Taking a break from the tropical stories, it’s July, so that means my annual trip to Hong Kong for the RISE Conference. It’s the largest tech and startup conference in the whole of Asia, and personally, it’s like a refresher and learning experience, so I always make sure to attend it.
My nomadic friends Jerelyn, Claudine, and Karla always make sure to spend more time after the conference to explore a bit of Hong Kong—always making sure it’s a different part from our last visit.
When I started writing, I promised to write what’s true for me. The truth is Hong Kong was the first country I ever visited outside the Philippines, and it was definitely my least favorite.
I had a taste of what it’d be like traveling solo in a country that doesn’t speak English and where its locals aren’t exactly warm and hospitable. Despite Hong Kong being the first country that I’ve been to outside the Philippines, I’m still a little scared by the not-so-warm treatment I’ve received from a few of its residents.
Perhaps I’ve been to the accustomed to the hospitality of Filipinos and the expat community (predominantly Caucasians) and well, generally speaking, Filipinos are known for tremendous hospitality. I’m used to having warm smiles everywhere, easy conversations even if they don’t speak English too well, but Filipinos try. Sometimes though they try too hard, I’d rather have effort with smiles rather than cold stares.
Then again, travel changes us, right? I went to Hong Kong, for the second time, without bias, but I was still a bit wary. I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone to avoid adding another scary chapter to my Hong Kong misadventures.
It was a ‘bad decisions’ Monday that day. I should have just went to The Coffee Academics and I could have saved probably around $15 HKD or less. I’d have been able to write well and maybe enjoy the meal. Anyway, I’ve learned a lot today. I think the lifestyle I need here is way too expensive for me. Bali and my country are definitely the top choices for working spaces with great coffee and a great view.
Despite my current predicament. Ordering the wrong coffee by mistake. Going to two coffee shops that didn’t have whole day free wifi. This is still better than being stuck in my condo. At least now, I know what I prefer, and I can be a little more selective. I know what fuels my productivity and what doesn’t.
What I don’t understand about myself right now, I feel like I’m questioning my worth here or how I’d be beautiful in the eyes of another culture which bases its entire standards of beauty on a whole different level. Definitely, Hong Kong isn’t that too westernized, and I find that a good thing. Still, I believe I haven’t fully adjusted yet to the country. I know I have to be positive and look at the blessings instead of the shortcomings.
I remember when I went out of our flat’s elevator, and there was a middle-aged lady outside? I smiled, which is my willful default, and she also smiled back—not a common thing here in Hong Kong. What was surprising that the whole trip, there was not a person in Hong Kong that was mean to my friends or me during our stay. I remembered telling myself to be sunshine there, but to my surprise, it was the people there that became sunshine for me.
Hong Kong, you changed my mind and heart about you, and I’ll definitely come back again.
