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

[ray98]

seriously guys, you need a major attitude adjustment.

i travelled through china by myself, to hong kong and backpacked through vietnam (back in 1997, before it was tourist friendly)... i had A BLAST! but it all comes down to the attitude you have.

if you guys are lonely and depressed travelling, then you are lonely and depressed people who are going to have a difficult time making friends anywhere.

I agree - besides, companionship is sometimes over-rated, being by yourself means independence and freedom of choice to do what you want where you want, no asking opinions and debates, talk to who I want when I want, give myself time to the most important person in my life - me!

[Football16]

I wouldn't understate the concern the OP has about coming here alone. If this is not something that a person considers before deciding to leave they might get a huge negative surprise when they are here.

All I know is that some of the key issues that people need to consider when moving a vast distance can't be ignored. I have found one thing in life with people and that is if people who are unhappy move, the likelihood is that they will become even more unhappy in the new locale. That is why in North American coast cities, the suicide rates are often higher as people gravitate to these places only to find themselves worse off in the new environs.

The second issue is moving in the (often mistaken) belief that when you arrive in the new lands that people will be so happy to have you there that you will have a meteoric rise to the top despite the fact that your resume and work experiences simply weren't working in the old locale. There are always good reasons to move to better opportunities but in my experience you best know that they exist before heading to the airport with you life savings hidden in your sock.

From some of the posts here, it explains why even the gweilos here quickly act like locals and not speak to their neighbours which for me is a bit different.

There is no reason why the OP can't meet new friends of course, but it can be a challenge when you are from friends and familiar surroundings.

[squidgette]

hey rottenlemon,

i'm from canada too and get homesick often in hk as well. I recently moved back to hk for a job.

if you want to hang out, i would love to meet up! PM me!

(p.s., I'm a girl)

[globetrotting]

Thanks all for the insights shared thus far.

I wondered if Football16 or anyone else might be able to shed more light on Football16's comment that "why even the gweilos here quickly act like locals and not speak to their neighbours".

1. Is this worse than in any other big city like London or NY?
2. Are even the expats in HK not particularly friendly even within communities which are relatively expatriate?

Cheers all.

[PDLM]

1. No
2. I can only speak for the apartment living, and that's like anywhere else I've lived - there aren't really communities based on where you live - few people know their neighbours. And remember that in very few places does the expat penetration exceed 20% (Disco Bay and a few villages around Sai Kung being the only ones I think).

[globetrotting]

Thx PDLM. I guess wot with this being HK, people may be a little more abrupt ... or focused. In London, most Londoners are so focused on getting through their day that we get suspicious if a stranger smiles at us or greets us. And woe betide any out-of-towners in NYC who walk at a leisurely pace during rush hour ...

[Liaya]

Hello Rottenlemon,

I'm french. To reply you, I'd say all is a question of attitudes. If you go with a depressing attitude, you can be sure you will. I hope all will be well for you.

Bye !

(Sorry for my english)

[UStoHK]

i had the same feeling when i decided to move here from the U.S. I am chinese like you, I went to school in north america for many years as well.

i felt more and more depressing as the date of my move gets closer and closer. i talked to my friends, one of my friends said "you are only one plane ticket away from America. you go there, you don't like it. YOu can always come back."
i instantly felt relieved. because the worst scenario is i don't like it and i have to buy and plane ticket and move back to the U.S.
i moved here last week, it is mixed feeling. i have a lot of adjustments to make. i am not sure if this was a good or bad move but when it comes to meeting people, i can ensure you meeting people is not hard in hk.because there are tons of expats. i have made a few friends already.

[Sunfire]

From some of the posts here, it explains why even the gweilos here quickly act like locals and not speak to their neighbours which for me is a bit different.

It's also entirely possible that such people come from a place where it's not common to strike up conversations with complete strangers. It's not like white people all share one culture and upbringing.

[wind2004]

Even a person, who was born and grow up in HK, he or she still sometimes feels alone, right?
Open ur mind and attitude adjustment same as wat all people mentioned upward.