It's day one in Hong Kong, and what a day it has been. First item on the schedule was to unpack and clear what little space I have in my "home" for the next two months: a studio unit at The V right in the heart of Causeway Bay. And yes, I put "home" in quotation marks because it is barely the size of my bedroom in Beijing. The bed is next to the kitchen which is next to the closet which is next to the bathroom -- all these packed in a tiny little box of a room over looking a busy road right down the street from Sogo department store. Times Square is also only a 5-minute walk; that is, if you do not pause to enter a shop or buy something along the way, which is a virtual impossibility.
My room is not small; it is tiny. And for a homebody like me, I found the prospect of living here for the next couple of months quite daunting. I enjoy big spaces; a place I can call my own, where I can move around, hence the size of my previous apartments in Beijing. So as I lay on my bed contemplating these thoughts, I suddenly felt claustrophobic. I found it hard to breath and felt like I was having a panic attack. I couldn't even walk to clear my head, because three steps from the bed is the door, right outside is a narrow hall, and right downstairs was a crowded street, a normal occurrence for Hong Kong. So I laid there, closed my eyes, took a few deep breaths and tried to calm myself (thanks Jaim for talking me through that!).
I had to step out, and so I found myself headed towards Times Square. I'll pick up some necessities from the supermarket, I thought to myself. As I passed the shops along the way, I started to relax. I realized I'm just going to have to get used to the fast pace of this city. I guess this is coming as a shock to me because of the relative laid-back environment that I came from. Life in Beijing seemed five times slower than here, and so I just need to step it up.
I lost myself in the crowd, all the stuff on display, the sights and smells of street foods, all the things on sale. I soon forgot my anxiety and found myself settling a little, realizing how and why shopping has become a way of life not only for those who visit this city, but even those who live here. I know this will be controversial but let me say it: shopping is therapeutic. When you buy something -- there is that moment where 'that thing you wanted' turns into 'that thing you own', and it gives you a feeling of control. And at a time when I was feeling like a fish out of water, that feeling of control was gold.
I know fully well that this is not sustainable. I can't go on a shopping spree every time I feel uncomfortable or stressed; specially not while I'm here, as you can buy anything and everything in Hong Kong, and oftentimes it will be a steal, and that's how you justify it. But let's just say that today, as my Tita Cynthia put it, shopping was a 'quick fix for my boo-hoos.'
Papa was also quick to pull me back to reality. As soon as I stepped back into my room, my mobile phone was ringing and Papa's words were, "O, magdahan-dahan ka. Wag masyado gumastos." I swear, that guy is psychic. Either that, or he knows me too well.
But now it's time to get ready for the actual reason I'm here. Tomorrow will be my first day working in the Hong Kong office. I just know it's going to be different - a good kind of different. Maybe tougher and more challenging, but that's how we grow, right? So I'm going to try to get to bed early, prepare myself both mentally and physically for the start of a new chapter.
A day after arriving, I have a feeling mine will be a gradual transition into the beat of this new city. Hong Kong's slogan is "Live it, love it!" -- I have yet to go through the first part, but I am sure the last part will come, all in due time.
And in the meantime, I've got my purchases to cheer me up. :)
