How Hong Kong Changed Me

A Greek poem by Constantine P. Cavafy goes

“Κι αν δεν μπορείς να κάμεις την ζωή σου όπως την θέλεις,

τούτο προσπάθησε τουλάχιστον

όσο μπορείς: μην την εξευτελίζεις

μες στην πολλή συνάφεια του κόσμου,

μες στες πολλές κινήσεις κι ομιλίες.

Μην την εξευτελίζεις πιαίνοντάς την,

γυρίζοντας συχνά κ' εκθέτοντάς την,

στων σχέσεων και των συναναστροφών

την καθημερινήν ανοησία,

ως που να γίνει σα μιά ξένη φορτική.”

I always have trouble answering where I’m from. I’m originally from Greece and pretty much grew up there, but my family soon moved to the states while I ended up spending some years in England pursuing my bachelors. And now I’m a teacher in Hong Kong.

“How do you like Hong Kong?”

I love Hong Kong! I never knew such a place like Hong Kong ever existed, the modern skyscrapers are obviously there and so is the high city life standard. But what I truly fell in love with is the loud, welcoming and diverse Hong Kong culture. You find so many different communities of people from all sorts of backgrounds all over the city. The food, the people, the way everyone celebrates the smallest of things, it’s just beautiful.

One particular thing I like about Hong Kong is how it has changed me. I see a different version of myself here. Back in London if anyone would ask me out to try something new, my normal response would always be negative. But here, I feel so open to things, if anyone suggested going kayaking, my answer would be the complete opposite. “Kayaking? Yes, let’s go now, wherever I’m in!”

Right now, at this stage of life, I’m happy and content.

The Poem roughly

translates to:

“Even if you cannot live your life as you want to,

at least try this

as much as you can; do not humiliate it

into the affinity of the world

into the gestures and the conversations.

Do not humiliate it by bringing it,

by hanging around and exposing it,

to the daily stupidity

of the relations and the interactions,

til it becomes a strange and obtrusive one.”

I’m happy because I’ve been living my life my way and for myself. Every decision, every choice, and every step has been for myself. Sometimes we try so hard but do it for the wrong reasons. At this stage, I’ve been trying hard and it has been all for the right reason. Myself.