1st time living alone

Oh yeah, living by yourself.

This is a great challenge and something different to encounter moving overseas, for the following reasons....

- what if someone attacks me at night???  

- what if I want to watch Dexter with a roommate???

- what if I can't finish all my food???

- who's going to bake goods now?

- how do I keep track of all these bills stuff???

- what if I fell off my balcony???

So many what ifs and hows.  Here's what I learned so far...

Fact #1.  I live by myself.  Okay.  And God's looking out for me.  Sweet.  

Fact #2  I have Aki.  Thank the Lord.

Fact #3  I'm learning so much about bills/home responsibilities.

Fact #4  I can finally do crazy things knowing I won't be walked-in by a roommate.  (ingrid dance party!)

Fact #5  I need to learn how to bake sooner or later... so let's start with burning a lot of cookies.

Fact #6  I am surrounded by glorious mountains.  Love.  it.  

Ma On Shan (Horse Back mountain)

the new pad

I'm currently living in a 'village house' with a commute drive to work (20-30 mins depending on traffic)

I have three rooms, a bathroom, small kitchen, a balcony, and a rooftop.

missing my bathtub....

lovin' the gas stove :)

living room...

In general, I have a lot of space for one person... so if you ever drop by HK, let me know!

;)

missing my pals and gals in the states!!!  

First Impressions

Although it is refreshing not being in the midwest anymore, Hong Kong has some neat characteristics.

I am finding it difficult being in crowds...every day.

Traveling time...I spend a lot of time just waiting for the public transportation.  As small as HK is, waiting time is quite the challenge.

Patience...there is none.  I've been cut in front of during lines at stores, etc.  Or I get glares if I take an extra second searching for a coin in my purse.  There's pretty much zero tolerance if you're 'in the way'.

Buying things is easy, but carrying it home is hard (mostly walking).

Gossip is very mainstreamed.

There are weight-loss commercials every where.

Food is reasonably priced, diverse, and delicious.

Humidity creates challenges such as: not being able to hang up anything made of paper unless you laminate it, it rains a lot therefore my laundry schedule is ALWAYS messed up (I wash, it rains, I wash again, it rains again), things don't dry instantly, and I can't hang dry inside because it makes the house smell REALLY bad.

Air con inside malls and transportation tend to so cold that people need jackets in the summer.

living in HK...is a fun challenge.  :)

Adjustments (thank you Daddy)

Let me start by saying my dad has helped me the most in my move to HK.  I don't think this international move would've gone this smoothly if it was not for my father.  He helped me set up my apartment flat, car, directions, home goods, and much much more.  I love my dad.   :)


It doesn't matter if I was born in Hong Kong, come back almost every other year, and can speak Cantonese...none of it matters until you actually live here...

by yourself...
with three dogs...

Fun facts thusfar

1.  Do not be a nice and safe driver.  Smart and attitude is the way to go.
2.  Have cash with you at all times.
3.  Use a larger magazine to kill cockroaches, because if you miss it, you won't get a second chance.
4.  Be on call for random family gatherings.
5.  It gets super bright at 5am.  (fantastic because I will no longer be a vampire teacher)


New place (I'm in the new territories, so much more 'country' than the downtown HK area)

1.  It's huge.  Apparently it's my family's 'vacational suite'. 
2.  Everything I have is inherited from my grandma's old home, aka, random stuff.
3.  LOVE my gas stove.
4.  No bath.  sad face.
5.  No oven, no dryer, or dish washer.
6.  I have an automatic water boiler and a large rice cooker!  (sounds super Asian, I know...)



Things accomplished on the first day

1.  Bank account created
2.  Signed renting flat lease
3.  Created new phone account (4G, woah.)
4.  Signed for home internet
5.  Purchased license plate