On saying goodbye and figuring it out | my farewell to Hong Kong
This time tomorrow we’ll be on a plane to London, officially leaving Hong Kong behind us.
I’ve had such mixed emotions towards this move for that last few weeks, and due to the abruptness of it all, I’m having a hard time articulating my final thoughts. Although, maybe that’s a good thing? Just rip the band-aid off, as they say. If there’s one thing I’ve learned the most about living abroad it’s that you have to roll with the punches and figure it out as you go. In fact, “I’ll figure it out” has pretty much been my life motto since living here.
Where do I go to find groceries? I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure it out.
How do I know when to get off the bus when all the stops are in Cantonese? Not sure. But I’ll figure it out.
What is this strange looking fruit with horns? I guess I’ll just eat it and figure it out.
Among several hundred other questions over the last year and nine months. But truth be told, I always did figure it out. Sure, I may have walked 45 minutes to find what I thought was the closest grocery store {only to learn there was one within 10 minutes of our house}. And yes, I may have taken the wrong bus routes and ended up at god-knows-where. And successfully, I ate the hot pink fruit with horns, and didn’t die {dragon fruit, which is actually quite tasty.} I can also recall another exotic fruit I ate and thought I WAS going to die called durian. Please comment here if you’ve ever tried it and lived to tell the tale – or if you actually enjoy it!
Fun fact: Durian is banned on the Singapore Transit system due to its stench. Food writer Richard Sterling has written, “its odor is best described as…turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from yards away.”
But, I share all of that as proof to myself that despite being WAY outside of my comfort zone millions of times, everything has always worked itself out, and I’m grateful to Hong Kong for that. I still look back in amazement at how easy {and fast} settling here was. Which makes me realize the hardest part about leaving it all is reflecting on just how damn lucky us Hong Kongers are to live in such a gorgeous and unique place. To live in Hong Kong is to get the best of so many different worlds. If you read back to some of my earlier posts you’ll see me write about the culture scene, the food, the east-meets-west mash up, the traditions and the sheer beauty that lies not only within the obvious beaches and jungle-like outskirts, but the heart of downtown itself. I don’t know of any other city in the world that has all of these things and is doing them in the way that Hong Kong is.
This city has taught me so much about myself. My strengths; my weaknesses. It has taught me to be inquisitive and explore, and through exploration, I’ve seen views that no photos could ever do justice. I’ve made friends with people from all over the world, each with different backgrounds and stories of their own. Hong Kong is funny in that way. Just a few weeks ago I was having coffee with some women I’ve met here, and as I looked around the table there was not one person from the same country. We had representation from the United States, Ireland, Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore and New Zealand. It was like a meeting of the United Nations, and I’ve loved every moment of learning about each of them.
I’ve eaten exotic foods {outside of some funky fruit} and had incredible opportunities to travel to other Asian countries; places I never ever thought I’d get to see. I’m so thankful that my first living abroad experience was in Asia. Where I come from people just don’t travel to Asia much, and they certainly don’t live there. Not that moving to London won’t be exciting {because I’m totally pumped about it}, but there will always be something special to me about Asia, probably because it’s just so dang far from the United States and learning to not only adapt, but actually live {because there is a big difference between the two} so far from home makes me even more proud to say that I did it.
But it wasn’t all easy. There are certainly some unique quirks about Hong Kong that I will always look back and laugh about. So, because I’m terrible and awkward at goodbyes, let’s end this on a funny note, shall we?
Here are some of my favorite Hong Kong-isms, let me know if you have some to add to this list!
What I call the “Hong Kong Drips” which is walking anywhere in the city and randomly being dripped on by some unknown, unearthly substance from above {I know it’s likely air con, but still)
Fearing for your life in a taxi while your driver is simultaneously playing Candy Crush or Pokemon Go
Getting on and off the MTR during rush hour {although I’d like to say I’m a much tougher person because of this due to some pretty close physical altercations. Especially if I’m listening to Tupac.}
Standing in line {FOR ANYTHING} while feeling the hot, moist {yes, I said moist} breath on your neck coming from the person behind you. And just general personal space.
Multi-purpose buildings: Seriously, this is the best. Where else in the world can you find a grocery store, a yoga studio, a school and your eye doctor all in the same place? You have to remember to look up in Hong Kong.
Monkeys and my extreme fear of them. DON’T LOOK THEM IN THE EYES.
Bamboo scaffolding and sprinting through dozens of construction sites that look like they’re going to fall over if you sneeze {these things withstand typhoons, and that is simply amazing}
I’ve heard it called the “Bejiing tuxedo” but as soon as the weather turns from hot to hot-as-hell, out come the shirtless men {what’s funny about this one is how I don’t even think twice about it anymore. Shirtless dudes in stores? What, you don’t have that where you live?}
5 million-dollar cars casually parked outside cheap restaurants {because it doesn’t matter how well-off you are, you can find delicious food at any price point}
Nearly losing an eyeball to the umbrella brigade {and not just on rainy days, but sunny ones too}
Wan Chai on a Sunday morning. Woof.