A few days in HK so far and I hate it. Tell me I'm being ridiculous.

[Elegiaque]

Everywhere in the world has it's ups and it's downs. Like you said, it has great transportation here that's pretty cheap. It has an easy tax system, and it has easy health care. Many expats get to earn good money that they wouldn't make back home (even in teaching, like me). I got an opportunity here to work with an arts organization and I would have never had a chance to find such a perfect match of work place back in the US, Germany, or the UK. The crime is low here and I feel much safer than I ever did in the states, and I also like the reassurance that I have good medical coverage.
During a speaking test recently, one of my local students had to talk about fashion in HK, and she made a good point that it's very divided: there are those who care a lot about it and spend a lot of money on it, and those who are very frugal and practical. If you go around the NT, I don't think you'd see much materialism. Heck, even my partner's one local colleague likes to wear a business shirt with a hole in it!
About the racism, every country has their issues with this, and even in the UK where they try awfully hard to be "fair" to everyone, it makes you nauseous sometimes. Are you a doctor by chance who cannot work here in HK? I do think doctors who came here with a partner and cannot work are getting royally screwed over, and HK's policy just screws itself over.
I don't know anyone who whitens their face, and I'm sorry if you are surrounded by people like that. Perhaps that reflects something about what career/path you've chosen for yourself and who you surround yourself with.
Yes, the pollution can be bad, but have you gone out and done something like hiked the Plover Cove Reservoir hike and seen the amazing scenery? Even on HK Island you can take spectacular, secluded walks from Park View!

[TheBrit]

Rise above it or wallow in the misery.
Some choose the latter unfortunately.

The alternative view is some choose to accept all HK's problems and others refuse and return to better places to live, from their point of view. It is a deeply personal choice at the end of the day.

[Mat]

Since you asked: You are ridiculous ;-)


You are welcome.


Re ur issues. Like everywhere HK has great people, average people, annoying people, bad people etc etc....a few days is def not enough to make an opinion.

Give it time AND an open mind....u don t want to be one of those expat whinning days in days out abt how much better it is in the UK or US....Grass is always greener elsewhere....until u go back to the said grass...

Welcome to HK.

Sent from my GT-I9210 using GeoClicks mobile app

[Mat]

The alternative view is some choose to accept all HK's problems and others refuse and return to better places to live, from their point of view. It is a deeply personal choice at the end of the day.

Not bashing HK everyday doesnt mean accepting all its problem....

[dermotp]

My Wife tells me to focus on the positives and try to ignore the negatives every day. She should know more about the negatives of this town being from the Philippines.
Compared to what she has to suffer on a daily basis, I have it easy (being a white devil).

As Mat says, try to have an open mind about people, not always easy I know.

For me its rarely been a single bad experience that's effect my attitude to HK/Locals but the hundreds of minor little annoying things that build up every day. I could list them but I plan to do some work in the next few hours .

The days you get to interact with a "normal" person, can really charge your batteries.

[Blue88]

Rise above it or wallow in the misery.
Some choose the latter unfortunately.

Have to agree with Jimbo... I went through the hate-hate phase and it makes everyday a long drawn out and exhausting affair

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using GeoClicks Mobile

[HK_Katherine]

Firstly, you are suffering from culture shock. Doesn't matter if you are Asian American or any other kind of american - this is a different culture and everyone feels culture shock to some degree or another. Having experienced it myself (between Australia and New Zealand of all places!), it can take some months to adjust, and until you give yourself that time you won't be in a position to make any good decisions.
Secondly - many people in HK are lovely. You just have to find them! Get out and meet a wider range of locals - for example - have you thought of spending some time volunteering? I tend to find that the poorer people are, the nicer they are! There are many charities that you can volunteer with, and you will probably find much happier and better adjusted souls in them. Plus if you really do earn that much it will help you find somewhere to spend a little usefully, rather than on skin whitening cream!
(of course you will probably also find some of the worst of HK too - cage homes, badly treated helpers and animals and South Asians, depending on where you want to help out, but at least you will feel more useful).
Thirdly, get out and experience more of HK. It's not all the island. See some of the great sights here, experience the better parts of the culture, get away from HK and off to other local areas and appreciate how close you are to Asia. All of this will help too I think.
Good luck. HK is very much what you make of it. It's very easy to see the worst of it and get depressed, but focussing on improving the bad bits or just avoiding them and finding the good bits can make life easier.

[closedcasket]

The key to surviving Hong Kong is to leave often. Travel on holiday or go back home more often. When I first came to Hong Kong I only left once or twice a year, that can really wear on you. Now I leave almost every month, even if it is just a weekend in Taiwan or Vietnam. Treat Hong Kong as a place to base yourself, not a place to live.


Negotiate with your employers, most will be willing to give you a bit more leave time. Don't spend all your money on rent, your place is still going to suck no matter how much you spend on it. Rent cheap and travel often. If for no other reason, give your lungs a break once a month from this air, it really does help.


Leave HK once a month...Clear your mind, Clear your lungs - that's my new slogan I'm selling

[mrdollars]

You need to meet some good people and give it time.

Try to embrace the fact that you're in a different culture now and look for the positives. It can be too easy to only see the negatives, especially when you're experiencing culture shock/ homesickness.

Your time in HK is what you make it. Welcome!

[wtbhotia]

Your mission if you wish to accept is to change everyone in HK to your level, you have 6 months to finish this mission if you fail then you know where the airport, cruise terminal and the border secret tunnels are Woohooo LOL

Jokes aside, dont let the little shitty things get to you, the locals that you find crappy will not change and will just tell you to go back to where ever you came from so its a waste of time. Most are ok. Also think of a positive note that you are in HK, from here you can go on side travels to lots of exotic Asian countries for breaks.