I’ve wanted to write this article for a long time. Next month will mark the third anniversary of my arrival in France, and my memories of Hong Kong are inevitably fading, even though I lived there for seven years. So, before I forget, I want to record my love and gratitude for Hong Kong.
Naval once said that some of the most important things in life are choosing where to live, what work to do, and whom to be with. These choices have a profound influence on us and ultimately shape who we are.
Hong Kong’s beauty lies in its unique blend of East and West. You can see this in a classic Hong Kong-style breakfast: toast, scrambled eggs with ham, satay beef noodles, and a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea. Straddling East and West means being able to move between different cultures. If you want a Chinese breakfast, you can go for yum cha and dim sum; if you prefer something Western, you can head to Central or Sheung Wan for brunch.
Hong Kong’s beauty also lies in how compact yet refined it is. In just a few dozen minutes, you can travel from Causeway Bay to Shek O Beach or go hiking on Lion Rock. From the city to the countryside and even the surrounding outlying islands, you can get there in an hour at the fastest.
But Hong Kong gave me far more than that. There, I became fluent in Cantonese and English, learned to swim and defend myself, and earned fitness instructor and first-aid certificates through evening classes. I was also baptized and became a Christian. More importantly, my experience of living and working in this city made me an open-minded and accepting person.
I remember that during my first two years there, everything felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Having grown accustomed to Sichuan’s delicious food, I found Cantonese cuisine bland and tasteless. But time changed everything. Gradually, I learned to appreciate and fell in love with the way Cantonese cuisine preserves the natural flavors of its ingredients. Now, in France, I often miss Hong Kong’s food. Perhaps it is not because the food itself is exceptionally delicious, but because it carries my own unique memories of the city. It is how I find myself, because without these memories, I would cease to exist.
I absorbed Hong Kong’s “Lion Rock spirit” into my very being. When I left, I was resilient and hardworking, simple and cheerful, and direct in the way I spoke. I want to preserve these qualities, no matter how long I am away from Hong Kong.
Because I know it will always be my second home.