As days go by, I find...

[rii namuras]

[color="Red"](...That I'm moving to Hong Kong.)

(Yes, you heard me right. My dad (he works at a bank) is getting transfered, and so we're moving to Hong Kong for two to three years. I'm personally completely excited (I'M MOVING TO ASIA YEAH?), mostly because I'm the sort that has to re-arrange my desk every few weeks because I'm sick of it looking the same, and I'm thrilled to be finally escaping Florida after nine years.)

(I'll be posting here just as much as I normally do (just at odd hours). I've also started a LiveJournal to write down news and any experiences I have while I'm there.)

(As for the timetable - I'm going after this semester at Community College ends (I'm dual enrolled), which is December 10. We're definitely going before January 1 (for tax benefit reasons), so sometime between the 10th and the 29th.)[/color]

[Puguni]

I don't know how much experience you have with moving around, but it'll be a hugely different experience, things you'll be expecting and things you never could.

Anyway, I hope you learn a lot. Heck, it'll make great college essay material.

[LadyRushia]

I lived in China for two months over the summer(it wasn't Hong Kong, but still) and yeah, things will be different. My advice is not to think about what it'll be like. You'll form expectations that will more than likely not be met and the culture shock will be greater.

Other than that have fun and learn some Chinese, even though they speak English over there ^_^

[rii namuras]

[color="Red"](I love moving, though I've only done it once. Like I said, I'm the type that needs to have my surroundings constantly changing, and the more drastic the better.)

(I've never gotten the point of culture shock - but maybe I'm so widely read that I've already figured out how vastly different people are. ::shrug:: )

(And yeah, I was thinking of college stuff too. XD )[/color]

[Mave]

Well, I wish you the best in this move. I haven't been to HK personally but this is what I've heard:

1) Lifestyle can be fast paced
2) High and crowded population (HK is a small island after all) - your living space should be significantly smaller unless your company arranged for a nice luxurious apartment or something
3) Language is dominantly Cantonese, which I can speak a little. Knowing some Mandarin helps. I can't remember if any CAA members know Cantonese....maybe Aka-chan?
4) There's all sorts of foods there! I generally stay clear of things like "Phoenix Claw" (chicken feet), cow's stomach and pig intestine because I don't like the idea of those as food but that's just me. Always ask what you're eating unless you know how to read Chinese characters. Hahaha

There are a few cultural things about Asia that are spearheaded by the Hong Kong ppl but I think you should find that out for yourself. The Asia continent is fascinating as a whole. Happy Moving.....

[Warrior4Christ]

Oh, that's rather awesome! I hope you enjoy it! There should be enough English there to get by (I assume..).

[Sammy Boy]

I hope you find your time there not too bad.

Some suggestions:

1) Buy an Octopus card (i.e. "Baht Daht Tung") as soon as you can, it will get you onto most forms of public transport (subway, trains, buses, and I think even some taxis). It also allows you to buy things from 7-Eleven stores over there.

2) Note that going from Kowloon peninsula onto Hong Kong island proper and vice versa will cost you more via subway as you're using a tunnel. If you're not rushed try a bus instead to save a bit of cash.

3) Learn to push-in when catching the subway (MTR) or trains, as most people do not line up and you'd never get a spot if you lined up.

4) Avoid side street and night time food stalls. It takes a strong stomach (i.e. a high level immune system) to eat the kinds of food they serve without getting sick.

5) English CDs cost more, being an import item. Mong Kok has a bunch of cheap CD stores, look around.

6) There is a computer hardware / software centre in Sham Shui Po. I'm told the pirated software trade has been cleaned up now, but it may still be a good idea to refrain from taking photographs whilst in the centre. People may think you're from Customs and proceed to beat you up (I am not making this up).

7) If going home late, mini-bus services run till around 3am roughly. Just be mentally prepared as they are driven by people who like to speed...

I can help with Cantonese questions (send me a PM), but Hong Kong slang always changes so I'm behind the times for that aspect.

All the best.

[rii namuras]

[color="Red"](Wow! Thanks everyone, it's nice to have some people somewhat familiar with where we're going.)

(Because we're part of an expact package, we get a ton of stuff covered - money for private schools, apartments, and what not. My Dad's going to be working mainly in the New Territories, I believe, and even so my Mom doesn't want to live on the island itself. I think the current place we're looking at is near the New Territories/China border.)

(Another thing we get is language lessons - which I think is going to be too slow for my tastes, being the obsessive I-refuse-to-go-to-another-country-and-not-know-the-language-at-least-passably type. So I will most certainly be taking up independent study, and would be glad to take you up on that offer, Magnus.)[/color]