Job Discussion Forums

[Ryks]

So it seems I will be moving to HK for my first job as an ESL teacher. Being a newbie and all, I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on living in HK?

I could research this but I prefer reading a person's perspective.

What upsides and downsides are there as a foreigner in HK?

What leisure activities are there? This includes nightlife, sport, etc

Is it expensive to travel to places like India, South Korea and Japan?

I have a lot more questions, but for now those come to mind!

Would really appreciated any help you guys can give a newbie like me

[sistercream]

So it seems I will be moving to HK for my first job as an ESL teacher. Being a newbie and all, I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on living in HK?
First up, expat experience of living in HK is like the story of the blind men touching different parts of the elephant ... everyone really has touched one little part of the beast, but many are convinced that that they alone understand its true nature. The fact is, none of us does, and even if you get 100+ replies to this thread, your own experience will be different again.
I'm as atypical as anyone else ... for different kinds of atypical, you might also want to check out a local expat website like http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/88/

I could research this but I prefer reading a person's perspective.

What upsides and downsides are there as a foreigner in HK?

Depends where you come from, and what kind of job you have.
Common negatives for foreigners:
Accommodation can be insanely expensive, and many people struggle with living in small flats (as in any large, first world city, these can be mitigated by accepting a longer commute if you work downtown).
Climate - tropical hot and humid most of the year, and a bit less humid and badly polluted for the rest.
Crowds. Serious CROWDS.
If you want to continue eating the way you did in your home country, it will be expensive (probably unsustainable on language centre salaries).
Prices in expat-oriented bars and nightclubs.
Cultural differences, from meat-for-chopsticks (complete with bits of bone) to the sound of Cantonese, to utterly different concepts of "good manners."
Positives:
Personal safety. This is a city of >7 million, and there isn't a single "no go" street or neighbourhood at any time of day or night.
Public transport - so much of it, going to so many places, so often, and so economically, and see safety bit above.
The public service. Does what it says on the packet, without being bribed, in the time frame it promises, and nearly always civilly if not in gushing customer-service style.
Low taxes.
Shopping & banking hours. Lots of them.
The public health system, or if you want to beat the crowds, there are plenty of private options; medical professionals are trained to first world standards.
Other public facilities - parks & gardens, beaches, libraries, hiking trails, museums, etc.
Ease of getting out of the crazy-crowded built up parts of the region - if you look at a satellite map of the whole of HK SAR, you might be surprised to see just how much is NOT built up.

What leisure activities are there? This includes nightlife, sport, etc
Water sports are not well developed here, there's little in the way of extreme sports, and not the air space for flying small planes or parachuting, but just about everything else from cross-stitching to rock climbing. Some expats complain about the lack of western concerts and shows - although there are some - but as more than 90% of the population is Chinese, what were they expecting?

Is it expensive to travel to places like India, South Korea and Japan?
Check fares on sites like travelzen, and google asian regional low cost carriers as well.

I have a lot more questions, but for now those come to mind!

Would really appreciated any help you guys can give a newbie like me [/quote]