Timeless London #3 Miles Clemson
- wendyy0
- 8月13日
- 讀畢需時 23 分鐘
已更新：8月15日
此時此刻，我只需要享受，不需要管其他，只一心懷着感恩。
時：2025年6月27日，下午四時半
地：Southbank Centre, London
人：Miles Clemson
每個地方都會有它的Archive，一個保存歷史的資料庫。這些資料庫蘊含的不只是歷史檔案和記錄，更是一份份被珍藏的記憶，而這些記憶，當然需要有人去管理和照顧。這次，我邀請了我的同事Miles，他正是我們這個倫敦重要的藝術文化中心之中的記憶管理人。
記得在一次All Staff Meeting，我聽了他關於公司Archive的簡短介紹，一直覺得非常有趣。而平日的Miles非常親切，從不缺笑容，讓我鼓起勇氣邀請他受訪。對於他答應我貿貿然的邀請，還爽快地立即訂好日子接受訪問，我除了感激只有感激；在一個酷熱的星期五，我們坐在公司戶外的小小咖啡攤擋，喝著凍飲，談著的不只是他的工作，更是他多姿多采的人生經歷。
你從哪裡來？為什麼會在倫敦生活？
我來自一個叫Winchester的地方，那是一個Commute Town，距離倫敦大概一小時車程，所以通勤很容易。有趣的是從小到大，很多我認識的人都在倫敦工作，大學我也是在倫敦讀的，我跟倫敦彷彿一直有著某種連結吧。
我最初是讀考古學（Archaeology）和人類學（Anthropology）的。畢業後，我做過考古學家幾年，幾乎全英國都跑透了，哪裡有洞就去挖，更乾脆住在一輛廂型貨車裏，挖到哪裡就住到哪裡。沒錯挖洞是很有趣，但在幾個冬天後，在英國中部某個又冷又濕的地方挖著洞時，我突然想，我為何不可以像我的朋友一樣好好住在倫敦，過些穩定的生活呢？於是我轉做Retail工作來存錢，直到買了一隻船並住進去，那時我就覺得我可以開始選擇做我想做的事了。
我休息了一陣子，在不同的博物館做義工，就在此這期間，我發現Archive真的很Make Sense！所以決定重新訓練成為一個Archivist（檔案員）；當然在這之前，我也在做着不同的東西，例如在Bermondsey一家麵包店做送貨或者搓麵糰，然後再去做做Event Manager或者義工等等。大部分的Archivist職位都是在倫敦，而我因為做過很多不同的事，在倫敦早已建立了不同的朋友圈子，所以就一直在這裡了。
可以說說為什麼Archive對你來說有如此大的吸引力嗎？
我從小就對文化遺產很有興趣，我大學讀的兩科都是Heritage相關的。其中，考古學有兩條出路，一種是學術性的，雖然薪水較高，但並非前線，我興趣不大。另一種是商業性的，只要哪裡要建個新的建築，就請我們去挖，雖然工作性質不穩定，但至少我可以站在前線親身做點甚麼。不過比起考古，我覺得Archive來得很不一樣 ── 它就像一個圖書館，你可以用它來做教育活動，甚至幫一個親眼站在你眼前的人找尋他們祖母的故事，這對我來說才是最Rewarding的！我不是世上最整齊的人，慶幸我團隊的人是。雖然整理物件是很Enjoyable，但我呢，就只是真的很喜歡跟人說話！
我覺得Archivist甚至是全世界最古老的工作，因為資料和記憶的保存是有史以來大家都一直在做的。那是一個社會、一個時代之中，一些被精華出來的記憶，一直傳承下去。而如果我們把不止一個，而是所有的Archives，去一一串連起來，仔細想想，那就是人類的集體記憶了。
我非常榮幸，可以在Southbank Centre（南岸中心）管理這裡的Archive，這裡對倫敦來說很有歷史意義，它反映的是一個國家的記憶。自1951年的Festival of Britain到現在，所有的細節、蛻變和進展，所有的奇怪和美麗，都被一一包攬著，而這是我的工作，我的責任 ── 這真是一個莫大的Priviledge！而作為一個藝術機構，除了保存歷史之外，它也着重於運用我們這些珍貴的庫藏，去做很多創意社區活動和教育，這部分也是我個人非常享受的。去辦展覽、做跟年輕人互動的教育工作、幫助本地的社群等等，我很高興我們可以深入社區，因為畢竟這裡是為了大眾而建的，人人也可以參與和受益。
由此可見，不單只是過去，這一切其實更是關於如何想像未來，當然是以歷史材料作為起點去出發。我覺得歷史最奇妙的地方，就是我們永遠都是在當下去理解它。它總是被我們身處的社會潮流所塑造的，而我的工作，就是嘗試把我們今天所理解著、詮釋著的這些「歷史」推向未來。
在你的工作之中，有沒有經歷過特別觸動的時刻？
我的Goosebump Moment，有趣地並不是在我作為Archivist的時候發生，反而是在我還在考古的時候。那是一種當你一觸碰着一件古物，你會覺得與古物深深連結着的感受：你會忽然覺得時間和世界在那一刻完全崩解了，你與創造出這件古物的那個人之間彷彿沒有距離，你被一種強烈的情感所擊中。你意識到，無論時代如何變遷，人類其實本質上都是一樣的。
那是在南安普敦（Southampton），我在一個非常特別的遺址做著挖掘的一刻。那是個距今大約五、六千年前的新石器時代的遺跡，有一個微微帶鹽的鹹水泉泉眼，當時的人們在那裡挖了很多大坑，讓泉水聚集起來，而每個坑之間還挖了細小的水道，泉水會慢慢流進去，然後水份會逐漸蒸發，留下鹽分。他們就是這樣提取鹽的；我記得我花了一整個星期，用鏟子親手把一個坑挖出來，到已經挖得非常深的時候，我得用梯子爬下去。那天還下著雨，我站在坑底，抬頭看著那巨大的空間，心裡突然一震：這個坑，是某個人六千年前用木棍一點一點挖出來的，從那之後再沒有人動過。而現在，我用我的雙手再次把它挖開……
就在那個瞬間，我感覺整個歷史都凝縮在眼前的這一刻，而我就在其中，深深受到震撼。
除了歷史與記憶的保存，還有其他事情讓你同樣感受到與自己與世界深層的連結嗎？我聽說你很喜歡單車運動？
單車除了是倫敦最好的交通工具之外，更是我的熱情所在。十八歲前我從沒學過單車，但一接觸便愛上，大學時期甚至和朋友組了個 bike stand，喜歡拆開研究，現在已懂得親手組裝和維修單車。之後，我因朋友影響開始參加長途比賽，從倫敦踩到愛丁堡，從法國里爾到伊斯坦堡，甚至曾在印度和亞美尼亞做過 bike touring。單車運動讓我發掘城市，也發掘自己。
我其實也沒有去細想為什麼踩單車會讓我這般快樂，只知道它好像改變了我的大腦。即使在辛苦的旅程中，我也感到無比喜悅，亦驚訝於身體的潛能。單車的旅程既簡單又純粹，我就是一直踩呀踩，累了就在某個草叢旁睡一覺，餓了就吃三文治，女朋友上班前就打給她聊聊天。
這些比賽雖然瘋狂，但當中那種感到自己活在當下的真實感，卻是如此美妙。它讓我意識到原來我們可以做比想像中更多的東西，人類真是一種不可思議的生物，我為自己、為人類身體的強大力量所感恩。
你似乎一路走來，都做著很多不同的有趣的東西，從未停止。你覺得你是從哪裡找到這麼多的動力?
我猜說起來好像很簡單，但我覺得對一件事物的熱愛是很重要的。我真心熱愛單車運動，我的腦海會想著：我可以參加這個那個賽事，好像我一起床只需要做的就是踏上單車的踏板，全天要做的就是踩踩踩。正因為是如此簡單和純粹，人就很容易進入那個專注的狀態，那種「此時此刻，我只需要享受，不需要管其他，只一心懷著感恩」的心境。那種狀態，真的是純粹得讓人敬佩，讓人從心裡亮起來。
你會怎樣形容自己現在的狀態？
星期五真是一個奇怪的時間去想這個問題！我的時間表是這樣的：星期一才是我的peak day，因為我每個星期一都在一家麵包店上班，我很早就起床，吃件蛋糕，再去送麵包，然後去跑步。我真是很喜歡這樣的一天，它給我的滿足感很充實，也很安心。沒有東西是要趕忙的，沒人在rush甚麼；反而正正是現在，我在接受你訪問的這個時段是一個很獨特的時間，星期五的下午，我總是滿腦子都是工作上的to-do list。
但如果zoom out一下，我會說，我很content，我是滿足的。那些二十多歲的歲月，我用了很多時間去看看自己想要甚麼生活，但過去三年，我似乎把那些經驗和思考都付諸實踐。
Content就是現在的我，就算有時事情有點tough，或者工作上有壓力，我都覺得我現在做的事情，我目前生活的方式，是對我和我身邊的人都很有意義的。
聽起來真美好，可以仔細形容一下關於「content」這種心滿意足的感覺嗎？
從二十多歲的時候，我不斷體驗不同生活，又去想到底自己想做些甚麼。我感悟到的是，我要找到那些對我而言有意義的事物。甚麼是我所在乎的？推到更廣闊的層面，在社會裏我們應該怎樣對人對己，而甚麼對所有人來說是很重要的呢？
我覺得關鍵就在於每一天的活在當下：無論面對著的是甚麼危機和議題，我有沒有忠於自己的信念與行動？這會讓人腳踏實地，感到實在。我很少再想太長遠的東西，只是每一天，我都想確保自己活出我花了很長時間得出來的那些結論、價值和信念。這花了我很多時間，當然這仍然是一段旅程，改變一定會繼續發生，就如人生的本質。但目前的我，很享受我身處的這種心滿意足的狀態。
如果可以，你想……
如果要很認真很誠實地講，我覺得我們應該多注重社會這回事，而不是只專注於自己，要少一點自我中心。在英國，我們從小就被教育個人成長是如何重要，只要你想，你可以成為任何東西。我不是說那不重要，但當我一直成熟，我覺得那其實是很特定的一種思維方式，而這也幾乎就是我們發展出社交媒體的原因之一：不斷以一種近乎自戀的方式展現自己，好像只要早上五時起床做冥想，就可以得到快樂似的。但其實很多的自我改變，很多我獲得的美好，都是由社會層面上賜予的，是從我們怎麼樣待人接物、怎樣互相照顧當中得到的。
五時起床做冥想、泡個冷浴再吃wholefood，不一定就是快樂的方程式。但是，如果我們可以身處一個互相關心照顧和幫助的空間，這其實會對未來更有積極的推進。我不禁回想在八十年代，當時倫敦是由 GLC（Greater London Council）管理的，是一個非常進步的左派政府，很多政策都是以社會為出發點，而不是個人。那是一種關於我們生活在怎樣的結構裡，以及如何改變這些結構，讓生活變得更好的社會想像。那是我希望社會更趨向的一種型態：與其不斷改變自己，不如一起改變整體結構。要專注的不只是自己，而是放眼更大的這幅社會的圖畫。
你對「個人」的批判，對我這個在亞洲長大、從小被教育要中庸的人來說頗為震撼的。你覺得這種西方對個人成長的強調，和你目前的生活方式有什麼衝突嗎？
我覺得，個人成長這件事當然有它的價值。但以心理健康為例，現今的社會傾向將所有責任都推回個人身上，如果你心理狀況不好，那你就要「自我修復」，要靠自己變好才能走出來。你會見到很多灌輸「只要 discipline 自己，就能擺脫一切」的訊息，但這樣的想法完全忽略了結構性的問題、社會的責任，以及我們彼此之間應有的承擔。對我來說，整個社會氛圍過於偏向個人層面；當然我也明白你所說的另一個方向，那種來自亞洲的集體壓力與矛盾。
我猜世上從來沒有完美的制度或文化吧，總是此消彼長。但我希望看到的改變，就是我們可以少一點以「個人」為中心，我更想看到一種我們不只能改變自己，也可以一起改變這個社會的堅確信念。
明年今日的你，會在做著甚麼？
明年今日，哼嗯…… 一年後的六月二十七號？那時候我們應該會忙得滿頭大汗吧，因為明年是我們機構七十五週年，有大堆的項目要處理。但如我之前所說，我現在其實很滿足，我也希望明年的我，依然可以保有這種狀態。或許有些事情會變，但我想我的生活方式應該不會改變太多。到時候我還是會很忙，那種「值得的忙碌」。我會忙著和朋友聊天，會和伴侶在一起，會繼續踩單車，繼續住在船上。
但如果再看遠一點，我其實也希望能暫時離開這裡一下，即使我會懷念身在大城市那種「被匿名」可貴；我在不同地方的Archive認識了很多很棒的人，有很多深刻的連結。在我走進人生下一階段，也即是定下來之前，我一直有一個夢想，就是和我的伴侶一起，踏單車去澳洲。就像是一段長假的形式，沿途穿梭於不同的archives，在每個地方都做義工。有幾個地方我一直放在心上，例如亞美尼亞，我真的很希望可以在那裡工作看看。我想看看不同地方是怎樣保存他們的記憶的，也想看看，到底有多少是相似的，又有多少是截然不同的。對我來說，這就是我想做的事。
如果說一年後的我，我想也許還會和現在差不多。但在那過後，也許，就是那趟夢想旅程的開始。
Miles給了我足足一個小時半的時間，去暢談他的人生。我發現，不只他的工作很有趣，他的人生也相應地非常好玩。他的興趣多樣（古物、單車、麵包店），而他對每一樣都深深熱愛的那份熱情，他的不斷嘗試和探索，他想到要做就去做的行動力等等，都教我十分欣賞。而我額外地覺得，英國和亞洲的職場文化真是相當不同，在亞洲，我應該沒辦法以如此輕鬆的方式，去與一位跨部門而且職級遠高於我的同事這樣聊天吧（笑），仍是那句：我很感激。
正如Miles所說，現在的每一天，在未來某天回望時，也會變成過去的一部分。所以他笑言，我們這段訪談，將來也可能是其中之一。在很久很久之後，就像我們現在看著的那些歷史一樣，它或者會被存檔，成為日後集體記憶的一個小小部分。
專欄簡介
用心生活的人都是值得欣賞的。在倫敦，我召集了十二位用心生活的人，他們有著不同的背景、職業、愛好、生活方式，但共通的是，他們對生活有著熱情的心。我一一訪問，紀錄他們當前狀態，希望一年後，這個小小的時間囊會成為他們檢視生活的美好回憶。
作者簡介
周綺婷 (個人文字網站）香港出生長大。2018年獨自移居英國，從此在這裡生活。中文系畢業、博物館研究碩士。目前在倫敦某大型文化藝術中心工作，並以教廣東話作為點綴。兩屆青年文學獎得主，作品曾刊《字花》、《別字》等，著有專欄〈原來都走到這裡〉刊《大頭菜文藝月刊》。喜歡村上春樹、古典音樂、伯爵茶和鄰居的貓。
Timeless London
#2 Miles Clemson
Date: 27 June 2025, 4:30 PM Location: Southbank Centre, London Guest: Miles Clemson
Every place has its own archive, a storehouse of history. But these archives aren’t just made up of old documents and records. They’re full of memories, carefully kept and quietly treasured. And of course, these memories need someone to look after them. This time, I invited my colleague Miles for a chat. He’s the memory-keeper of this major cultural and arts centre we work at in London.
I first heard him speak at an all-staff meeting, when he gave a short intro about our organisation’s archive. I remember thinking, wow, that’s genuinely fascinating. And Miles is always so warm and friendly, he never seems to run out of smiles, which gave me the courage to ask if he’d do an interview. To my surprise (and gratitude), he said yes straight away and even locked in a time with no fuss. So on a blazing hot Friday, we sat down at the tiny café stall outside our building with iced drinks in hand and talked, not just about his work, but about the many colourful chapters of his life.
Where are you from? And why are you living in London?
I’m from a place called Winchester. It’s a commuter town, just about an hour away from London by train, so getting in and out is easy. And funnily enough, loads of people I knew growing up were working in London anyway. I also went to university here. In a way, it’s always felt like London and I have some kind of connection.
I originally studied archaeology and anthropology. After graduating, I worked as an archaeologist for a few years. I traversed pretty much all of the UK, digging wherever there was a hole to dig. I even lived out of a van, literally, a goods van! And just drove wherever the next site was. Digging was definitely fun, but after a few winters, when I was standing in some freezing wet pit in the Midlands, I suddenly thought: why am I doing this while my friends are living normal, settled lives in London? So I switched over to retail work to save up, and eventually I bought a boat and moved in. That’s when I felt like, okay, maybe now I can start doing the things I really want to do.
I took a bit of time off, volunteered at a few museums, and during that time I had this moment of clarity: archives just made so much sense to me! So I decided to retrain as an archivist. But before that, I was doing all kinds of bits and pieces, delivering bread or kneading dough at a bakery in Bermondsey, helping out at events, volunteering here and there. Most archivist roles are based in London anyway, and I already had a social circle here from doing all those different jobs, so I stayed.
What is it about archives that draws you in so much?
I’ve always been interested in cultural heritage. Both the subjects I studied at uni are tied to that. In archaeology, there are basically two routes you can go down. One is academic, you stay off-site and write papers. It pays better, but it’s not on the ground, so I wasn’t that into it. The other route is commercial, whenever a new building is going up, we get called in to dig. The jobs are short-term and a bit unstable, but at least you’re right there, hands-on.
But compared to archaeology, archives feel very different. It’s more like… a library. You can use them for education, or even help someone - someone standing right in front of you, find a story about their grandmother. That, to me, is incredibly rewarding. I’m not the tidiest person in the world, thankfully my team is. I do enjoy the organising part, sure, but what I love most is just… talking to people!
To be honest, I think being an archivist might be the oldest job in the world. The act of keeping records, preserving memory, it’s something humans have always done. What we keep is like a distillation of what a society, or a moment in time, found important. And if you string together not just one, but all the archives in the world, then what you have is… collective memory. Human memory.
I feel incredibly lucky to be looking after the archive here at Southbank Centre. It’s such a historically meaningful place for London. It reflects a kind of national memory. From the Festival of Britain in 1951 to now, it holds all the details, changes, shifts… all the weird and wonderful moments. And that’s part of my job, my responsibility. It’s honestly a huge privilege.
As an arts organisation, we don’t just preserve the past, we actively use the archive to engage with the present. Through creative projects, education, community work… we get to actually use this collection in ways that feel alive. Running exhibitions, working with young people, supporting local communities… I love how deeply we can connect with people. After all, this place was built for the public. And everyone should be able to take part, and benefit from it.
So it’s not just about the past. It’s also about how we imagine the future, starting from history.
What fascinates me most about history is that we’re always understanding it from the lens of the present. Our reading of the past is shaped by the world we’re living in right now. And my job, really, is to take that interpretation, that living understanding, and carry it forward.
Have you ever had a moment in your work that really moved you?
Funnily enough, my biggest goosebump moment didn’t actually happen while I was working as an archivist, it was back when I was doing archaeology. It’s this strange feeling you get when you touch something ancient, something that connects you directly to someone who lived thousands of years ago. For a split second, time just collapses. The world falls away. It’s like there’s no distance between you and the person who once made or used that object. You get hit by this wave of emotion. And in that instant, you realise: no matter how much time has passed, at our core, we’re all the same.
I remember this one dig in Southampton, a site from the Neolithic period, so about five or six thousand years ago. There was a salt spring there, and people back then had dug massive pits to collect the salt water. Between the pits were these tiny channels they’d carved out, letting water trickle in so it could evaporate and leave behind salt. I spent a whole week excavating just one of those pits with a shovel, and it got so deep I had to climb in with a ladder. It was raining that day. I was standing at the bottom of this huge hollow, looking up, and suddenly I thought: this hole, this exact space I’m in, was dug by someone six thousand years ago using sticks and their bare hands. And no one’s touched it since. And now… here I am, using my hands to uncover it again.
At that moment, it felt like all of history had folded into this one point. And I was right there inside it. I’ll never forget that.
Outside of history and memory, are there other things that make you feel that same kind of deep connection to yourself, or to the world around you? I heard you’re really into cycling?
Absolutely! Cycling isn’t just the best way to get around London, it’s one of my greatest passions. I didn’t even learn how to ride until I was eighteen, but once I got on a bike, I was hooked. Back in uni, a few friends and I started our own little bike stand. I loved taking bikes apart, figuring out how they worked. I can now build and repair my own from scratch. Later on, I got into long-distance cycling because of a friend. I rode from London to Edinburgh, Lille to Istanbul. I’ve even done bike tours in India and Armenia. Cycling lets me discover cities, and discover myself too.
I’ve never really sat down to think too hard about why cycling makes me so happy. It just does. It feels like it rewires my brain somehow. Even when the journey’s rough, there’s this strange joy that keeps bubbling up. I’m always amazed by what the body can do. Cycling is so simple, so pure. You just keep pedalling. When you’re tired, you lie in the grass and take a nap. When you’re hungry, you eat a sandwich. Before your girlfriend goes to work, you give her a call and have a little chat. That’s it.
The races can be kind of mad, but the feeling of being truly present, right in that moment, is just… beautiful. It makes me realise we’re all capable of so much more than we think. Human beings really are extraordinary. I feel grateful, for my body, and what it allows me to do.
You’ve clearly done a lot of interesting things over the years, and never really stopped. Where do you think that drive comes from?
I guess it might sound simple, but I really think it all comes down to love, loving something enough. I genuinely love cycling. It’s always on my mind: the races I could join, the rides I want to do. It’s like once I get out of bed, all I need to do is place my feet on the pedals and just go. The whole day is just ride, ride, ride. And because it’s so simple and pure, it’s easy to fall into that focused state, where all you have to do is be present and grateful. That kind of presence is something I really admire. It lights you up from within.
How would you describe where you are right now, in life?
Friday is such a strange time to be asking this kind of question! My routine’s a bit like this: Mondays are actually my peak day. I work at a bakery every Monday. I get up really early, have a slice of cake, deliver some bread, then go for a run. And I really love those days. They give me a grounded kind of satisfaction. Nothing’s rushed. No one’s in a hurry. Ironically, it’s this exact moment- me sitting here doing this interview - that feels a bit unusual. Friday afternoons are usually when my head’s full of to-do lists.
But if I zoom out a little, I’d say I feel content. Those years in my twenties, I spent a lot of time figuring out the kind of life I wanted. And over the past three years, I’ve been putting all of that into practice. That’s what contentment looks like to me. Even when things get a bit tough or work feels intense, I still feel like what I’m doing, and the way I’m living, really means something, to me, and to the people around me.
That sounds lovely. Can you describe what that feeling of “contentment” is like for you?
In my twenties, I kept trying different ways of living, constantly questioning what it was I actually wanted to do. And what I came to understand was: I needed to find what truly mattered to me. What do I care about? And zooming out, what kind of way should we be treating each other in society? What is it that’s genuinely important for all of us?
For me, it’s about living each day with presence. Whatever crisis or issue I’m facing, am I staying true to my values and to my actions? That’s what keeps me grounded. I don’t think too far ahead anymore. What I try to do each day is make sure I’m living out the conclusions and principles that took me so long to arrive at. Of course, that’s still an ongoing journey. Change will always keep happening, because that’s life. But right now, I really enjoy this space I’m in, this state of contentment.
If you could, what would you change?
If I had to answer this honestly and seriously, I think we should be paying more attention to society, not just to ourselves. We need to be a little less self-centred. In the UK, we’re brought up with this idea that personal growth is everything, that if you want it badly enough, you can be anything. And I’m not saying that doesn’t matter. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that mindset is actually quite particular. It’s also one of the reasons we’ve created social media the way we have, constantly presenting ourselves in ways that border on narcissism. Like: wake up at 5am, meditate, do a cold plunge, eat your wholefoods - and voilà, happiness. But really, a lot of the healing, the beauty I’ve found in life, has come from the people around me. From how we care for each other, how we treat each other.
Getting up at 5am, meditating, eating clean… that’s not necessarily the formula for happiness. But if we’re in a space where people genuinely look after each other, help each other, that’s what actually moves things forward. I often think back to the 1980s, when London was under the Greater London Council, a progressive left-wing government at the time. So many of their policies were rooted in social good, not individual gain. That, to me, was a vision of society that asks: What kind of structures are we living in? And how can we change those structures so life can be better? That’s the direction I hope we’re headed, not just constantly fixing ourselves, but reshaping the bigger picture. Focusing not only on “me,” but on the whole.
Your critique of individualism really surprised me. Growing up in Asia, I was taught to be modest and put the collective before myself. Do you think the Western emphasis on personal growth clashes with the way you live now?
I think personal growth definitely has value. But take mental health for example: society today tends to push all the responsibility onto the individual. If your mental health isn’t great, you’re supposed to “fix yourself,” pull yourself up. There’s a lot of messaging that tells us ‘‘just have enough discipline and you’ll be fine’’. But that ignores structural problems, social responsibility, and the shared accountability we should have for each other. The culture feels skewed too far in the individual direction. That said, I do understand the other side too, that kind of collective pressure and inner conflict that can come from growing up in an Asian context.
I guess there’s no perfect culture or system, it’s always a balancing act. But the change I hope for is this: that we could be less focused on the individual, and hold on to a deeper belief that not only can we change ourselves, we can change the world around us, too.
A year from now, where do you see yourself?
A year from today… hmm, 27 June next year? I’ll probably run off my feet! Next year marks our organisation’s 75th anniversary, and there’s a huge list of projects lined up. But like I said earlier, I actually feel really content with where I am right now, and I hope I’ll still feel the same a year from now. Maybe some things will shift, but I don’t think my lifestyle will change much. I imagine I’ll still be busy, just the kind of “worthwhile busy” that comes from doing things that matter. I’ll still be catching up with friends, still spending time with my partner, still cycling, still living on the boat.
Looking further ahead though, I do hope I’ll be able to step away from here for a little while. As much as I love the anonymity that comes with living in a big city, I’ve built some deep connections with people I’ve met through archives in different parts of the world. Before I settle down into the next stage of my life, I’ve always had this dream: to cycle to Australia with my partner. A kind of extended journey, where we’d stop at different archives along the way, volunteering as we go. There are a few places that have been on my mind for a while, like Armenia, that I’d really love to spend time working there. I want to see how other places preserve their memories, and to explore how much is shared and how much is entirely different. That, to me, is what I want to do.
So if you asked where I’ll be one year from now, I’d probably say: more or less the same as I am today. But after that, maybe it’ll be the start of that dream trip.
Miles gave me a whole hour and a half to talk about his life. And I realised: his job is fascinating, yes, but so is the way he lives. From archaeology to bikes to bakeries, his interests are wonderfully diverse, and the passion he pours into each one, the way he’s always exploring, always acting on the things he wants to do… are what I find truly admirable.
And on a more personal note, I couldn’t help but feel how different workplace culture is between the UK and Asia. Back home in Asia, I doubt I’d ever be able to sit down and have such a relaxed conversation with a senior colleague from another department like this! (laughs) And so, I’ll say it again: I’m truly grateful.
Like Miles said, today will one day become part of the past. This interview, too, might become one of those stories we look back on. Who knows? Someday far into the future, just like the histories we read now, it might be archived, too, becoming a tiny piece of our shared memory.
(Originally written in Traditional Chinese.)
About This Column
People who live mindfully are always worth appreciating. In London, I gathered twelve individuals who each live with intention. They come from different backgrounds, careers, interests, and lifestyles, but they all share a passion for life. I sat down with each of them to capture a snapshot of where they are right now. A year from now, I hope this little time capsule brings them warm memories as they reflect on how far they’ve come.
About the Author
Iris Yee-Ting Chow, (Official Website) born and raised in Hong Kong. Moved to the UK alone in 2018 and has been here ever since. Holds a degree in Chinese Language and Literature and a master’s in Art Museum and Gallery Studies. Currently works at a major art and culture centre in London and moonlights as a Cantonese tutor. Twice awarded the Hong Kong Youth Literature Award. Work has appeared in Fleurs des Lettres and Typo. Writes the column So This Is Where I’ve Come To for The Turnip Arts Journal. A lover of Haruki Murakami, classical music, Earl Grey tea, and the neighbour’s cat.
