Hi all.
I wanted to share my experience and to get some insight on how I should deal with these situations going forward.
So I was born in Hong Kong but migrated with my parents back when I was a child. I recently moved back to the city for employment.
I started the job I have right now in about half a year ago. The working environment and my colleagues are quite nice.
I always tries my best to speak Cantonese but I don't always understand what others are saying. And they were always nice enough to teach me.
Fast forwarding to New Year's Eve, our company had a little happy hour after work.
When I walked in my boss was commenting on how one of my female colleagues should tie the knot with her boyfriend when she is still young enough, and that nobody would want her when she is all winkley and old. (She is under 30). Everyone around was laughing hysterically and I wasn't too sure on how to react.
He continued on for another hour saying how girls should not work, and should all just stay at home to support their spouse. He added in a lot of jokes about how we girls should all just ask our boyfriends/ spouses for designer bags or accessories and be happy with our lives instead of pursuing career goals.
Everyone was still laughing at this point and I was absolutely astonished by how offensive this is getting. It was getting late and I couldn't hold a fake smile any more and decided to leave with another two of my colleagues.
So as we left, my colleagues all wished others "Happy New Year" in English. When it got to my turn I did the same. And my boss started mimicking me and yelled "speak Chinese" loudly in English.
I was just shocked and I let out the words "I could, but..." Then some other part in me stopped myself. I smiled and just walked away.
I wished I could have dealed with this better. I don't want to quit the job simply because of this. I hope it doesn't happen to any of us but I am getting this is the norm for working in Hong Kong.
So I wanted to ask if any of you have the same experience or how should I deal with this in the future.