Hong Kong

Everyone's been asking me "how was your trip?" and I've felt pressure to reply with an enthusiastic "Great!" But the fact is, Hong Kong isn't my type of city. Despite it's glorious food, towering skyscrappers, plentiful shopping and the most efficient public transportation system I've experienced, I don't love Hong Kong. I don't love it like I love San Francisco or New York. Those cities make me feel alive. Hong Kong, on the otherhand, makes me feel uncomfortable. It's not because of the overpowering heat and humidity, it's its emphahsis on appearances, wealth and commerce. It's just so...well, superficial.

My good friend Connie, who has lived in Hong Kong for a year now, put it best: "Canadian malls have The Gap and Old Navy. Hong Kong malls have Prada and Gucci." I prefer vintage shopping and even though Con's always had expensive tastes, she admits life on the island has made her more superficial. She just cares more about how she looks now, which isn't that bad.

Having said all of the above, I do respect Hong Kong very much. As I wrote in my travel blog, my roots are in Hong Kong. My parents and their parents grew up there. It's a land with a fascinating history, one that explains why it's a city built on those superficialities. It's also a city where there's a lot of opportunity for a university graduate (x2), native English and Cantonese speaker like me. So, despite our differences, I'm going back to Hong Kong next month. I've taken a three-month internship at The Standard starting mid-July. I was skeptical at first since I had JUST returned from Hong Kong. But the truth is, there isn't much here in Canada for new journalism grads like me. I'm 24 and I can't afford to do another non-paying internship. So here I go...