Six months in Hong Kong

And just like that, I've been a Hong Kong resident for six months.

Here's what I've learned about living abroad: A pre-expat letter to myself.

Perspective is everything

Things are going to be hard, especially in the beginning. You're learning a new language (or trying to). Managing a new currency. And trying not to get lost (literally and figuratively). How you handle all of this newness is completely up to you. Want some advice from your future self? Spend about a minute sulking through the rough times, then pull yourself together and get over it. You won't survive otherwise.

Some days you're going to feel on top of the world! The exploring will be great, the food will taste excellent and you'll realize just how lucky you are to be experiencing something that many in the world don't ever get to see. Then there will be days where it takes all of your energy just to curl up on your bed because you live in a such a weird place where you don't speak the language, and you're tired of getting stared at, or sick of getting kicked out of cabs for not knowing the directions. Or because you miss the comforts of home so much it hurts. That's normal, and the curling up on your bed stuff WILL get better with time. I promise.

How you deal with each situation thrown at you will determine your outlook on absolutely everything. It's easy to be negative or feel like you're stuck, but choosing something to be positive about each and every day can truly impact your new life, and some days it's the only thing that will keep you going. So, choose happiness, it actually is a choice. For you, it will be finding a box of tampons your second week here after searching many drug stores and super markets to no avail. Those small victories will mean everything.

Get used to being outside of your comfort zone and embrace it

This one is similar to the above, in that, there are going to be many times while living abroad that you will have to endure something you're unsure about, or not totally OK with. Immerse yourself in those moments. I truly believe that we become better people when we're stretched to our limits, and pushed to do things we've never done before - or better yet - aren't completely comfortable doing. You'll learn more. You'll grow more. And each experience is making you better. Imagine what the next six months of uncomfortable experiences are going to do for your life? Your psyche will take a hit every now and then, but you'll bounce back. If nothing else you are resilient. And you are stronger than you think.

Do as the locals do

The best thing you can do for yourself is start becoming a local. You'll have to fight the urge to do the same things you did back home, but remember that's not why you moved to Hong Kong in the first place. Get up and get out of your apartment, even if it's just for a walk around the block. There's no way to emotionally connect with your new surroundings unless you dive right in.

Google will be your new best friend. Truly, just check your google history about all the places and things you wanted to find your first few months here. I bet you'll laugh. Like the time you tried to find the grocery store and ended up walking an hour past it, only to have a cab driver drop you off right at the exact place you started walking from. Then you realized there was a hole in your grocery bag, and things started falling out on your walk home. You'll cry that day, and your feet will hurt from all the walking, but remember it's all part of the process. And that reminds me: LOOK UP! Many places in Hong Kong are located in high rises, including that grocery store. Don't expect everything to be ground level like back home.

It's easier to find friends than you think, but learn how to be alone

One of the first things you'll learn about living abroad is that being alone doesn't necessarily mean you're lonely. Some days, you'll go an entire day without using your voice. Meaning, you will talk to no one, except maybe the dog. Learn how to manage that. Sometimes it will feel depressing, sometimes it will actually be meditative. The older you get the more introverted you're becoming, but make sure that doesn't turn you into a recluse. You WILL make friends.

One of your greatest fears about moving to Hong Kong without a job was finding friends. What you'll soon learn is that at the end of the day everyone, no matter where they're from, wants the same thing: companionship and acceptance. So, don't sweat it. And I don't know if it's because Hong Kong is such a conglomerate of people from all over the world, but you'll find that folks are nicer than you originally thought. And the language barrier? That doesn't matter much because a smile can transcend any language. Everyone back home who told you that you suffer from RBF (resting bitch face) would be so proud of you now.

Your life will change in all the best ways

You are so dang lucky. Remember that during the tough times. In just six months you've had the opportunity to travel, try new foods, meet people from other cultures, find a sporting community that you absolutely love and experience a whole new way of life that you never knew of before. Seriously, a year ago, you didn't even know where Hong Kong was on the map. This entire experience is preparing you for the person you are destined to become. You'll soon start to look at people and life in a whole new way. You'll lose the tendency to plan everything in advance and always be in control, so just let it go, because life always goes on. You'll gain perspective on what and who truly matters in your life, and that is a revelation in itself.

Oh, and guess what? The best is truly yet to come...you'll see.