Rhythm of life

Today, I had a midday appointment with my traditional-Chinese-medicine doctor. Afterward, I went to a local teahouse to grab some lunch. The place was crowded, and people were lining up for seats or to pay their bills. After 2 p.m., the crowds began to ease. The official lunch hour for white-collar employees in Hong Kong is between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Hong Kong teahouse

I finished my late lunch, then went to a fast-food restaurant. I had arranged to meet my friend in about an hour, so preferred not to go home and then come back all the way again. I brought my computer and decided to do some work in this restaurant, where I could stay for as long as I liked.

The place was quiet; there were plenty of tables for me to choose from. I worked for about an hour, until 3:45 p.m. Again, as in the teahouse, streams of people were gathered near the cashier. Yes, of course, I reminded myself, local folks, particularly those engaged in hard labor, traditionally have a break at 3:45, and this fast-food place—affordable—has become their haven for a break.

Rhythm of life in a city.

Such is the rhythm of life in a city. If I had not been there, I would not have felt it so strongly. There is rush hour on campus, too, during lunch, but the afternoon break is never observed so strictly. This is so very interesting to me. It reminds me of the times in the past decade or two when the construction industry was very strong in Hong Kong.

Yes, I am kind of reminiscing. Just so you know, research has shown that age has nothing to do with the preference or tendency to reminisce.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.