I moved to Hong Kong

Initially, my husband and I wanted to move to the USA or Canada. But since we consider these countries for the long term, we decided to first live somewhere in an unusual place for life experience. Over the past two years, we managed to "stay local" in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Although both places are formally relate to China, and the distance between them is only 17 km, we got the impressions of different, and to be accurate, contrast.

To move, my husband has filed a relapse within the company in which he worked. From the moment of filing an application in the Minsk office before our legs stepped on Terra Incognita, 5 months passed. It’s funny that the most difficult in preparing documents was filling out a medical form in English – problems arose in the state clinic. In private procedure, it goes easier and quickly.

In the south of continental China, we lived about a year. Today, many people go to China by teachers, models, hostesses or to establish a partnership in a trading business. Shenzhen is a city that has become a modern megapolis in just 30 years. High-tech park is actively developed here, many large IT companies in Shenzhen have offices. Life experience in continental China was interesting and exotic, but all that time I had a feeling that my life stands on a pause. Shenzhen was not my city at least because he has no old architecture, historical sites and traditional atmosphere due to its short history. At the same time, the young city was built with his head: here is a very convenient infrastructure. If life in Shenzhen was an interesting adventure with a challenge to himself in terms of life and culture, then the life of the expature is 17 km south, rather, about prospects, development and comfort in good sense. In Hong Kong, we are rocked already from Shenzhen office.

Advantages and disadvantages

Hong Kong has actively developed economically, and with the arrival of communists to China, many local companies preferred their head offices in Hong Kong. The term of the lease agreement ended, and today Hong Kong has been providing the status of a special administrative area as part of the PRC. Whether this prodigal son returned to parents with tears of happiness, judging by the mood of local residents, not to say. All the Hong Kongs, with whom I spoke on this topic, do not want to attach yourself to China. In terms of culture (southern Chinese, in order not to slow down the energy of qi, they can do not care on the street or make a belch at the table), political views (in Hong Kong with a developed banking The sphere is the appropriate attitude towards communism) or trite life (on the etiquette of the Hong Kongs closer to the British, which makes them more understandable for us).

The only thing in Hong Kong was difficult to get used to, are prices, especially for services. Cost of haircuts, fixing shoes or shifts of the door lock at times higher than in neighboring cities of China. Also someone can be difficult to live in the subtropical climate – in summer, the temperature is about 30 degrees with an average humidity of 80% (the constant effect of the bathhouse).

The greatest difficulty when moving for me was the lack of family and friends near. At first I will bundle, then began to go to yoga, in the gym, found a job, and life slowly got up to his rails. Everyone who found himself in a similar situation, I advise you to enter the local Facebook group, put yourself app MEETUP, and I still recommend VINA. There are many guys around, who also moved and want to communicate, – you just need to be open to this world 🙂

People. Most of the Hong Kongs are very pleasant in communication. As in many major Asian cities, they are workaholics, Money-Makers and absolutely surfed on career and success. In Hong Kong also an incredible expata society. All very active and open.

Transport. In Hong Kong, you can move under and water, earth and air. There are two-story trams, buses and even ferries. Two floors in a 7 million city – simple necessity. Ferries here are also the need for rapid movement between the islands. For example, we live on the so-called Outlying Island, and the road to the center takes only 25 minutes. All transport comes on time and on schedule. Machine is possible, but quite expensive and placed plus left-hand movement. In some residential areas, personal transport is prohibited (Discovery Bay, Ma Wan, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island), but you can rent golf karas (just over 1K USD per month). These areas are very calm, here you prefer to settle families with children.

Variety of leisure. This is my favorite. Small in the territory of Hong Kong some kind of specially combines the skyscrapers, parks, beaches, mountains and wastelands. Sometimes on weekends we go to the fishing village Tai O – this is a real rural non-delivery China, sometimes we spend time in the center (cinema, shopping, some work affairs), sometimes we get on the beaches, which in Hong Kong have a lot, – 20 minutes from the center, And as if you went to this journey. By the way, many local packs of suitcases and instead of the airport go to the hotel somewhere in a quiet place. Hong Kong – Highland Territory, Hyking is very developed here (hiking on a special route for rough terrain). A few trail begins with us right behind the house.

Restaurants. In Hong Kong, you can find absolutely any kitchen – from Russian to Scandinavian. Also here 79 restaurants with Mishleni Stars. The Mammy Pancake Kiosk with Hong Kong Mammy Pancake Kiosk, Local Mammy Pancake Kiosk, Local Laptop Doggie’s Noodle or Delicious Chinese Soups and Dumpling AH CHUN SHANDONG DUMPLING. As a plus, you can mark many restaurants and bars on the roofs of high buildings with a stunning view, such as Wooloomooloo or Sevva.

Children. In the Transport Point, I mentioned areas free from personal transport, which makes them cleaner – and this is an important moment of life in the Asian metropolis. By districts, the actual level of pollution can be checked in the HK AIR application. Also in Hong Kong, imported baby food is sold everywhere (in continental China find it difficult). Almost every family with children there is a helper – in Hong Kong, the prices of nanny / house assistants are very democratic relative to local wages.

About work

We have lived in Hong Kong for a year, I work in an international medical company specializing in stem cells, and my husband works in IT. Plans to stay here at least for a year.

By education I am a teacher of Spanish and English and literature. This, as you understand, far from the IT or financial sphere in demand here. I tried to look for work through the Indeed and Monster sites, as well as through Facebook Group. FB groups in this place the most lively and efficient. At first, only translations came across, then I accidentally met a man who was looking for an employee in the team. In my experience, the most effective way is to just meet people. In the same FB you can find information about Networking meetings.

I like how in Hong Kong decided the question with pensions. You must deduct 5% of your salary to the MPF Special Fund, plus from above 5% pay your employer. At the same time, this money can you invest.