Change!

“33 million infected globally. Over 3 million orphaned. 8,000 people will die today. Something needs to change”. As I heard Karen Warren highlight the statistics of HIV/AIDS globally in her presentation, I met the figures with my initial skepticism about the need for change and how we can be part of the change.

From Barack – the country is ready for change; to Hillary – we need experience not change ; to McCain – progress not change; to Tupac – I see no changes! ; everywhere I turn, even here in London, most of us are clamoring for but not signing up for change.

Karen’s message struck a chord that got me thinking not so much about political change but of personal change (or progress or experience depending on what camp you’re in). Basically she was arguing that life shouldn’t be about the next pair of shoes for ladies or electronic gadget for men but about that stranger on another continent in pain and crying out for help. That life is not just about advancing my career at my current job by taking a highly selective transfer job with my company or driving a new initiative that will make more money for everyone. Huh? I mean I know it’s not about the money but who doesn’t want to be admired or recognized in whatever job we do? Basically, I am supposed to strive to make someone’s life better regardless of whether or not I get the credit publicly. And then God, who sees all, will see what I do and dispense his rewards to me?!?
Actually, no. She argued that in reaching out to others we find ourselves, our purpose and we find God. Hmmm, interesting.

So, coming from NYC where any sort of religious talk is looked down upon as backward-thinking or close-mindedness, I have worked fervently to ensure people don’t see a semblance of that in me. But this lady was presenting a different idea that I have wrestled with the past two years. I want to believe that this life is more than the next buck or adventure or relationship. I want to believe in God. To believe the vacuum in my heart can indeed be filled by something bigger and greater. To believe because no one has been able to reconcile the concept of time (whence we started and when we end) or space (what is outside the Milky Way? And whatever answer you have - what is outside of that?).

Anyway, I figured I can take the six months I am here to try and figure out a few “small” questions and if I cant right now, I might at least blab about the service (or lack thereof) here in London. So a few folks (actually four expats and my first visitor) were out to drinks last Saturday at a pub and I asked a mate from America how he’s found living in London the past 18 months. He likes London but strongly believes that change is necessary in the service industry. He started off on a scooter but in about ten seconds was like an 18-wheeler. Basically, the service sector in London sucks was the summary. Unlike in the America where your local waiter/waitress gets paid less than minimum wage and have to make up the rest through tips and are therefore forced to give good service (sometimes), the opposite it true here. No one cares about how well you’re served because they all make at least minimum wage. As an example - here in London, every bar or restaurant has this mobile credit card swiping machine, which once they swipe, takes about 45 sec to process the transaction. It is not uncommon to go to a super crowded bar, order a drink about the same time another patron’s card is being swiped and have the bartender proceed to wait for the 45 sec transaction to go through, and the receipt is signed before pouring the next beer. In good ole United States of Capitalism, the bartender will be processing 3 cards, switching the bar TV to sportscenter, doing a shot with the patrons, while pouring 2 drinks- all in the name of that extra tip. No wonder no-one in London can appreciate T-pain’s song “…I like the baaarrr-rrrtender”

Seriously though, since that day I have noticed how everything really is much slower and not efficient in this place. I can perhaps be a part of global change by volunteering on an HIV/AIDS initiative, perhaps push personal change by opening my perspective to engage faith and believe God, but when I think about change to the London service sector, I will admit that it has on occasion made me ascribe limits to Gandhi’s call to “be the change”.