family) balance, easier time management, and having a more relaxed environment with absence of workplace politics.
Having experienced periods of remote work offered a glimpse on the flexibility and the future of work, as company regulations and team practices evolve. For me, with the nature of my job and the starting stage of my career, people exposure, senior mentorship, sense of initiative, and the office ambiance makes a difference, crafting a steeper learning curve.「很多東西都是在辦公室，聽別人的討論學會的」, mentioned C******. Eating well, resting, exercising, music, dancing, and socializing are essential elements to our well-being during WFH periods. Some of the changes are here to stay — such as zoom meetings, the flexibility of overseas work, and TWATs (Tue/Wed/and Friday Office) for many professions. With the return of office, I would miss the comfort and autonomy at home; but also look forward to the busy office again!
Work — Staying Rooted
To celebrate international Women’s Day, we had a series of Women panelist discussions on topics such as mobility, networking, speaking up, and career progression. With senior panelists ranging from diverse backgrounds — in geography, nationality, and job function within the bank, I found many of the discussions interesting between these female leaders. “Be anchored, do your job well (it speaks for itself), and then be open to opportunities elsewhere.”, came from one of the panelists. During times of uncertainty, la précarité is felt amongst junior and senior employees alike. During le télétravail, the weaker supporting network (mentorship guidance), sense of isolation, and loss of initiative could arise. Yet, staying rooted and disciplined, focusing on short term learning goals, and keeping track of longer-term development initiatives are important. “Don’t run away from things that are unpleasant to embrace the pleasant. Put your hands in the earth. Face the difficulties and grow new happiness.” As Thich Nhat Hanh writes in his book (The Heart of the Buddha’s teaching), “The capacity to feel at peace is a positive seed, while the energy to run away is not”.
Yet, it is also during remote work with the absence of office distractions, that I had a more lucid reflection of professional growth since the start of my work 1.5 years ago. Perceptible improvements, market dynamics understanding, and the ability to retain composure under stress can be cultivated, with time and experience.
“Happy FED day” — FOMC meeting took place in March 17th this year. It was an overwhelmingly busy day, with market participants updating market views, and executing trades after expectations were updated. (FED announced a 25bp rate hike, a new set of dot plot was proposed, and QT is expected in April/May 2022. Overnight US markets was buoyed led by tech stock rallies, while UST curve flattened.) It was a day for me to remember, as I felt well-worked, energized, and rewarded — despite a flurry of hectic activities. I asked myself these days — which factors casted the magic? It came down to a few factors:
1. Gaining a deeper understanding of market dynamics and institutional client behaviors: Gaining knowledge in fields that we are passionate about (or had put commitment in) offers a sense of reward, no matter professionally or in our personal interests. After a volatile trading day, people outside the profession could feel the “tremor” when opening their trading apps, gasping at the sea of red or green. For markets professionals who cover institutional flows, the market landscape is an intercorrelated, complex, sometimes irrational, and fast-paced action picture, and we develop an intricate relationship with the market dynamics. Connecting the dots and forming a personal narrative: from market themes, asset class moves, trading desk positions, to institutional client trading strategies comes with experience, keen observation, research reading, and periodic reflections.
2. Tasked with responsibility and gaining ownership: From supporting seniors to the first client coverage…slowly building up external interactions, learning from errors, and taking ownership of tasks are part of the journey.
3. Continuous learning: There are vast learning opportunities in a big platform, especially when you are led by an experienced team. Observing seniors’ engagement with clients, participating in research calls, reaching out to research analysts on prepared questions. Petit à petit, we gain familiarity with the broad market universe, while the connection with real life sweetens the learning journey. *REDACTED*
4. Sens d’équilibre: There were days when I was swamped with market flows — submerged in a sea of client trade inquiries and making errors when multitasking under pressure. “Stop, take a second, think, reach out for help if needed.” was a piece of advice from my mentor. Seemingly simple, the day can be turned around when you are calm, in composure, and in control.
5. Perceptible improvements: Familiarity only comes from doing, and practice makes perfect. The sense of reward from perceptible improvements in certain tasks comes after struggles — best teacher in learning.
Short Trip Back Home to Taiwan
Each trip invigorates with the changes in atmosphere, identity, and exchange of ideas. Blending back into the close web of family and old acquaintances, we take up our old identities again. Distancing away from work commitments, taking a breather from solitary time in quarantine, and catching up with family and friends were invigorating — fresh ideas stimulated, tranquil reflections surfaced, and longer-term aspirations bloomed. “The greatest gift is presence; as well as peacefulness and stability.” Celebrating bro’s 20th birthday, embarking on a family trip in the mountains, visiting grandparents for CNY, and gathering around the mahjong table with the cousins — rites marking the passage of time, blended into family warmth and conviviality.
The previous gathering around the mahjong table was CNY two years ago, and it served as a perfect long-time get-together icebreaker, with 4 of my cousins. The room was heated with laughter, sizing up, jostling around, side-stabbing, and side-way jokes within the first round. Amid the game, conversations took form in a different manner — direct questions, self-deprecating humor, but with blunt and insightful truthfulness… reflecting maturity and growth throughout the years. The 4 guys sometimes spoke in a language foreign to me, but the light-hearted ambiance radiated. I recalled Renaud’s Mistral Gagnant lyrics, « le temps est assassin et emporte avec lui, Les rires des enfants ». Merci pour the annual game, an invitation back to the carefree childhood — when nap times were a mandate not a luxury; when games were daily drills not holiday diversions.
A long trek in 上分流
It is wonderful to sit near someone who is peaceful. “A companion who is stable, solid, and calm, despite challenges faced”, radiates a magic potion of strength and serendipity. These were the words and sensations that I couldn’t verbalize, granted by some companions — albeit from quite diverse backgrounds. After a day hike in 上分流with L*** and C********, I stumbled upon this quote in Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, aptly articulating lingering sensations.
上分流 is situated in Lantau Island’s South-Western coast, a hike that trails the seashore of Lantau’s beautiful sea panorama. Despite being a moderate trail with minimal ascents (the highest point was around 450 meters, and we started around sea level), it was a long trail of 15km in distance. Along the trail, we’ve only spotted another group of hikers on the desolate path — and the carpet of lush vegetation stretching into the seascape drew similarities with sauntering along the plains of Europe. The scent of the sea mixed with soil, the lush vegetation beneath our feet, the low-hanging mist, the sea view panorama, and the gushes of cool breeze…the heart is invigorated and enlivened as we trudge ahead. After the first few hours of exchange, we blended into nature’s spell, sauntering at a comfortable pace and comfortably silent in each other’s presence — mindful of the sensations of nature and bodily movements. The 6-hour hike was physically arduous but mentally relaxing — we were liberated of the characters constructed; simply ourselves at peace in nature’s calling.
Upon reflection, I admired a few characters of the two. (1) Enjoyment of simple abundances. Interpersonal dynamics, outdoor endeavors, materialistic views, social media utilization etc. (2) Consistency — dans la vie professionnelle, la vie privée, et la vie sociale. (3) Emotional intelligence. Vigilant yet optimistic, low-key confident yet humble, and composed amid uncertainties. Not the emotional and sensitive type. (4) Independent and solitary — not very needy of attention and companionship; yet appreciate conviviality with select companions. (5) Being myself — not extremely social, talkative, and outgoing. A semi-introvert who could and would talk, but more comfortable staying observant. And I know the 2 as well — with different characters, likings, and limits; compassion comes from listening and understanding, as G*****shares. Despite physically draining trek, I was anchored, serene, and grateful. Companions are like family — we are free to be ourselves, relaxed in each other’s presence, sharing a portfolio of experiences that could either be novel or ordinary.
Glamping at下白泥
After the previous camping experience in Lantau — setting up tents under the cold weather and soft rain, glamping was an experience on the opposite side of the totem pole. A 10 minute drive from the city center of 錦上路station, the campsite was well-run with furnished glamping tents (Air conditioning, beds, barbecue pits, manicured lawns), surrounded by mountains near the Yuen Long country park. Well hidden from the city and enclosed by nature, it was a perfect getaway after prolonged periods of working-from home routines. In a way, virtual work has sped up how time passes by — with this 2022 getaway with J*** and J****, my roommates in University back in 2016 and 2019 respectively. These stabilizing and close relationships can be the most transformative — we haven’t caught up much since graduation, yet with the portfolio of experiences back in school, each rendezvous pulls us instantly back to the past. With the 3 of us now working in very different fields (Blockchain/Smart Contracts, Sportswear, Finance), ideas exchanged and diverse experiences lived were interesting, as it expands our knowledge and sense of possibilities in the world. Since university, we observe subtle transformations, share the joys of milestones, talk through concerns and challenges, and simply take comfort in each other’s presence along the way.
The stage of early adulthood is characterized by establishing self-identity, instability, self-focus, and a broad sense of future possibilities. With diversions and noise encountered in this stage — meeting people with different values, encountering opportunities, making important decisions etc, having the stability and security of old friends going through the same rollercoaster ride warms the cockles of the heart. Learning from their decisions and growth, taking in their direct feedback, and asking blunt questions bravely — these are all supporting pillars as we build our future blueprints.
French Learning
Online classes with Tr. Z*** granted the flexibility during travel arrangements in the first quarter of 2022. Upon reflection, the 1–1 courses were constructive to Delf preparations, as an adaptable learning plan, weekly production écrite practices, and customized feedbacks helped in the examination preparation. Having a longer-term anchor helps with the persistence and diligence in language learning. The dynamic elements and understanding of the language can be nourished with film, literature, cultural immersions, and travel; while taking an examination forces us to work harder in areas of weakness (reading/speaking/writing/listening). Dipping my toes into the 2 literary works for French learners — Le Étranger et Le Petit Nicholas, I thought about the days of delving into Harry Potter books during elementary school. Despite encountering and skipping vocabularies that were foreign, being able to comprehend the storyline granted a sense of reward and glee. Appreciating the beauty of the language construction in French also deepens your connection with the author — viewpoints and cultural identities rooted in the written word.
