Life in Hong Kong lately – unexpected beaches, new friends & flowing

So, my life in Hong Kong is not what I expected. It is more challenging, more expensive and honestly more solitary than I imagined it would be. It is also delightful in ways that I did not expect. But I think the best part of my life in Hong Kong is that I have finally learned to ‘go with the flow.’ Letting go of expectations is truly an unexpected blessing.

Teaching

Teaching is a very big part of my life in Hong Kong and not enjoying it was really hard for me. I know I am lucky as a lot of people do not like their jobs but I have always loved teaching. It doesn’t pay well, it’s often disrespected as a profession and it’s exhausting. One of the only benefits is that most teachers really love teaching. Anyway, I don’t want to go on an educational rant but I’m very happy to have learned how to adjust my expectations and perspective. Now I’m able to enjoy teaching again.

And it has been totally an internal shift. Nothing has changed at my center in terms of make-up classes, kids in the ‘wrong’ levels or too many in a class. And the actual curriculum or company philosophy has not changed either. I have simply figured out how to work around some things that I do not agree with and accept other things that I cannot change. For example, this is a business. And unfortunately profit is more important than correct class placements in a business. So I inhale ‘it is what it is’ and exhale ‘just do your best.’ It’s my new little work mantra 😉

Most of all, I focus on what I can do for individual kids given the framework that I work in. And that is the core goal in teaching, really – to help individual kids as much as one can. So I am doing that, and the other stuff – and there is a lot of greedy and stupid ‘other stuff.’ Well I am being a happy little duck, water flowing off my back. Quack quack 😉

Making friends

I think becoming friends with one of my co-workers has been helpful to me. (It also feels great as I think it has helped him too.) It’s weird because I have found that a nomad life makes for ‘odd friends.’ You become friends with people that you would not in a ‘regular’ life. You meet people that you may not have a lot in common with on the surface (for example, my new friend is a young man from South Africa). But because of beautiful and random life choices, you end up with friends that have similar histories or life perspectives, even though you have nothing in common on the surface. And it is really, really lovely when that happens.

Anyway, one of the lovely things about travel in general is meeting people from different ‘walks of life.’ And now I have a new friend at work. It is really lovely as he also cares about teaching and we are able to help each other at work. And a sweet little bonus is that I also have someone to try new food with!! I am very brave in so many ways, but not always ‘new food brave.’ It’s definitely easier to be ‘new food brave’ with a friend.

…and lots of solitude

The part about my life in Hong Kong being more solitary than I expected. Well first, I did think I would have roommates. Having said that, I do relish the peace and ease of living alone, even if it is expensive. But I had imagined a delightful little Three’s Company situation. I also imagined that there would be a ‘teaching community’ but between long hours, different teaching schedules and no company efforts, there is very little community. Normally, I’m very good at meeting people but I have found that many move here as a couple (my new friend included) or with friends. Additionally, Hong Kong is just really massive and so far, I have not had much luck in the online expat groups. And last, teaching English is loud, exhausting and demands a lot of energy so I have not put in too much effort.

Honestly, I have grown to love my easy, quiet, ‘explore on my own’ off-days. And so, overall life is more solitary than I expected but I am flowing with it. This year will just have a different focus than what I thought. And in fact, I am enjoying the unexpected direction it is taking.

Peng Chau

I am actually embracing the unexpected and unplanned. Back in October, I did a little day trip to Peng Chau. Peng Chau is one of the smaller Hong Kong islands. It is not well-known but it is easy to reach by ferry. I ‘discovered’ Peng Chau on my ferry ride back from Lantau Island. (My last blog post was about my wonderful getaway to Lantau Island, if you missed it.)

Anyway, I noticed a small island between Lantau and the main island. So I checked maps to see what it was called and thought ‘hmm, maybe I should go to Peng Chau – looks cute.’ Then on a run later that week, I ran past the sign to the Peng Chau Ferry. I thought, ‘yes, it’s a sign and I should go.” So on my next day off, I got up quite early and took the ferry to Peng Chau. I really had no plan and no idea what the island would offer.

Once I arrived, I was delighted to discover a lovely beach. And by discover, I mean I noticed a group of young locals walking as I exited the Peng Chau Pier. I decided to follow them as they turned off the main walking path. They were carrying bags of food and an honest to goodness ‘boom box’. They were having a great time and didn’t notice me at all. I am so grateful that I am a weirdo that follows random people – in a non-creepy way, of course. So I followed them and they walked to a small but very secluded beach away from the main area.

And that is how I discovered a lovely little beach. I had a wonderful hour chilling on the beach – just the group of young locals, 2 small expat families with their wonderful dogs and me. It was incredibly relaxing and incredibly unexpected. Plus I got to watch the dogs while the families went swimming – that was a huge bonus.

After the beach, I had lunch at a little island coffee shop. It had the best avocado & arugula toast I have had in 3 months. (It was actually the first toast I have had since leaving Canada. Honestly, I did not know how much I love toast until now.) Then I did a little hike to the other side of the island, got lost, stumbled across another beach and randomly met 2 young women doing an exchange year in Hong Kong. One was from Canada. It was so nice to meet someone from ‘home.’ I eventually got unlost and then made my way back to the ferry. It was a magical day really, with no itinerary, no plan and most importantly I think, no expectations. I am hoping to do another random island day soon.

If you are travelling to Hong Kong or travelling anywhere actually, I really recommend hopping on a ferry or bus, with no plan. Just explore someplace new with no itinerary. It might not be for you – I understand for some people this could cause a huge amount of anxiety. It will be a little weird or uncomfortable for anyone, but if you can push yourself to try it, you might just love it. I can tell you that some of my best travel memories have been days where the unexpected happened.

Hong Kong is teaching me to accept and actually embrace the unexpected. And I have gone on a few more unplanned day trips (next blog will be posted in 2 days). I have also done some hiking, discovered a lot of coffee shops, moved flats and fallen in love with my new neighborhood. I’ll be sending out part 2 and 3 of ‘life lately’ later this week. And one day, I will get a consistent schedule of when I post about my little adventures. As always, feel free to send me a message. And if you feel comfortable, and know someone who might enjoy, please share with a friend or on your social media. I would really appreciate it 😉

https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/explore/great-outdoor/wellness/peng-chau.html

https://www.instagram.com/islandtable.pengchau

https://theanalognomad.ca/life-in-hong-kong-being-sick-meeting-monks