I'm getting there

Before I left for Hong Kong, I dreaded all the changes I would have to make.  

I brought a lot a lot of stuff with me because well...let's just say I have strong preferences.  (Fine, I'm picky.  To-may-to, to-ma-to... but moving on.)  The auntie I'm staying with had told me not to ship anything and to just buy stuff in Hong Kong.  Umm, no thanks.  I'm not willing to pay a premium for products I currently use or spend time running around an unfamiliar city searching for something specific.  Nor am I willing to buy whatever is on sale and chance my hair turning green.  I had partly wanted to save money and time, but I figured bringing a piece of home with me would be one less reason to dread living in Hong Kong.

Not having access to a car has been the most challenging thing.  Yes, Hong Kong is convenient and you can get just about anywhere with public transportation, but goodness gracious, the amount of time spent on the road--walking to stop, waiting for bus/train, on the train, walking to destination... A "tone see" (co-worker) did point out that driving means dealing with traffic and it is not uncommon to wait in line to get into a parking garage.  Not to mention the insane fees for hourly parking.

The weather is making my commute uncomfortable.  Even standing still I feel sticky and sweaty.  And being so far away from home, I feel like I have to pack everything with me--umbrella, light sweater, water, snacks, phone charger...so I'm sticky sweaty bag lady.  I'm sure it'll get better once we get into fall.  (But don't get me started about winters here--NO ONE turns on the heat.)

I haven't felt lonely (yet) because I'm too busy finding a routine and I'm around people all day.  But I definitely do miss the familiarity of having an established support network.  I miss being able to say, "Hey, what should we do this weekend".  I suppose I can do that with my co-workers, but it takes a little time before getting together to do things outside of work.  I feel like as I get older, it takes more and more effort to befriend people.  Lol  But it's not hard to chitchat about random things throughout the day.  Hey, I can be fun and charming when I want to be...haha.

And therein lies the key to everything: "When I want to be."  It's all about how I choose to frame each situation.  Have to use a different brand of shampoo?  Maybe there is something better for my wacky Asian hair.  Have to use public transportation?  Save money on gas.  Have to make new friends?  What better way to get to know a city.  I can't give myself the opportunity to look for the negative in each situation.  Because I'll find it.  Lol

I'm often the kid who tiptoes into the ocean and retreats back to the sand.  Just in case the ocean sucks, you know?  But I've decided to be the kid who runs into the ocean and screams with glee as the waves wash over me.  (At least while I'm in Hong Kong.)  So far, the initial shock of the cold water has been replaced by excitement.

I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of dark cave that is Hong Kong.