January in Hong Kong & Peru & Guatemala
This is the third January that I have been lucky enough to spend in a different country. How wild is that?!?! Not just taking a January ‘vacay’ but actually living in another country, in fact a different continent, for the month of January. In January 2023, I spent a month in Antigua, Guatemala. January 2024 was my third month living in Cusco, Peru. And January 2025 is my fifth month living & teaching in Hong Kong. I have been doing some reflecting on my Januarys and what each offered in terms of experiences and lessons. And reflecting is stirring up a lot of gratitude and also personal pride. I am not a fan of the word ‘pride’ as it often comes with a lot of painful expectations in my experience. However, I feel proud of how many times I have leapt into the unknown the past 3 years.
Guatemala
Two years ago I was in Guatemala at a homestay with a wonderful family and other volunteers. It was very communal and I learned so much from both the family and the other volunteers. I was taking Spanish classes and volunteering at an after school program teaching English. And I was completely humbled by everything. I really thought I was a low-maintenance kind of person but living with a local family showed me how wildly untrue that personal belief was. Also, taking Spanish classes taught me that I am a very slow learner – truly humbling. It also opened my eyes to how much language shapes culture.
But the biggest lessons came from volunteering. I learned that all my ESL training was rooted in North American assumptions that have little to do with the resources available in other parts of the world. But I also learned that I can teach with no roof or books. Most importantly, I discovered the joy that is connecting with a child through charades.
Guatemala also taught me that I was braver than I had ever imagined. I learned that I could invite strangers to dinner and make friends with people from all walks of life. It taught me to push myself physically and that I could do hard things. For an entire month, I lived outside my comfort zone in every single way. By the end of January, I realized that I loved living in discomfort and being brave means being scared but doing it anyway. It’s hard to pick one highlight but the sunrise from Acatenango is one of them. I think I will spend the rest of my days searching for another sunrise that fills me with the same sense of awe.
Peru
January 2024, I was living in Cusco, Peru with another wonderful family, although it was not a homestay. I took a chance and rented a ‘suite’ from a local couple, via their son-in-law on Facebook. It was honestly a big leap of faith but an awesome example of the positive side of social media and the kindness of strangers. Cody, Danitza, Eddy & Margarita will always be a reminder to me of the good in the world and how kind people can be.
During my 3 months there and found a beautiful balance of ‘living like a local’ and being a tourist. I was teaching English online and shopped at the local markets. I joined a gym, got to know my neighborhood and I made some friends. And in a cool example of the world being smaller than you think, I even acted as a ‘tour guide’ from time to time. A friend that I had made in Guatemala came to Cusco to study Spanish for a month. So I got to ‘show’ him around and share some of the beauty that is the Sacred Valley.
I had so many adventures in Peru. Some were actual adventures, like paragliding, hiking, visiting ancient ruins and exploring the jungle at night. In fact, I rang in the New Year in the Peruvian jungle, with 23 random strangers and no internet. And some adventures with more internal, like joining a ‘how to be a writer’ workshop and online therapy. I learned again and again that I enjoy living in discomfort. And January in Cusco also taught me a weird ‘nomad truth.’ It is absolutely true that you can feel ready to move on and explore a new place. And at the exact same time, your heart is breaking because you love the place and people where you are. Both things can be true.
I had so many highlights in Peru but specifically in January, 2 days stand out. I visited Rainbow Mountain with my friend George (and an actual tour guide). It was wonderful to spend the day with a friend that I had made in another country where we had hiked a volcano in Guatemala and now we were hiking a little mountain in Peru. And this may seem weird but it was also wonderful because that day made me aware of how much I had progressed on a physical level from the year before. Also, Rainbow Mountain itself is rather spectacular.
And the second beautiful day was on a solo hike to Temple of the Moon, a favorite of mine just outside Cusco. And that last Friday in Cusco, I met a shepherd with her flock of sheep. It was, on the one hand, a rather ordinary encounter but also it was kind of a magical hour that I will never forget.
Hong Kong
Now it’s January 2025 and I am living in a tiny 4th floor walk-up, by myself in Hong Kong. It is by far, the most ‘solitary’ January that I have had on my nomad journey. I really do love my flat, although it is hard to convey how tiny it is to my fellow North Americans. But it has been an unusual lesson in organization, priorities and gratitude. Thankfully I still love teaching and my students, although I don’t love my job. In general, Hong Kong has been a lesson in managing expectations and embracing challenges.
This January I have realized how much I have grown over the past 2 years. I was just interviewed for a podcast and I was asked if I am ever scared. I answered that yes, I am scared all of the time. But afterwards, I realized that while it is still true that I ‘do it scared,’ the degree to which the unknown scares me is very different. In Guatemala, I was ‘deep breathing, reciting mantras in my head, white knuckling’ through every single situation. And now when faced with an unknown or scary situation, I think ‘well this is scary or new’ and then I just do the thing. I have proven to myself again and again that I can do hard things.
This January I also got to be a ‘tour guide’ again, which was really cool, and also affirming. A friend from Canada, had a quick stop in Hong Kong on her way to Vietnam. I got to play tour guide with her, both exploring an ‘attraction’ that was new to me, as well as showing her the harbor. It was great to see a bit of Hong Kong through her eyes. It was also great to realize how far I have come in terms of navigating this massive metropolis. What was once overwhelming, now seems mostly ‘normal.’ I had forgotten how enormous, confusing and daunting it can be here. And I am happy that, even after 5 months, I still relish my adventures on my days off. There is still so much I want to explore and I am grateful that I am still finding delight in ‘being a tourist.’
Speaking of being a tourist, I am super excited as I am off to Cambodia next week to actually be a tourist. And while travel has taught me to really be present and enjoy where my feet are at the moment, I am intrigued by where they might be next January. I was also asked on the podcast what is after Hong Kong and I don’t really know for sure. And I love that!!
Thanks for reading and as always feel free to comment or share. Actually I would love to know which of my January ‘homes’ is the most interesting to you – Guatemala, Peru or Hong Kong? Where would you visit next January?
And for those planning a trip to Hong Kong, I highly recommend Victoria Peak – but only take the tram up and then take a local bus down 😉 Better views on the bus coming down and much cheaper. Plus go on a weekday morning to avoid the crowds if crowds bother you. I also recommend a visit to Discovery Bay if you’re visiting Hong Kong for more than a week – it’s not a ‘top tourist attraction’ but it has a wonderful laidback vibe and the ferry back to the main island offers great views.
LOVE this! LOVE your adventures! LOVE being inspired by you! LOVE our conversations!