As I start to contemplate life after Hong Kong, I feel compelled to wrap things up in a nice, neat package. For someone like me (a Type-A Virgo who believes she can control everything including weather on her wedding day) that means a list or, in this case, a few lists.
Here's what I will miss and not miss about this place...
What I will miss about Hong Kong
- Hot pot
- Hot pot
- Did I mention hot pot?
- T-shirt weather in December
- 2-hour plane ride to Thailand, 1-hour plane ride to Vietnam, 4 hours to Singapore, 4.5 to Tokyo, etc.
- Clean streets
- Cheap taxis
- Reliable, timely, clean subway system
- Star Ferry at night
- $4 bowl of shrimp wonton soup on Wellington
- Weekly tai tai lunches with Laura
What I will NOT miss about Hong Kong
- Rice Kings
- Playing chicken with the locals who try to walk through me (actually, I might miss that!)
- Annoying telemarketing calls in Cantonese
- Sweating through all my clothes
- Pollution
- The sights, sounds, smells and disgusting stuff on the ground at the wet market
- America bashing
- Feeling like a giant around 90% of the population
- The lack of black people, Hispanic people, good bagels and Mexican food
- The panicked frenetic beeping sound from the crosswalk lights
- Malls - if I ever step foot in one again, shoot me
What I will miss about Discovery Bay
- XL iced teas at ZAKS
- Manic Mondays, Jump-n-Pump and other Christa-led classes
- Walking Victor leash-less around La Costa
- Coffee at a picnic table in the Plaza at 10:30am on a Monday
- Wine/beer/alcoholic beverage in the Plaza at 5pm on a Thursday
- Being surrounded by friends who are exactly in your situation (kind of like college for adults)
- After-work tennis game with the hubby on a Monday
- Being called "sexy" by well-meaning Filipinas
- The views
- Sucking in diesel fumes while waiting for the ferry
- Fusion cashiers not understanding how a conveyor belt works
- Life in a fishbowl
- Parents who have NO IDEA where their 3-year old has wandered off to in the Plaza
- The HKR fun police
- People farting/burping/clipping their nails/[insert disgusting behavior here] on the ferry
- The Forum (ok, maybe a little)
Hong Kongers and DB-ers - what am I missing?!
Oh no -I've just recently found your blog after moving to HK from New York and thought I finally found a place to share my musings about life here, not the least of my bagel raving. :) Sad to see you go but all the best in your reacquaintce with life back in New York.
ReplyDeleteDo you mind if I email you for some advice?
Sorry, craving not raving. Darn auto correct.
ReplyDeleteWelcome!!! Absolutely! Email me at jbirardi@gmail.com. I have an email chock full of info for American newcomers.
ReplyDelete