Hong Kong Heat...

I can't believe how hot hong kong can get. Growing up in Texas I definitely am used to heat and humidity but hong kong heat is for some reason in it's own special category.  Maybe I am just used to being inside during most of the heat waves of Texas and in hong kong I have to make it on foot everywhere, but the fact that I feel like I need to shower every hour definitely is an experience I could live without.

I don't know how else to describe it other than that it's like stepping in one of those dry saunas you would find at the gym. Except the smells of hong kong are so unique combined with the heat.. Ya it's like stepping in your car in a Texas summer with 3 day old panda express in your backseat..  Funny thing is I am getting used to the smells... Except for stinky tofu (seriously thats what it's called)  cause that smells like microwaved cat food. I'm all down for trying new foods but I'm going to leave that one to my cat back in Texas.

expat

The life of an expat. Being an expat is probably been the most growing experience I've ever had to face. Its not like something as simple as going off to college, which was hard at the time. Its way more complicated than that... its bigger than that... College, yes, was a huge step. Going from a small pond to a larger one not really knowing anyone, but it was still America. I went from Texas to California...

Being an expat is like your freshman year of college on steroids. You get thrown from a small pond (Dallas, Texas) to a huge one (Seoul, Hong Kong) where you know almost no one, and in most cases they don't even speak English. The culture is completely different, the foods are unique and sometimes odd, and the smells and sights differ every step you take. In my case, you spend most of your days outside talking to complete strangers and many times I am by myself wandering around the city.

I'm not sure how you would enjoy it... I figure since several different people read my blog I won't suggest you would hate it, or enjoy it. I do know that either way, it will change you. Just like your freshman college experience causes you to maturely grow so does an expat life. Its not something as simple as saying you grow because "mommy" & "daddy" aren't there for you. Its more saying that YOU have to be there for YOURSELF. Your basic survival of a new country depends on how well you can adapt.

I know many people who may read this will think to themselves that being an Expat is too scary or not something they would want, but you have to think about this... from when you started college to when you ended how much of a change ended up happening to you? I'm not talking about delayed growth spurts or clothing styles... but maturity-wise... what's different.

The differences you see in yourself, imagine that, on a larger scale.

Now i'm not saying that I'm super mature. Nor am I saying that I am a different person. I've only been here for 4 months, and for those that really know me.. I never really do grow up. What I am saying is that the experience of a lifetime is sometimes taking those steps out of your comfort zone and doing something that you never thought you would do. Only way you can grow is being forced to change.

apologize

Sorry for the non-posts

Hey to my readers... I know its been a couple of weeks. I have been super busy with work. I'm working on a new blog so I'll have something posted by tomorrow.

I hope everyone is doing great!

Its not a small world.. after all....

Today... I went to the Dragonboat Carnival in TST (Tsim Sha Tsui). I honestly don't understand the fun aspect of watching people race in a small boat to the beat of a drum. Just a couple of days ago the Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA championship. Now that to me is excitement. Alot more skill is involved in basketball then there is in dragonboat races. Yet, this is the 2nd dragonboat race I've attended and people fill the stands just to watch this.

My theory behind this is that because there is no significant sport besides soccer in Hong Kong that everyone turns out for these boat races. Now there are other sports that people play.... basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis... but none of these except soccer are huge sporting events in which everyone attends. I guess I just don't understand the excitement of watching these races. Maybe I'm just being ignorant.

At the races I met a new friend who was from France, its very enlightening meeting new people from all over the world. It helps put things into perspective.. So many times growing up in America I tend to think of America as the only place there is. I thought the world was backwards and different. After living in Korea & Hong Kong... I've come to realize that its America who are backwards and different. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying, I love America. Its my home, but truth be told we Americans live a very backwards and sheltered life. Here in Hong Kong many people are from other countries or finish school in other countries... in America we stay very close to our home towns and rarely leave the state except for vacations.

I find it amazing how little I really knew of the world. Even though I traveled all over the world back when I worked at a church I still find what I thought I knew a small drop in the bucket of what there really is. I guess what I'm trying to say is that for those who think they know the world and think they know what's out there.. until you venture out and see it, experience it, live it... you really dont know. Take a risk... see what's out there... it could change your life.

The tortoise vs the hare

When I think of big cities I think New York city... I think LA... The hustle and bustle of the bigness of the city. The people acting like an organism that functions at a high rate of speed with everyone in a hurry.... Running... Pushing... Always acting like they are late to the biggest meeting of their lives.

I arrive in Hong Kong on April 20th... And I have to admit beyond a shadow of a doubt... That is not the case here amongst the locals. As soon as I step out of my apartment my goal is to get to Point B from Point A as fast as humanly possible without having to actually run. Yet as soon as I step out of my apartment building I'm met by road blocks... And not objects and cars but by people who don't (evidently) have any particular place to be... Just walking.... Slowly walking... Very slowly walking to get to wherever they may need to go. Its insane! I don't get how a city of 7 mil people can run one of the largest cities in the world at the pace they go at. For those of you who come from Texas you know that even Texas in it's more chill laid back lifestyle still moves at a good clip...

The oddest part is that it works here... There are LV stores on every corner, Hugo boss in every mall, Armani in every major district, and money is thrown around as if it were monopoly cash. "$20k to buy that? k here ya go.."

So when it comes down to it...maybe slow and steady does win the race... Or maybe I just need to stop and look around... Maybe I'm the one missing something.

Well gotta go....

phobia

As I write this post I want to remind those of you who read it that I do not at all think negatively towards Hong Kong, but this is definitely my experience while I've been here.

The last city I was in was Seoul, South Korea... and as I'm sure I didn't get to really see it. There were not huge bugs. I know people have told me that Seoul does get very humid during the July and August months, but I'm sure it'll be very comparable to Texas weather.

Hong Kong on the other hand has been nothing but humid and very very rainy weather which of course breeds... Cockroaches! I can't begin to describe to you my phobia I

have for these bugs. Its not something I'm necessarily proud of... nor is it something I try and let people know the first instance they meet me, but th

ey scare the crap out of me.

So I was walking down the alley ways to get back to my apartment, and on any given night I'll see from anywhere 2-3 cockroaches scurry around in the dark corners. Even though they might be a good 10 feet away I like them to be a good 15 to 20 feet away from me. As I walking down this alley way on this particular night. I see a huge cockroach in the middle of the road. First instinct is to freeze. Thinking to myself... If I don't move maybe it'll not see me and won't attack.... usually this works and it runs away towards a dark crevice. This particular night the cockroach moved only slightly away from me. So I weigh my options... strategize... and conclude that running and jumping over this bug is the best solution... so I do...

Five feet past this bug I walk briskly down the alley way when another cockroach lands on my hand.... Now I'm not a screamer, nor do I panic in situations like this... but that bug caused every child hood nightmare to surge to the top of my vocal chords and I screamed louder and faster than I could sling my hand around to knock it off. Even as I type this blog I get the chills thinking about it.

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD A COCKROACH LAND ON ME OF ALL PEOPLE!!!!

I know for a fact I'll run into another one before I leave Hong Kong, in fact, I had one run at me last night, but seriously... I have to be in the country that is infested with my biggest phobia... lets place me on stage with millions of people to watch and have me sing a solo in a closed dark box while we are at it.

This past weekend.... budgets can only be for those who can see the future...

Ever feel like no matter how much more you may get paid, or how many expenses you cut from your budget you still never seem to have any money in your account? That's exactly what this week was like. I'll get back to this opener paragraph in a bit...

Starting off... on Tuesday my Regional Manager from Japan came to Hong Kong to check in on the A&F team out here. I wasn't sure what to expect as I have had several RM's from A&F so far and each were very different in how they acted and how they managed us. I honestly thought she was pretty cool, and definitely was alot of fun to talk to any be around during the past few days. I wont get into details of what we did and where we went but basically we showed her around all of the major HK spots that we found were the busiest and coolest areas.

So that basically was what happened Tuesday through Thursday. Thursday I went to the Lane Crawford (for those of you who don't know what this is its kinda like a Nordstrom) Dinner party. This was actually alot of fun and I met several really cool people.

That's basically the most of what happened on the work side of things... so back to the beginning paragraph...on the personal side of my life... My computer crashed earlier last week. This was really a bummer mainly because I had to have a huge project for my regional to be done by Wednesday. I ended up working on it all from my iPad (whoever thought that the ipad was a waste of money can bite me) which took alot longer but I got the work done that I needed to get done.

So after alot of thought and careful deliberation... I splurged and bought myself the macbookpro 15".... and haven't looked back since. Now for those of you who read my blog please reference back to the blog "Today So Far" and you'll see why me needing to buy a new computer may be a bad thing. On the subject I have found that the more money you throw down on items the better service you get in Hong Kong. This may seem like a "duh" statement, but I can't tell you the last time I was in a simple little store in HK and received great service...

I know I probably could have gotten a PC for half the price, but in all honesty can't bring myself to buying a PC ever again. I'm a mac guy and forever will be one... Yes, Steve Jobs does own my soul, but as long as I got a Mac, iphone, and ipad... I'll be happy :)