In conversation with joe
Joe from TATE Roastery
Joe: Hi!
Justin: Joe, why London?
Joe: Well, this is my 19th year of me being in london, so I came here 2005 after I graduated in Thailand because i had no idea what to do after university, I just want to go to see the world, never been abroad so I just chose England.
Justin: What a big way to do it!
Joe: I Know, I was quite nervous at the time, it was my first international flight, first foreign country and I just wanted to improve my English, so it was the obvious choice.
Justin: How did your family feel?
Joe: they were unsure, but I think they respect my decision to go explore the world. And I ended up here.
Justin: 19 years ago and you’ve not looked back
Joe: errrrrr no
Justin: So it's not like, future Thailand retirement plans?
Joe: Well I don't know, It's difficult isn't it, it depends on the situation, at the end of the day because I'm the only child and with the cultural background, family takes priority. So if Mum and Dad need some help I have to be there more often or settle there permanently.
Justin: I'm an only child too.
Joe: Welcome to the club!
Justin: When my mum goes back to Nigeria, I think I'm expected to be there for some of the year to help, because there's no one else. So I don't know if it's similar in Thai culture?
Joe: Yep!
- - -
Justin: What do you think is the biggest difference between here and Thailand?
Joe: That's what I think, like the culture, it’s almost the total opposite. For example if you go past someone's house in Thailand and don’t stop by, you are considered to be a rude person but here, if you pass someone’s house and knock on the door “Hi im here” its considered quite rude, it's funny in a way.
Justin: I quite like that, total opposites.
Joe: Most of it yeah.
Justin: Do you find it difficult holding both?
Joe: Ummm, I did, and now I've kind of got used to it but sometimes I still do, for example if something happens to a friend back home, I don't always know what to do or what action to take, so I’m like, (to my friend) tell me what should I do because I forget things.
Justin: Yeah, like different customs?
Joe: Yeah
Justin: That's funny, I have the same thing with my cousins, sometimes I will just message my uncle or auntie, and they tell me I'm very rude. I'm not being formal enough, but I've lived in the UK my whole life?
Joe: Yeah yeah, because here you can say whatever you want to say but back home sometimes I have to hold back, like…’shit what have i just said?’ But you know its life, I'm quite lucky I have people around me who help me.
Justin: That's good, how have you found working at TATE?
Joe: I love it! I'm not just saying it, this is my 7th year… I think it's the longest job I have had in my life and I have no plans to leave. I just love the work life balance, I've got my own time to do things and Tate allows that within the framework which i respect. Most of the time people, colleagues, and the culture here gives me freedom, spread my wings.
Justin: Ok on work life balance, how do you relax?
Joe: ...
Justin: The Tate won't hear any of this.
Joe: Haha - we have our own space here. The roastery is in a corner and you don't see many people (from the Tate) so it's kind of relaxing. I think.. I don't know if it's right or wrong, but for me as I get older I feel less like interacting with people, so I would rather be on my own most of the time. What relaxes me, apart from my work? I've got a few hobbies. I love to look after myself, go to the gym, work out, and then I take photographs. I find that doing landscape or street photography calms me down in a sense. When you go out to wait a moment for the sun to get into the right position or you are waiting for the right angle for a photo, that kind of teaches me to be a calmer person because you have to wait. It gives me patience, you can't rush a thing like that. People think that it's easy to just click the camera, but the difficulty is getting yourself from point A to point B, being there at the right time at the right moment helps me relax a lot.
Justin: So photography and being away from people is calm, how do you have fun?
Joe: - Massive sigh - Can i say the same thing?? I said to Ghily I stopped drinking so I don't really go out much, but I still keep connections to my old friends in Thailand. So I keep in touch with them through group chats, video calls and going away on holidays. I LOVE HOLIDAYS! For me, going away is the best way to make me realise London is a good place to be.
Justin: Tell me more.
Joe: It sounds horrible, people in London complain a lot. They take it for granted, we don't always realise how lovely London can be. Of course we complain about it being busy, the transport, the bus being packed and things are quite expensive. But I think London has its own charm, it is quite mixed and diverse and you can't always find this anywhere else or in many other places anyway. If you ask yourself how many other places can you find Peruvian food next to Ethiopian and Lebanese food and Indian food all in one city.
Justin: True, and you just don't think about it day to day.
Joe: I think it's the culture. I've become one of those people who love to complain about London when I leave. I think complaining in London is a good morning!
Justin: It's odd, when people don't complain they stick out!
Joe: Yeah, I think when people start complimenting London, you are like…’Are you okay?’ I'm not saying London is the best place to live in the world but I am very grateful to be her. I'm happy to be here and I have no plans to leave.
Justin: Excellent, people are always talking about moving to the countryside.
Joe: I wonder what would happen if I move out of London. I know every Friday that I'm going to have to catch the train back in and spend the weekend here because I’d miss it.
Justin: No plans to leave yet?
Joe: Not within the next 5-10 years. No.
Justin: That's good, that means you're going to see a lot more of my face.
Joe: Is that good or bad?!
