For a really relaxing time, you want to go to a place where the work ethic hasn't taken hold, where the culture hasn't been taken over by the western values of constant striving.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
That business of relaxation, which is so terribly modern today, is all good and well, but my work interests me so much, and is so varied, that many times it seems relaxing when I go from one aspect to another.
While my trips are most often focused on business, I always try to take some time to experience the local culture.
Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.
If you have the ability and the wherewithal to create work that's basically in a discussion with the culture we're in, how could you not want to do that?
Working conditions for me have always been those of the monastic life: solitude and frugality. Except for frugality, they are contrary to my nature, so much so that work is a violence I do to myself.
I make it my business to see or do something cultural in every place I go to. If you don't, you'll get into a state of constant despair.
I want a desirable place to work to attract and keep them here. So you try to create an environment for people to do their best work, and be generous on the benefit side.
All the exhausting aspects of my job are made worthwhile because I get to experience so many different cultures. It makes you really appreciate the memories.
The position that I take partly as a result of living in Asia is where you stop living according to your expectations and you become available to experience things as they are.
If you're doing something outside of dominant culture, there's not an easy place for you. You will have to do it yourself.