Sunday 9th August, 2009 Leaving Home & Arrival – Initial Observations.

2. Leaving Home & Arrival – Initial Observations.
• Sunday 9th August, 2009

Sitting in the departure lounge of Heathrow’s terminal 5 on the Sunday evening waiting for the 22;20 flight to Hong Kong to board was probably the moment when the full weight of what I had signed on to began to hit me. Up until that point, I had been largely in denial I guess, having spent a wonderful summer, celebrating exams and graduation with home friends and university friends, and spending lots of time with my family, aware constantly I was going, and chatting most days about what it would entail to interested friends and relatives, however not really believing or feeling what I was telling people. When one experience is so far removed from anything you have done before, I guess that is the only way you can approach it. Unable to draw upon past experiences, of either Asia, or travelling on my own or living abroad or teaching, I was taking a big step in to the unknown!
My final day at home consisted of a most perfect Sunday at home with my family, ending with me taking my beautiful chcoloate labrador, Finlay (photo) down to the river near our house, as a beautiful summers evening set in. The sky was beautifully blue, horses were galloping in the fields nearby and Finlay paddled around in the stream. It was so peaceful and the perfect memory to carry with me. However, too soon, I found myself at the check in desk, laden with bags that just scraped through on the weight allowance since I wanted to take as many clothes, and items and all my lovely good luck cards, books (Julia Murray, your incredible book is with me here!) and photos. After being not so brave saying goodbye to my mum and tim at the security gate, I pulled myself together and got myself to the gate, which is where it began to sink in, finally
As the gate began to fill up, I realised I was in the ever increasing minority, being English with scores of Hong Kong schoolchildren and families joining me, returning from holidays in London, laden with I love London memorabilia chattering away in the unfamiliar sounds of Cantonese. What struck me is how little exposure and experience I had of this part of the world and the shallowness of my life experiences was suddenly very clear. As the gate filled up and the general noise level rose, I began to realise that the next nine months would see me so far removed from those who I had grown up and spent so much of my time with. The presence of the surgical mask was obvious in a lot of the children who sported hello kitty versions etc of the surgical mask, (a suitable forewarning of how hygiene and cleanliness pervades all in Hong Kong!)

Nevertheless, my first experience with one of the children allayed most of my anxiety and was a fitting example of what was to come. As a group of children came over to find seats, I volunteered to move so all of them could sit by each other, and as I gathered up my (many!) bags, one of the boys picked up my heaviest bag and carried it across the aisle to my new seat. It was probably heavier than him, actually - I am anything but a light packer at the best of times and so going away for 9 months did not bring out my frugal side! His kind gesture to me, served to dispel some of my fears of being totally inexperienced and served as a necessary reminder of how my expectations will be challenged over the next nine months.

First Glimpse of Hong Kong.

After a surprisingly painless 11 and a half hour flight, I did feel a little sick as the flight drew to a close, my emotions came in waves of apprehension and dread but it was that nervous type of excitement that gives you butterflies in your stomach. My very first glimpse of Hong Kong was exciting. It was very cloudy and as we bobbed above and beneath the clouds, I saw the sea and coast line, very rural and beautiful and also islands, and then fishing boats and then you see the skyscrapers built up into the hills as you come in to land on one of the islands.

For fear of lowering the tone of this blog, I want to share with you, a life lesson from Hannah Montana the movie, yes you read it right. Movies like this, as many of you well though, are very much loved by me! However cheesy it may seem, I have to share it because I loved it! I have altered the words so it can be read as more of a poem (!) (for those of you unacquainted with the film, it’s one of Hannah Montana’s songs!)

There’s always going to be another mountain,
I’m always going to want to make it move,
There’s always going to be an uphill battle,
Sometimes I’m going to have to lose,
It’s not about how fast I get there,
It’s not about what’s waiting on the other side,
It’s the climb.