Although there are a million moving parts to this would-be plan, I have been presented with an opportunity to work in Hong Kong for a few months. I've never been there (or anywhere in Asia, for that matter), so would love to hear from anyone who has before I make my final decision. Thanks!Monday, February 22, 2010
Kenneth in the (852)?
Although there are a million moving parts to this would-be plan, I have been presented with an opportunity to work in Hong Kong for a few months. I've never been there (or anywhere in Asia, for that matter), so would love to hear from anyone who has before I make my final decision. Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
i was there once in the very early 80s. i remember the city feeling very "blade runner." lots of electronics shops with vcrs (still something of a novelty then), walkmen and cameras that seemed to come from the future. even the video arcades had games the likes of which i'd never seen.
my most lasting memory, though, is watching an olivia newton john concert (homo!) on t.v. in the hotel room when suddenly... a blackout. i had lived through blackouts in brooklyn in the 70s, so i was prepared for pandemonium. to my surprise, all that happened was a great, collective cry of "ohhh..!" from the street. then relative silence. now that's civilized living. kinda eerie.
go for it!
Kenneth, I read you blog every day...in a word, GO! It is the future, a vibrant city. I worked for a Japanese company for 12 years, and hit Hong Kong, about five times a year. Interesting in every way, I lived through the Britts rule and Chinese, was a little more starched and perky with the Britts. I had a pretty much first class existance, but frequently traveled to dark corners in search of antiques and great food.
Swampdweller
It's like Chinatown times one million. A wonderful city, best food in the world, endlessly interesting, super fast-paced. Interesting day trips plus you could do some weekends in Chinese cities. I would not pass up the opportunity. One caveat: very hot hazy humid in the summer.
If the offer is good, definitely go for it. Since you live in NY, you are already adapted to the crowded and cramped living space issue also in HK. The summer weather, which is hot and humid (can hit mid 90s) can be hard to bear. Probably not the cheapest place to live (comparing to other Chinese cities), but still more affordable than NY I would say. Also a great opportunity to explore around the region.
GO! If you hate it you can always leave. If you don't go, you'll always wonder if you should have...
Kenneth:
I asked my BF about this, he spent a couple of weeks there in 2000 on a publishing project. BF recommends that:
1. Make sure you have preagreed upon room and board covered. If you think Manhattan is expensive and apartments are tiny, think twice as expensive and apts half the size;
2. Make sure that apt and office have excellent air conditioning;
3. Visit first if you can, weather is hot and humid, worse than Manhattan in August;
4. If you don't like Time Square, bustling with people, hawkers, tourists, etc., rethink Hong Kong as it is one huge Times Square;
5. Go for it!
I have spent some time working in Hong Kong, and it is much like Manhattan in one sense: you really need to make a week-long trip during which you can check out what kind of housing you can obtain/afford, what kind of neighborhood you would be living in, and the conditions at your potential workplace. (Good air conditioning is important due to the constant high humidity, and the worst is to find yourself in an apt or a workplace with mediocre AC, smelling rice cookers all day long.)
Do it! I lived there for 5 years from 94 to 98 and loved it. Very fun, cosmopolitan, fast-paced city. I've lived in Melbourne, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Hong Kong is my favorite.
It is very similar to NYC -- loud, busy, congested, dirty, etc. But all the good things about NYC are also present there -- plus the exotic feel of being in the East!
It is also very convenient as your hub for visiting all the other Asian cities. There are flights from HK to any major city -- and they are not too far or too expensive.
Happy to share some tips with u and answer questions if you wish. let me know and we can go private chat/email
I would be asking myself what I had to lose/gain. Will the remuneration be sufficient to maintain your current household, if that is what you want? Of course, how does your partner feel about it? The fact that it is a temporary gig means there are known parameters which makes it easier to plan. As a writer, it would be fascinating to view the world on the other side of it, in a fantastic city, in another culture.
Only you know the reasons why you would turn this down.
What Mike said.
Just remember, the clothes aren't in your size - as I remember wandering amimlessly around some malls, slowly realizing that all the wonderful clothes weren't made in sizes large enough for westerners...
Other than that - it's a great place - having been there for 10 days during the great handover (1999). Macau was interesting and only a short ferry ride away.
Kenneth,
Hello from Hobart, Australia ... a million miles away in both distance and lifestyle from NYC.
Hong Kong??? Go!! You'll regret it if you don't. Just make sure your accommodation is paid as renting an apartment is expensive++++). Have been there a few times, albeit only as a tourist - it's noisy, crowded, humid, vibrant, fun and non-stop.
Only one caveat ... for those of us who like myself read you daily, please keep up the blog when you go!
Have a good trip ......
Clearly, monetarily, it must work for you. Once that is determined...
living within another culture is eye opening. You will experience life as you have not, before. I would return in an instant, to 2006. Let us know your hesitation(s)and otherwise thoughts.
Go,Go,Go. I have had the opportunity to visit there for work for six weeek (three two week visits) and had the opportunity a few years ago to work overseas (in the UK) for two years. Living and working overseas is a great experience.
Hong Kong is China's version of NYS. You will love it. Gay scene is enough that you won't get bored, and the city is always full of traveling westerners.
Our family (two dads & twins through surrogacy) currently live in Hong Kong and have been here since 2004. The previous comments are generally true. You will not have to adjust to the city since you already live in NYC. It is extremely humid during the spring/summer/early fall. It is a great way to experience Asia since it is easier to adjust here than Tokyo, Beijing, etc. Many of the locals do speak English though you will run into some (taxi drivers) who do not. Housing is especially expensive so make sure that those costs are well covered.
Just do it. One of my best friends moved there after we had been living in Japan. I lived there for ten years, and he lived there for four. He loves it, and has lived there off and on for about 15 years. I now live in Taiwan. The cost of living in Hong Kong will take your breath away. It is simply not comparable to NYC, HK is far more expensive. All the other advice is true and you will meet a remarkable group of expatriates there. If the money is right, then mad if you don't.
Absolutely!!!! Lucky devil. I worked in Beijing for a couple of years and went to HK for business on and off. It's like a giant Chinatown! No, I mean, it literally looks like Chinatown ate Manhattan. Kind of like that with the backgrounds from "Lost". Dim sum, fashion, people who will run you over and then curse at you in a foreign language...you should feel right at home! Find the equivalent of a HK dollar store and stock up on random crazy shit that people will love for a dollar. Also, go find the little window that sells waffles smeared with sugar and sesame paste...
P.s. and the entire freaking waterfront erupts nightly into a light and sound supershow complete with lasers and flashing skyscrapers. Best seen from the bar at the top of the Peninsula.
Seriously.
Post a Comment