One year after leaving Hong Kong

[Titus]

One thing I enjoy now is the freedom to just not be part of anything other than the people in front of me I see every day in the community.
For the last 2 hours I was focused on training how to use different styles of ventilation fans to attack an interior fire. My world consisted only of my fire dept team members. The oligarchy in HK, all the rest of it, can be on a different planet if I didn't check in on the internet. And thats what I want for my kids

[bobly]

One thing I enjoy now is the freedom to just not be part of anything other than the people in front of me I see every day in the community.
For the last 2 hours I was focused on training how to use different styles of ventilation fans to attack an interior fire. My world consisted only of my fire dept team members. The oligarchy in HK, all the rest of it, can be on a different planet if I didn't check in on the internet. And thats what I want for my kids

It's my vision to join the forest volunteer fire team (dunno the real name). ie fightfighting volunteers so that my kid grows up comfortable and hardy in nature, but also develop a sense of service to the community.

[mrdollars]

Damn, I'm jealous as hell reading this. Well done Titus, you are living the dream!

I was planning to leave this summer, but got trapped by Covid. Your post gives me inspiration to get out of HK and make a better life for myself and family somewhere else.

[Aramis]

Canada has in my opinion benefited immensely from the arrival of immigrants like those from Hong Kong and with the repression and censorship that the CCP is enacting through its agents, I think soon Canada and a few other countries will also benefit from another wave of quality migrants from HK.

[bobly]

Canada has in my opinion benefited immensely from the arrival of immigrants like those from Hong Kong and with the repression and censorship that the CCP is enacting through its agents, I think soon Canada and a few other countries will also benefit from another wave of quality migrants from HK.

Canada hasn't been selective enough. It's let plenty of criminal organisations and "asylum seekers" through and others who don't care about assimilation into Canada and Canadian values. on the other hand, Vancouver has benefited greatly from the flow of capital.

[Titus]

Coming up onto 2 years now.... my original plan of returning once every month to operate my business in HK and Shenzhen got totally shot down by Covid. Silver lining to that is I found out I have a solid awesome team that I put together before I left and didn't need micro management.

Came back to this page because someone quoted me in a stand up paddle board thread.... saw the old photos from 2016 when I paddle boarded a few places. I have to admit, I'm at that point where I'm starting to get home sick and nostalgic time to time. Even though my new home is awesome and have met many new friends, my mind starts to wander back to HK of the good times when I'm alone. Must be psychological in all of us as it was the exact same experience for me when I first moved (back, as I was born in HK) to HK in 2005 and it took me 3 years before I stopped thinking about Canada on a daily basis. I think 3 years is that adjustment or inflection point where your new home becomes a current home.

Hope to come back this fall once covid is totally under control and we have less restrictions. I've been super lucky to have chosen rural Canada to move back to.... my health region in BC that I'm allowed to travel is pretty much bigger than UK... and we have had no cases in my town of 2000 people or so. Covid has really pushed city people moving out here I wish I bought more property when I moved as prices has gone up by about 30% in just 1 year and even then there is complete lack of supply. Some developers from Kamloops now have just started clearing out acres on acres for new subdivisions, figure about 30 or more new homes will be built in the coming few years to meet the demand.

And I finished my training to be a certified exterior volunteer firefighter with the yellow helmet. We stopped a big fire from spreading to other houses and was proud to be part of the team. Glad the homeowner wasn't hurt, helped him with a RCMP to sit down cross the street.

My 2 sons are loving it. Wife is still loving it lol

Still not a single case of racism or situations I was made uncomfortable because of my ethnicity. On the contrary, friends in Vancouver have told me about the bullshit they faced by racists there since covid became the hot topic..... I hate cities where people can get away with bullshit. You are what your words and actions and deeds are in a small town.












Got a boat, one of the better decisions about toys lol can enjoy with friends and family




Even with covid I could still drive out and camp under the stars by a lake. Highly recommend rural Canada lol

[Titus]

Seeing photo memories on my Facebook of HK, the hikes and paddling and super close proximity to everything and world class restaurants, I have to say HK in and of itself is a great city with great infrastructure.

And great people who I could develope great friendships with. It's a crossroad junction for people from all cultures where otherwise we would never get exposure to their rich personal experiences and knowledge in other parts of the world or our "native countries".

I hope everyone reading this is having a good 2021 so far and better times ahead in HK.

[er2]

Love reading your posts. Though this line about having to buy more property - can't take Hong Kong out of the Hongkie it seems

Some times I feel like Hong Kong is the city equivalent of life in college - an amazing experience that you always will look back on and miss, but you also know that life was pretty stupid and absolutely not sustainable if you didn't move on. Doesn't help that in my case my life in HK started with university.

[Elegiaque]

@Titus please stop posting gorgeous photos of a place we can't go to.

I know Hong Kongers are trying to go and join you, btw. And why not, if Canada is offering a route to citizenship...

[Titus]

Love reading your posts. Though this line about having to buy more property - can't take Hong Kong out of the Hongkie it seems

Some times I feel like Hong Kong is the city equivalent of life in college - an amazing experience that you always will look back on and miss, but you also know that life was pretty stupid and absolutely not sustainable if you didn't move on. Doesn't help that in my case my life in HK started with university.

ROFL I was actually going to comment that about myself but forgot to write it