What Do We Live For?

I had just cruised from one end of the Penang national park to another at the cost of a frozen yogurt in Hong Kong. The boys that operated the motor-boat smiled at me as they collected my life jacket. I had no doubt that these young men enjoyed their jobs as much as racing cars, they were the princes of this coast. Looking back to the rainforest, we cannot believe how far we had trekked. The day was so far so good. 

We immediately gravitated towards the smell of coconut curry as we climbed up the hill. We had our eyes on the food shack Mum and Papa's even before our hike. The owners of the stall were an elderly couple famously known throughout the island for their cooking. As our meal was being served, I felt like a little kid making it home just in time for dinner. We curiously asked the lady what was her favourite thing about Penang. She replied, 'Penang is heaven. We have plenty of sun, a beautiful nature and the people are simply just happy.' Together with her husband, they were born and bred in Penang with a multicultural heritage. Everyday, they get their groceries from their neighbours and cooks for the entire community and the occasional travellers. Internet and TV is not important in their world, their kids can play for hours in the nearby waterfall. Their family could live like this for generations, born and dying happy and free.

Coming from a career-focused culture where people are constantly stressed to feel a sense of worth, I wonder why we can't just be happy like these islanders. At the end of it all, are we valued on how much money we make or on how much happiness we feel?

My Malaysian Odyssey

Although I didn't know anything about this country, I had fantasized about living here for a very long time. Since I was in the area for the time being, I just absolutely had to visit. I wouldn't be able to eloquently convey my impressions of Malaysia. This is not a country that fit any stereotypes, I was constantly blindsided by what it can offer.

Roaming around Georgetown, the historic centre of Penang, I felt like I was at the World Expo. Ladies and gentlemen, to your right you can see pastel-coloured colonial architecture common in Latin America and on your left you will see a neighbourhood typical in pre-war Shanghai. If you look straight you can see a mosque, a Buddist temple and a Baptist church. Somehow these ethnicities managed to coexist with little conflict and adapt into a whole new culture. This doesn't happen in most parts of the world.

Breakfast with our favourite host

This phenomenon also led to Penang to have the most friendly people on earth. Our homestay host took us in like we were his own kids. He took us to his favourite food shacks, drove us off the beaten path and introduced his friends who just as awesome. We celebrated our trip by going to a retro karaoke bar on Christmas Eve. I'm thankful for Glee or else I would not know any of the songs. At a downtown restaurant in Chinatown, a fellow customer helped us order Hokkien food and instructed us on what combination of condiments tasted best. On our last night, we were practically treated like family at the local church's Christmas service. This was a place where I didn't feel silly smiling at complete strangers, wasn't worried that I would be ripped off because I'm a tourist and didn't feel embarrassed asking ignorant questions. Now that's what you call chicken soup for the soul.

Lost in Food Heaven

I can go on and on about the food. Naturally, I'm in a satisfied and very bloated state post-Christmas. Imagine wondering past a food shack every five minutes, how do you resist not having five meals a day? In fact I think if I lived in Malaysia, that photoshopped photo of chubby Sandra will look pretty accurate. I can still recall the tangy taste of the fragrant Laksa soup noodles, the tasty rojak salad dressed in hoison sauce and peanuts, the greasey but mouth-watering Hokkien char goey teow and the freshly baked roti served with the curry of the hour. I tell myself that I deserve to binge eat in Asia because last year in Hungary, Asian food was something that I would have only on my birthday. This helps me sleep better at night.

I'm slightly sad that such a great cultural experience was over, but I also missed Hong Kong (I guess this means that I have become fond of the place). With New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival coming up, could I ever be bored in Asia?  

Out of Comfort Zone

When I decided to blog, I wondered what kind of thoughts I would be publicizing. Initially I wanted to write about up and coming entrepreneurs, business savvy artists and geeks or nomadic freelancers. I also wanted to dedicate a blog to fascinating women who defied all odds to thrive, such as the likes of Anne Boleyn or Malka Zimetbaum. Finally, at my farewell party in Budapest, I realized that even though it was incredibly difficult for me to leave this community behind and that many did not want me to leave, everyone supported me in reaching for my sky-high and slightly obnoxious goals. I felt like I must make the most out of life or I would be letting a lot of people down. I'm hoping that this blog has helped spread some of my hopelessness :)

I've been in Hong Kong for three weeks now and it's been a Behemeth of a roller-coaster. There have been days where I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, line up for over 20 minutes for coffee and get bumped into five times on my way to the MTR and a few hours later I would be sitting in seawater in my soaked hiking clothes and hearing nothing but the sound of seagull cries and children laughter. Similarly, I could be eavesdropping on Cantonese conversations at work, deciphering thick Hindi accents at a Diwali celebration and making friends with fellow Torontonians in LKF. Hong Kong is emotionally and physically exhausting and I'm loving how I'm always hovering outside of my comfort zone and testing my limits. After all, that is why I chose the life of an expat.

Unlike other Asian tourists, I don't normally read up on a city before going there. Mostly because unexpected travel plans sweep me away like a Tornado and dumps me somewhere with enough junk to have a decent holiday. Despite my ignorance, I've managed to put together a checklist for Hong Kong.

Checklist Hong Kong

1. Enjoy a piping hot latte at the highest point in Hong Kong - Check. The best thing about hiking all the way to the top of Victoria Peak is that there's a Starbucks up there that serves the inappropriately dressed visitors. The clouds can't cover the magnificent view of the Hong Kong skyline during the night-time, it's like a mega-souped up pin-ball machine.
2. Go to a lecture at a local University - Check.  I'm not particularly fond of school but it's interesting to see how courses are taught differently due to location. We attended a talk where the local community leaders of Christianity, Islam and Judaism come together and discuss how their religious texts contribute to/disagree with the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Hong Kong is a magnet for brilliant academics and inspirational businessmen. These eye-opening opportunities is one of the main reasons that I targeted Hong Kong. 
3. Go hiking every weekend - Check. Whereas some people need to party until they blackout to distress, I have developed an affinity for hiking. It takes me about a good minute to catch my breath at the end of every hike (I swear I'm more out of shape than smokers), but looking back to how far I've come is just so satisfying. This must be how athletes feel like. 
4. Get mistaken as a prostitute - Check. I've learned that if you're all dressed up to party and waiting for your friend, put on a sweater or a perverted business man will think you're a 'siu ze', a prostitute. 
5. Indulge in street food in Mong Kok while window shopping - Check. The difference between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island is dramatic. Whereas the Island is a popular destination for foreigners and full of extravagant shopping centres, Kowloon is much more modest and authentic. The district of Mong Kok in Kowloon is where the locals like to hang out, where you can get great food and pretty shoes at a decent price. Amazingly, getting the attention of a street food vendor is close to impossible if you don't scream out orders in Cantonese. I think I've got 'Ya go gai', 'one chicken kebab' down to a tee. 
6. Hold a dinner party and serve my famous vegetarian lasagna recipe
7. Hike to the Peak in the early morning after a night at LanKwaiFong and catching the sunrise
8. Dance to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ on the streets in LKF during the festivities
9. Camp out somewhere in Central on Sunday like the hard-working laborers
10. Organize/participate in a scavenger hunt
11. Ride in the top level of '1904 est' tram. 
12. Go to a horserace
13. Go fishing (what a patient sport)

Well, I'd like to think that I'm off to a good start in Hong Kong. It seems like I'll have to be extra ambitious this year in my New Years' Resolution. 

Wilderness Survival Guide for City Dwellers

There are certain stereotypes surrounding people living in metropolitan capitals. They’re either known as social-climbing parasites or ambitious go-getters who has what it takes to make it in the big city. The people from the countryside for example are usually known to be more down to earth and have an appreciation for communities. I’m the former and I have several extra features: I’m more at ease seeing rats and spiders than mosquitoes, I can walk in heels but I freeze at the sight of a makeshift bridge and up until this past weekend, the smallest boat I’ve been on was a 30-ft yacht.

It’s unusual to think that when people move to Hong Kong they become more attached to nature, but it’s actually a common phenomenon. In any direction away from Hong Kong Island, you can find many hiking trails and the prettiest beaches in the world. Our destination this past weekend was Tai Long Wan in the New Territories, supposedly one of the most scenic places in Hong Kong.

Naturally, our trip starts with a 40-minute taxi-ride out of the city, followed by a bus-ride up what seemed like the death road in Peru. I was initially quite confident of my physique and took it as a walk across the park, but now it seems like that I have the capabilities equivalent to a hung-over man carrying a guitar (actually that guy was ahead of me about 99% of the time). This event affected my confidence for the rest of the trip, I became a pathetic version of a damsel in distress. I am determined to earn the title of warrior princess by the end of my time here.

About two hours of whining later, we arrived at the beach. The view alone was worth the hike. Leaping around the fine white sand, I felt like newborn baby. Among the Christian fellowships and couples on marriage counseling, we could see the outlines of the mountain ranges and hear the waves hitting the beach, we were going to set up our tents here for the night.

We cheated a bit and ate dinner at the local fisherman’s shack. Our group was made of six different nationalities from North and South America, Southeast Asia and Europe. Our conversations about anything and everything carried on long after our meal. I’m very happy that I got to know everyone that came on this trip! They are all fantastically awesome! 

Starting the fire was a bit of hassle. Did you know that before you can use the firewood, you need kindling and before that you need something more flammable? I’m glad the boys were there, because I would’ve just spent hours trying to light up firewood with a lighter. Assembling the tent seemed easy. Sleeping in it was a different matter. We sat around our fire and enjoyed some good ol’ s’mores and cheesy guitar music. 

I forfeited my usual before-bed routine and just looked for a place to dig a hole. I used to have a romantic notion of sleeping in tents. After all, kids do it in their living room just for the hell of it. It was not as comfortable as I thought. I find it ironic that when I can’t sleep I listened to sounds of ocean waves, but that night I was wide awake. As soon as the sun came up, I changed into my swimsuit and went for a soak. The water was crystal clear. I sat in the water and let the salty water tend to my mosquito bites. Oh and think fast! Here comes the wave!

After all the sleepy heads woke up, we moved beaches and came across a surfing hotspot. After a challenging frolic in the waves, we were scolded by an Aussie lady. According to her we were bracing ourselves for death, we were swimming in a rip tide.

Before we know it, it was time for us to get back. I was shocked at seeing our boat ride back, it seemed like a refugee boat that you see in movies. To get into it we actually had to walk into the water. If I were religious I would’ve prayed. It was like a 45-minute rollercoaster.

Despite all my embarrassing moments, I had a great weekend! I’m really looking forward to the year coming up. 

Lost in the Fragrant Harbor

When I first found out that I’d be spending a year in Hong Kong, I imagined it would it’d be a breeze compared to living in Europe. I could not have been more wrong. So far I’ve been really caught off guard and frankly enough I’m not handling cultural shock very gracefully. Keep in mind that I’ve only been in Hong Kong for THREE days.

Hong Kong or the Las Vegas Strip?

The trip from the airport was an hour in total. I had woken up to a sight of flashing neon lights and a street full of promotional stands. There wasn’t a block in downtown Hong Kong that wasn’t touched by flashy advertisement. I had found my concentration scattered as I struggled to digest all the marketing messages thrown at me. The next day, I was shown around downtown and whenever someone tried to point out a restaurant or a store, I had to take a good minute before I can pick out their sign out of a million others. Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world...Give me a couple of weeks to get used to this in-your-face marketing.

Surviving on a Hot Plate

My apartment is right behind the Time Square. To every Hong Konger, as soon as I tell them the location of my apartment, they’re thinking a) It must be a dump, and b) that’s where the best eateries are! Well, they’re absolutely right. I’d like to think that I’m paying for a dorm to feel better about where I’m living. My room is decent. It comes with a wardrobe, which is practically a five-star amenity (I saw an apartment where the room was as wide as the bed). The kitchen has no stove or oven, just a single hotplate. I’m trying to dumb-down all my recipes to requiring just one fire. Maybe I’ll write a book about it.

Sandra’s Daily Commute to Work:

1    Exit building and follow the block-long Citibank ad down to the giant neon-green Bossini store, turn left.

2    Keep going until you come across the giant football-field sized pink screen at Hysan mall. The six floor Forever 21 should be on the right (this is a good landmark for orientation as it seems to be open 24 hours a day, because drunk people like to shop).

3    Cross the street with hundreds of other people all at once. When the little green man flashes, RUN. The cars have no mercy.

4    Head right until the giant Rolex sign.

      Arrive at destination.

Identity Crisis

Although I was born and bred in Beijing up until I turned ten, I identify myself more as a Canadian. This is not unusual in any case, as most Canadians I know have at least a parent or a grandparent that was an immigrant, or they themselves are immigrants. Coming to Hong Kong, I saw an opportunity to rediscover my roots. However, a few family members and friends have warned me that it’s best if I communicate in English at all times. I didn’t think anymore of it until I had asked for directions to a payphone in Mandarin and got terrible treatment. Apparently, there’s a lot of resentment towards people from Mainland China due to political and economic reasons. I had realized that I had to pick which life I wanted in Hong Kong, as an expat or a native of Mainland China? Before I knew it, I was roaming around public pretending that I didn’t know a word of Chinese. I’m not proud of the fact that I’m hiding my true heritage. I’m aiming to find a better balance.

Halloween is still an honorable holiday

Back in Canada, Halloween is the one-day where girls can get away with wearing revealing clothing and when hookers lose business. Kim Kardashian just personifies that, each year we wait anxiously to see which body-parts she’s going to bare. Despite all that, this is my absolute favorite holiday! I have fond memories of trick or treating and hanging around haunted parks. This year, I decided to dress up as a flapper-girl. As I waited for my friend at the metro, I came across a Halloween flash-mob. I was shocked when I realized the girls here just dressed up for fun and not to get attention. How incredible is that? Afterwards, I embarked on a pub-crawl on Lockhart Road (aka hooker street, the girls seemed laid-back on their day off). This will probably be the only Wednesday that I get to stay out this late :D

Phew, so that’s my experience so far in Hong Kong. 11 months and 26 more days to go!

Confessions of a Materialistic Society

As far as I can remember, I spent my early teens in malls and movie theatres. To kids like me who once aspired to be as cool as Lindsay Lohan in the Parent Trap (yes, I know), a trip to the mall was the closest thing to being just as glamorous. As we grew older, we became fascinated with the lifestyle of a young urban professional (or Yuppies as we’d call them). As a result of all that, we're now stuck with a generation who make career decisions according to the perks that come with a job and not the job itself.

During my first trip to a Canadian mall since post-communist Europe, I cannot help but poke fun at everything sale that I saw.

Joke #1: Let's put it in a smaller bottle and call it something else...

Bath and Body Works is a new bath and beauty shop that produces everything from neon-coloured loofas to cartoon-character night-lights. This store makes European body care brands such as The Body Shop look old fashioned and dull. In different containers and packaging, you can find, body cream, body lotion and body butter. If you’d asked me during my college years, I’d tell you that each of them served a different purpose and it is necessary to have the entire collection.

Joke #2: Lancome says women have been doing it wrong for the past 10,000 years...

Isn’t it ridiculous how much women spend on skincare? Everyday, young girls are bombarded with commercials about different skin conditions. Can you imagine girls in Shakespeare’s time going through an intensive 3-step treatment every night before they go to bed? I don’t remember my history textbook saying ‘during the 16^th century, girls were a sight for sore eyes due to uncontrollable acne issues’.  

Capitalist societies have been very successful at creating demand out of nothing, which probably drives the backbone of our economy. However, I believe this has taken a toll on women’s (specifically young girls’) confidence. We’re brought up to believe a credit card can provide more comfort than anything else. If I ever have daughters, I’m going to make sure they know they’re beautiful despite whatever society tells them. 

Rediscovering the New World

I'm sitting in a Second Cup coffee shop in the suburbs of Toronto, drinking yet another variation of the cappuccino. When my mom had told me that there will be coffee-shops 'nearby', I didn't think she meant a 20 minute drive, on the other side of the highway. How do Canadians get around without cars?

Since I've left Europe, I've been bracing myself for a reverse cultural shock, I hear those are quite nasty and can be depressing. So I went on a good ol' road trip with my mom to New England. What great decision making skills - there's no better way of killing time for an out-of-practice driver than a 12 hour drive on the American freeway. Needless to say, I'm now quite confident of my driving skills.

Naturally, my mom (like all Chinese mothers), tried to get me motivated academically and apply to go to Harvard. I realized that after my yearlong escapade in Europe that I despise conformity, the thought of joining a cult such as a brand-name school was not that appealing to me.

Nevertheless, I loved almost everything about New England. The people here exhibited the best characteristics of the North American stereotype. I can't remember a single time that I've made eye-contact with someone and didn't get a smile back, customer service reps seem to genuinely care about how your day is and the people are probably quite happy as they reproduce A LOT. Yes, I have a theory that the happiness scale of a place can be reflected in the number of kids that I see.

This kind of atmosphere is exactly the environment that I would want my kids to grow up in. Another goal in life added to the list - move to New England at some point.

Other than that I've made the following hilarious conclusions:

1. A fitting room in any store in a North American suburb will probably be bigger than any room that I can rent in Hong Kong.
2. The 'All U.S. Citizens' lane at the customs now takes Canadians as well.
3. There are so many Canadian businesses going global that it's hard to figure out which side of the border you're on. I walked into a TD bank in Harvard to get quarters for parking.
4. Tim Hortons needs to improve their standardization manual because the Americans cannot follow it. For those who don't know about Tim Hortons, it is only the best casual dining restaurant ever.

Anyway, off to get some work done! Happy fall everyone!