Week 1 in Hong Kong...settling in

After attending a lovely Saturday, Sept 4th wedding banquet in Toronto, hours later I was with my parents, sisters, niece and husband Stephen saying good-bye at Toronto airport. I already was not feeling well from too much food the day prior...

The Toronto airport food counter was really really slow at 8am Sunday Sept 5th!  I then headed to the lounge to grab a drink and beg for a first-class upgrade seat (no luck!).  After boarding, I was SO LUCKY to get an aisle seat and MORE LUCKY because the middle seat next to me remained EMPTY for the 15 hour journey.  Didn't sleep much but otherwise a fine flight.

Upon landing in Hong Kong, I proceeded to Immigration, this time with a work permit.  Long line... but as usual in HK, very efficient government employees processed me swiftly, and even advised me how to book a HKID card appointment online.  Again, the HKIA airport is the most efficient in the world.  I took a quick bathroom break only to find my 3 huge luggage bags on the carousel waiting for me. ( For my Toronto friends who land at YYZ, having your luggage on the belt before you are will never happen!)

Then I took a taxi cab with my 3 luggage bags to my new apartment in Sheung Wan, Central area. The place, called ovolo, is directly above a cafeO shop (room service is from this shop).  Its nice and modern but 1000 sq ft (gross in HK terms) is actually about 650 sq feet in US/Canada room sizes. And my apartment is considered BIG!  I love the wifi and the land line, which I haven't had in 10 years! 

After dropping my bag and taking a shower (note: no nap after long journey), I walked down the street to the HSBC bank branch to open an account. I walked in at 4:15pm and had my account number and chequebook in hand by 4:30pm (when they closed up).  Again, very efficient service.  I am ok that they don't want to see me for too long...

Then I walked to a nearby Thai restaurant and ordered THREE dishes for dinner: Pad Thai, Papaya / lettuce wraps and Fried Rice.  I ate a few bites and took the rest back to my fridge.  Can't remember the rest of my day, basically I slept well then went to work first thing on Tues morning!

Tuesday Sept 7- first day at work.  I walked to the subway / MTR station which is about 5 mins away downhill (thank god!).  Bought an 'Octopus' card for 150HKD which includes 100HKD in fare. However within the station, there are multi levels and walking to get to the train itself. Then I went one stop to Central, and changed to the Tsuen Wan Line, riding a few more stops to Mongkok / Langham Place where AMD Hong Kong is located.  Door to door, 30 mins.  Manageable.  But my long term apartment I'll try to avoid a train transfer!  In the office my desk is nice set-up.  I like it very much.  I sit next to IT and some sales people. It was very useful.  Even got to video/webcam with Stephen, although wierd to chat because no privacy.

I was the first one to work by 8:30am and the last one to leave office that day around 7:30pm.  There is a grocery store called Wellcome just downstairs! its your typical urban store that is very small and crowded but has everything I need!  I spent about $60 USD and carried my box upstairs of goods. Its nice to have some food at home, although I only cooked my chicken and ate a few bites, and kept the rest. I also ate a bit of the Thai leftovers. Then I had several conference calls with Toronto, UK/Europe and other business colleagues/customers.  Then fell asleep fast.

Wed Sep 8 - Today I got to work by 7:45am and luckily I remembered the security system password.  Because no one was there yet.  I then had a customer lunch in town near Wan Chai and went to my 2pm HK Immigration appointment for my ID card.  It took about an hour, a few queues then I got out in time.  I then went back near home, bought a nice rice cooker (good deal maybe $30), and tested it at home (no issues). Then I met for coffee downstairs with my MIT Sloan classmate Billy and another Sloan/LFM's spouse named Nova. She was visiting from Taipei. Again, lots of conference calls that night and not enough sleep.

Thurs Sep 8 - Today I arrived at Deloitte an hour too early (at 7:45am) but my tax consultant meeting was at 9am (oops!!).  Did some work in their nice lobby at Pacific Place (Admiralty), then had a fruitful meeting with two consultants about the HK tax system. Then I rushed on the subway to work for my 10:30am conference call with Taipei team.... had a sushi lunch with colleagues and I am now typing this blog at my desk (while on phone with my team member in Shanghai!!)...

This weekend, I will meet my old MIT roommate Nancy and maybe join her in Macau for a day trip. On Sunday I will have dim sum with my dad's cousin and 5th grand auntie.