Moving to Hong Kong alone.... that sounds very depressing!

[rottenlemon]

I was born in Hong Kong and moved to Canada for school for the past 15 years. Gonna go back to Hong Kong in hopes of finding a job. I booked a service apartment, gonna bring the little money that I had saved, my suitcases, and that's it... If all else fails, maxed out my credit cards, I'll run back to Canada.

I'll have a friend picking me up from the airport to my place but after that I'm pretty much on my own. I know I'll be living in a shoebox until I find a job that supports a better place. I'll call some friends out for the occasional dinner but mostly I'll be alone... I can't possibly drag my working friends for an afternoon tea or something everyday..

That sounds incredibly depressing.

Anyone had this experience before? Expats? Anyone moved to Hong Kong alone? How was it like in the beginning? How did you deal with the loneliness and the crappy environment and the stress of still not having a job? What did you do throughout the day?

And oh I'm a girl..

[backpacker]

posting this 3 times?? HK is an exciting city!! stop whining and just stay in Canada if this is your attitude. btw, i moved here alone with 2 suitcases....it's what YOU make out of it.

[gypsy3x4]

I did the two suitcases alone knowing no one in the city thing. And it was the best thing I ever did. Sure, I cried a lot that first week but after that- i pulled my self up by my bra straps and have been a better woman ever since. The city is great, the best transit system in the world, great culture, good museums, nice people and ladies nights are on tuesdays.

[chilicheese]

Yeah you learn to look at the positives of this city after a while. Best thing to do is to block out other people, trust me, it saves you a heck of a lot of headaches. That's not to say that you can't go out and have fun, just do it with people you can at least tolerate and ignore the crowds, annoying salespeople, etc..
Focus on your job, and you'll spend less time whining to yourself about how great Canada was compared to HK. I learned the hard way when I first moved here from the US, and maybe you were just like me. I dropped pretty far from my life there, but I slowly earned it back and now I'm looking forward to a future here.
Good luck, and if you're planning on maxing out your credit cards, build up good credit first! You'll have a higher spending limit by doing so.

[Gal from Aus]

Its not that depressing as you make it..

I moved here in Oct last year and its took me over 6mths to find a job. I took advantage of the 6mths and travelled around Asia. If you haven't been back for so many years, take the opportunity and explore Hk and the islands.

Trust me when you start working you won't have time to do much or want to do much....

Or join a gym and burn some calories! You'll be eating alot over here!

Cheers

[bookblogger]

Life is what you make it. If you're moving halfway across the world and you expect it to be depressing, then it probably will be. But if you look upon it as a source of unexpected new opportunities, then it can be unpredictable and exciting.

[shelleyp]

I'm moving to HK alone on the 23rd of August- im a 25yr old girl! Though im sorted with a job-not with friends! But looking forward to meeting lots of new and interesting people! Including all you guys!
So tell me more about this ladies night??
Im so excited-counting down the days!
shelley x

[UK/HKboy]

you just have to be positive and understand what you are goin through.

when i was at HKU on exchange (totally different from looking for a job i know) they prepared us by showing a chart of our expected emotions during our stay... and tho i was a bit sceptical at first, it did turn out to be true...

at the start you are quite excited, have alot of fun, meeting new friends, doing new things, seeing the sights, then by christmas and winter, you start feeling a little lonely and homesick, missing your old friends, missing christmas with your family, then afterwards, you start to understand the situation and appreicate it more once you see it is nearly at an end and you will be leaving soon and then you miss your new friends and new experiences in HK.

[ray98]

Shelley, your social circle will expand very quickly either thru the one or 2 friends you may have or thru work colleagues.

Ladies nite, depends, run from Tuesdays - Thursdays. Great fun but you should establish your life socially and at work at 1st. It's no fun walking into work with 2-4 hours sleep under you belt and a strong expresso from Starbux

Weekends though is a different matter - knock yourself out having fun!!

[theodosis]

I'm about to move to Hong Kong alone in October and really looking for forward that. I'm sure that living as single lafter 14 years relationship will be very exciting in HK. :-)