Life in Hong Kong
A position as a language school manager was the last thing I thought I'd find myself applying for. Applying for a position in Hong Kong was even more unexpected but I saw it by chance in a small box advertisement in a trade magazine. Six weeks later I was standing in Hong Kong airport, feeling lost and out of my depth.
I'd never stepped out of Europe before and finding myself in a big Asian city was both scary and exciting. I relished the adventure but I knew deep down that it was full of ordinary people doing ordinary things in a setting I was unfamiliar with, so I headed to my hotel determined to keep a cool head.
I spent a month living out of a hotel room. I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not. I guess it was because it was a bubble that protected me from reality for a while during my localisation process, Hong Kong is way off the scale for a first time expat.
I found an apartment in Tin Hau on Hong Kong Island but it was a small place for the money and I was unhappy there. My window simply looked out on the wall of another tower block, most uninspiring and quite claustrophobic. I guess some people would thrive on living in a downtown area with all the action within easy reach but I hated it.
Before long, I found myself moving into a nice little house on Lamma Island, just South of Hong Kong Island itself. This was a wonderful change! Open spaces, friendly expat faces. The only drawback is when the weather is rough and the crossing to Hong Kong Island can be very rough. In fact, if there is a typhoon, the crossings may be suspended completely, leaving you stranded. This is something you should consider when deciding where to live in Hong Kong.
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I've been here in Hong Kong for three years now and I really don't know what I was so worried about when coming here. It's a truly wonderful life to be an expat here. Sure, I've had my low times but that's more to do with my personal state of mind than anything to do with where I am. Bear in mind that even though this is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, it can be so very lonely if you don't make friends and more importantly, the right friends. What I mean is, make sure you have a regular social life with good people. I guess that applies wherever you are though but I feel it's even more important if you're in a place like this as a foreigner.
Speaking of socialising, I prefer, like most expats here, to spend a night out in Lan Kwai Fong in the Central District of Hong Kong Island because it's safe, vibrant and there are plenty of local expats to talk and network with. Sometimes I will venture to Wan Chai a bit further along the Island but that's only if I have to meet a specific friend there. Wan Chai has many expat clientele but it's not really my thing, there are many girly bars and women in search of 'paying customers', if you get me. I guess that's fine for some.
More recently however, I have been spending more time with Local Hong Kong residents and I really wish I'd started doing this sooner. I started learning Cantonese, the local Chinese language spoken in Hong Kong and most overseas Chinese communites. It's been a real eye opener and a new exiting journey for me into the lives of the locals and they've been so friendly to me. It's also taken me deeper into the New Territories, something I'd never done before. The local friends I've made here are kind enough to involve me in their family gatherings in towns not normally frequented by expats and I feel privileged to be invited.
On the whole, I think I made the right choice coming here. I don't know how long it will last either. My contract is renewed annually but I hope it will continue for a long time. I really don't want to go home! Not yet anyway.
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