Similar to the neon lights flashing past in a taxi ride through the streets of Kowloon, the two years I have spent in Hong Kong have been a blur. As I sit here thinking about my two year milestone, I start to realise the weight of this accomplishment.
I moved here from a relatively easy life. It was full of great people, a fun-filled schedule of dancing lessons, beach days and all of the things I loved most. To say that I haven’t found things I enjoy in a similar capacity here would be unfair, but it has definitely been a roller coaster of a journey.
Like many people who move to the ‘New York of Asia’ I had a love hate relationship for the first 12 months…while there were so many things that I liked about my lifestyle here, I found many more that were hard to adjust to. Settling into my second year I was able to see beyond that and start appreciating Hong Kong for what it is. I am grateful to have an employer that values work life balance, after all Hong Kong is a great city to live in if you get to experience it.
I can't recount everything from the past two years, however here's a few key things I’ve learnt while finding my place in this beautifully chaotic city.
Australian culture really is unique; in good and bad ways
Meeting and working with people from all around the world has given me countless opportunities to learn about other cultures. It has also reinforced why I will always call Australia home. The laid back approach to life and life priorities are two of the many things I underappreciated at home – I’ve only just come to realise that it is abnormal for a café to close for three weeks over Christmas and it be shrugged off as normal.
However, one thing we are a little too laid back about is speaking up about ourselves. Other western cultures are encouraged to be as visible as possible, shouting about your achievements. However, having grown up in the nation of ‘tall poppy syndrome’, this is something I've had to adjust to. I'm talking simple things like speaking with impact to not underplay something, or pointing out a win rather than thinking it is a small achievement, pat yourself on the back and get going on the next task. In this regard, I would say our culture is more similar to that of Hong Kong than I first expected, with the need to rethink how we view and talk about our everyday successes.
We need to stop and smell the roses in everyday life, not just when on holidays
Every time someone says that Hong Kong life is fast paced I disagree. I I don’t think it is fast, I think it is constant. It never stops, and it is easy for you to fall into the patterns of Hong Kong life, living day in and out without stopping to take a breath.
It’s no secret that work can get pretty crazy here, but knowing your limits is essential to managing this. Whether in a work or personal life, you need to listen to what is best for you. Not only managing workload but making sure you set time aside for yourself to detox. I’ve started to have a weekly date-night, not planning anything with anyone but myself to do things that make me happy.
I used to value stuff more than I should have
My apartment is approximately 23 squared metres. This doesn't surprise me much as it is quite normal for Hong Kong, but what does surprise me is the purchasing habits. On numerous occasions I have watched as people buy new stuffed toys or bags of clothes as I have stood there looking confused about where they will find space for it in their homes.
I used to love shopping, now, it's the last thing I want to be doing in my spare time. Over the past two years I have made the move to minimalism. I either buy to replace old worn items, or something I need, but it has to be multi-purpose. I'm constantly assessing how much stuff I have and how I can minimise decision fatigue by reducing how many clothes I have, contribute to less waste by only purchasing things I need, and be a savvy traveller being able to survive two weeks with a day pack half full of clothes and toiletries!
Nothing in life is permanent, nor perfect
Hong Kong is a constant reminder that nothing is forever. In the past one year alone we have witnessed several shops come and go on our street, watching as the newcomers try to outlive the memory of their failed predecessors. We constantly witness the 'cardboard grannies' pulling piles of cardboard down the hill in an attempt to earn enough money to cover their living expenses and stay off the streets. We are reminded of the poverty gap of people who are living well below the poverty line in cage homes in Sham Shui Po. And not to mention the hundreds of thousands of domestic workers, who are treated as a lower class citizen as they help to keep Hong Kong's economy booming. While there are so many positives to living in a bustling city, it is important we stop to recognise the ugly side, and where possible make a contribution to help those who are struggling from loss or less than perfect circumstances.
There's so much more of the world I want to discover
One of the reasons I decided to move to Hong Kong was to feed my passion for travel. I feed off the excitement of a new country, understanding people from different cultures and curiously trying local cuisine. In the past two years I have been lucky enough to travel nearly every month - and I don't want to stop any time soon. At this rate with all the countries I have on my list, and all the side projects I want to do, I hardly have time for my day job! For now, I'll keep trying to do all three, growing and learning new things as I do.
