Thinking about moving to HK

[Cupasoup28]

Hi. I am a single parent of a 17 year son and have been looking at a teaching job. I would like to apply again but a bit concerned that my son is at the wrong age. He is currently doing his 1st year a college and studying Engineering. I know that there is an ESF school where they do his course. Is it worth bringing him over at this age as I am worried at what he will do when he finishes his second year at 18 years old. I presume he will have to come back to the UK to either get a job or go to University as there are no prospects for him in HK at this age.
My other option would be to wait a few years until he finishes his education and maybe come to HK alone or with my son if he is able to get a job in HK.
Has anyone been in the same situations? If so, what would you suggest? If not, any advice from experiences in HK would be great!! Thanks in advance!!

[Open Casket]

Common sense might say don't come now, but the vast majority of us came on a whim and few regret it.

[hullexile]

Common sense might say don't come now, but the vast majority of us came on a whim and few regret it.

If it was just her I would say go for it but she has to consider her son's life.

OP have you discussed it with him?

[HK_Katherine]

If your son is 17 then he's old enough to do his final year on his own in the UK and live his own life. I left home at 18 - so did most of my friends, Went off to uni etc. Came home for holidays - why can't your son do that if he wants? Don't see why you have to put your life on hold at that age. If he was 10 that's different. But 17 is practically grown up.

[rani]

Is he doing BTEC or IB? Personally I would wait in the UK with him. The last 2 years are important and like you said will determine his future (uni or work).

[Cupasoup28]

My family originate from HK but my parents live in the UK now and I was born in the UK. Teaching in HK is much more rewarding and teachers appreciated more.
I don't want to leave him at 17 years old, I personally think he's far too young and needs more guidance. I am 38 so I still have time to wait until he's older before leaving.
He's doing a BTEC but there are apprenticeships that he can get onto in the UK which I think is a good opportunity so I have mixed feelings at the minute.

I think I'm going to have to wait a few years by the looking at the way things are at the moment. Thanks everyone for your help!!

[John Doe Jr]

Without knowing you, your son or your circumstances, your thinking seems to me to be on the right track. You were either 20 or 21 years old when your son was born and you seem to be very devoted to your role as a mum. That's a big part of your life to be spending looking after and worrying about someone else, although I'm sure you have experienced - and continue to experience - a deep sense of fulfillment from having taken your role so seriously.

I can also understand why you want to come to Hong Kong and follow your dream to work here. It is an amazing place and many of our lives have changed enormously once we moved here. Plus it sounds like you have connections with Hong Kong already which would help you settle down perhaps easier than most. Many things may appear to line up for you in terms of opportunity and your desire to move on in your life - and maybe catch up on lost time, too.


And yet, you have focused once again on your responsibilities and the needs of your son. I think that shows great character and strength. Whether you eventually do come to Hong Kong or not, I admire your continued dedication to your family and the sacrifices that inevitably come with it. All of us have had to make these kinds of decisions during our lives. Some have made more of them than others. But I don't think you'll regret either thinking about the possibilities that might exist here or deciding that now may not be the right time.


Timing is often the most important consideration of all. I remember when we came to Hong Kong in 2003, flat prices here were very affordable and bank lending was easy to get. Rents were not that high either, especially compared with now. Had we come earlier when I was first offered a job in 1993 and my daughter was not yet a year old, I'm pretty sure we would have returned to our home country at the end of my 2 year contract. But we delayed coming another 10 years and it made all the difference.


Thanks for your candidness and for including all of us in your decision-making because all of us learn and get inspiration from these kinds of situations. None of us has perfect answers. All of us struggle to make sense of things and end up doing a lot of guessing. It's not easy.


Best of luck and don't let anyone dissuade you from searching out opportunities, nor make you feel bad about your decisions. Sometimes things don't seem to be working out. But things change soon enough, and all you can do is your best based on your values and life principles. I think you'll be fine and I think you are setting a very good example for your son, too.

[Cupasoup28]

Thank you so much for your kind words!!

[angeluscomplex]

BTEC is harder to use for getting a job since no one here knows what they are. Trying to get a job with this could prove an uphill struggle. He would be better off matriculating in the UK. and not here because the universities don't recognise BTECs.

[angeluscomplex]

Go do one, Shri.