Reflecting on Change: A Love Letter to Hong Kong

The only thing we can truly count on in life is change. What feels normal today will inevitably shift tomorrow. 

For me,  the biggest change was my move to Hong Kong.

At 21, freshly graduated and  engulfed by a wave of anxious excitement. I couldn’t escape feeling somewhat like an imposter, taking  on a demanding job that exceeded my expectations. The uncertainty was unnerving.

What am I doing here? I don’t come from a background like those around me. Do I even deserve to be here?

Sure, I had moved across the country for university, but Hong Kong was different. It felt like stepping into a painting, the sounds, the smells, the food, the people. It was a sensory overload that felt both familiar and foreign, rich with culture and possibility. 

I had admired the city since I first arrived, but my nerves often overshadowed that appreciation. I was constantly worried about getting everything right and feeling overwhelmed by the newness of it all.

The moment I truly fell in love with Hong Kong was a simple outing to the beach. During my first week, I hiked with my co-workers in Sai Kung to Ham Tin Beach. Before that day, experiences as breathtaking as this felt fleeting - something you enjoy on holiday and dream about living out as a reality. The boat ride back, with the wind in our hair and waves crashing all around us.  I wish I could express that genuine feeling with words, but it feels impossible. I can only describe it as wonder wrapped in contentment.

Now, after a year of calling this vibrant city my home, I feel like I have come to understand a few important things. 

I often find myself gazing out at the skyline, dwelling on the fact that behind each light and tiny window, countless lives are unfolding. Each one holds a family, a story, a world filled with memories, just like mine. It’s a humbling realisation that makes me feel wonderfully small as if the weight of my own life is lightened by the vastness of it all. 

Something about the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront in particular makes me feel proud, and I know how strange that sounds. A few months ago I was with some local friends and we were taking in the skyline. I expressed how lucky I feel to have this view woven so simply into our daily lives. My friends found this quite endearing and admitted that it’s rare for them to feel this way; to them, the grandeur had become little more than a tourist attraction and a familiar backdrop. 

I’ve realised I have started to share that same feeling of normalcy among the extraordinary.

It was only when my friend from the UK visited, I had the chance to relive the Hong Kong magic like it was my first time. Together, we ate at local restaurants, sipped drinks at rooftop bars and spent a disgusting amount of money at Disney. We wandered through Mongkok night markets, losing ourselves in laughter, chatter, and the colourful displays all around us. We revisited the views that I was so fond of upon first my arrival, gazing out at the ocean of lights from the peak and absorbing the emerald scenery in Nan Lian Garden.

Reflecting on my journey thus far, I feel immensely grateful.

Living in a city as spectacular as Hong Kong is such a privilege, especially considering how far I have come from my hometown. Despite the personal challenges I face, every day is packed with small adventures. From the soaring skyscrapers and bustling markets to the incessant beeping of traffic lights and the violent honking of taxi drivers who are getting absolutely nowhere, Hong Kong has truly given so much to me. 

My final realisation is that I’m genuinely happy to be here, embracing each moment. Change has become my friend for life, and I look forward to where it will take me next.