A Hong Kong Second.

Living at the edge of your comfort zone

Eight months ago, I packed up my belongings in three suitcases and decided to move to Hong Kong. The move was spurred by a number of factors – an urge to understand how to be comfortable in my discomfort, the opportunity to change my frame of mind and ultimately the drive to embrace my fears and the very real potential of failure. So, when I decide to move to Hong Kong, a city, I would argue is one of the most commercially and culturally nuanced in the modern world, I will soon find out that there is truth behind the statement that a New York minute is like a Hong Kong second. As I set out on this journey, I am continually reminded that this feeling is what people mean when they refer to living outside of your comfort zone. This decision, this journey doesn’t feel like an epic coming of age novel, or wonderful realization at the end of a self help book but instead, severely uncomfortable for the introvert in me. The discomfort, I’m also told, is the “best” part (I can’t help but wonder who came up with this philosophy).

The objective part of me recognizes that from a professional standpoint, the opportunity to help work with companies to expand their digital and social media health in the North Asia region is fascinating and important. It’s not news that Asia is the centre of much international focus with a growing public sector and rapid population shift. These dynamics oppose the notion that Asia is the future, but rather, that the opportunity in the region, is now. In the Western world, I don’t know that we’ve ever really made the emotional or the cultural leap away from placing Europe and America at the center of our consciousness. That’s what makes it a little more difficult for those advocating greater cultural awareness of Asia and one of the reasons this move proves so intriguing and strikingly complex for me.

There is no city in the world like Hong Kong. In the sixteen years since Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule, for the most part the city is still a colourful, chaotic, interesting and juxtaposed place to live. This region is the very definition of transient, fast and complex, with people from all over the world relocating to uncover the promise of the “next level” of commerce. Many intend to stay for only a year or two but often pass the six or seven year mark before they know it, wondering where the time went and even more perplexing, where they can go next to make an impact. The region is without question going through such rapid change, and an area, that, ten years from now will be unrecognizable to us all. For better or worse, one is never truly alone in what has become one of the most densely populated cities in the world and this is all the more apparent in a city where typical gridlines don’t exist for easy navigation. Hong Kong truly is the definition of East meets West and a place where a fighting entrepreneurial spirit from hopeful business owners is rampant due to the relative ease of starting a venture. This contrast, between independent business owners and the corporate elite creates an interesting dynamic in a city attempting to further define its social and cultural identity.

Business culture in Hong Kong is without question unlike anything I’m used to in North America. There are the obvious differences, like language, but more specifically, it’s the subtle differences that play at the undercurrent of one’s consciousness. As a relatively hierarchical society, it’s expected that the highest respect is shown towards the most senior people, with all in attendance of a meeting addressing the most senior individual first when in a group. Similarly, I don’t think I ever really used my business cards back home. Unless you count the fact that I often found them crumpled at the bottom of my handbag or used them to jot down a quick thought. Here, in Asia, business cards are a way of life. They are a symbol of respect and the way you approach and use them is an indicator of your respect for the individual whom you are meeting. In essence, your business card is a paper representation of you. Hong Kong business culture and etiquette is heavily influenced by traditional Chinese culture and protocol – many expats find it incredibly fast paced, efficient and similar to practice in China in terms of building relationships of trust and understanding.

Life has its challenges, no matter where in the world you are. However, being far from home can make those challenges even more difficult. Moving to a new region with a distinctly different lifestyle certainly isn’t all about glamorous international travel and fitting in with the locals. There is a sense of being caught between two worlds and this is a prevalent feeling amongst the newly displaced individuals I have met during my time in Hong Kong. The Tao philosophy which has had a substantial influence on Chinese culture asserts that one must place their will in harmony with the natural universe. I do believe that moving to a new country is all about learning and listening and ultimately, by embracing the challenges that come with it, you gain far more than you lose. Afterall, there really is something to be said for resisting the urge to stand still even in the midst of a Hong Kong second.