My Love-Hate Relationship with Hong Kong
Without realizing it, I’ve lived in Hong Kong for more than two years. I’ve had a constant love-hate relationship with Hong Kong even before I arrived from Toronto in 2014. As a young child, I visited the city where my parents once lived and another time as an adult,...
Struggles of Ethnic Chinese Expats in Hong Kong
With the mass migration of Hong Kong families to Western countries amid fears over the Communist takeover of the territory in 1997, it is no wonder there are a number of second-generation returnees in the city today. The trend has picked up momentum since 2015 after the government rolled...
The Harsh Reality of Living Abroad
Since graduating in 2012, I have been traveling and working abroad. My family thinks it is an abnormal, nomadic life that I have chosen and even though they are supportive, they are tired of seeing me leaving home each and every year. Society tells me that nomadic living is...
Learning to Let Go
After a whole year of full time work and part-time school, I was at the edge of burnout. I knew that Hong Kong lifestyle of being busy all the time was too much for me, and I had to give it up. This is coming from someone who never...
Home is Where the Heart Is
“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to.” – John Ed Pearce Over the past few years, I’ve seen a lot of places and people. I’ve lived across three continents, and a different country each year. I’ve seen different...
Important Lessons I Learned in 2016
At the end of the year, I like to reflect on what I had learned in the past year. In 2016, for the first half of the year, it was particularly difficult for me as I suffered from a work burnout. I took a break, went home, did a...
Reverse Culture Shock: The Reality of Coming Home
Today, having international experiences is becoming increasingly important, especially as students are becoming more competitive by nature and seeking ways to get an edge on their peers. The job market is continuously looking for well-rounded individuals and the act of traveling definitely shows the effort of having stepped out...
Toronto is Home
“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to.” This is how I feel about my hometown, Toronto. Being born and raised in Toronto, there is a sense of identity attachment. It’s true – when you leave – you start...