The Expat

Yesterday, I went to Tai Long Wan, on the east coast of the Sai Kung peninsula, known as on of the most beautiful area in Hong Kong. I have to say that it was indeed beautiful, remote beach bays islanded by amazing mountains and hills. It took us about 1.5 hours hike to reach Tai Long Wan bay, that's after skipping over 2 other very small bays and walking up and down steep steps and paved trails. Under the heat, it was so unbearable that we lost almost half the group--as they decided to head back--however, for those of us who did make it, it was well worth the effort.

Reaching Tai Long Wan was like reaching "the land before time" haha, paradise with vast clear blue waters and clear skies along white fine beach sand. I spent the entire day swimming in the soft and luke warm waters over lunch, drinks & snacks. And then we ordered a mini boat to jet us back without having to go through the hassle of hiking back, since we were all too exhausted to hike back. The area remains very untouched, with little restaurant huts here and there. Sai Kung is also known for it's local fishing villages and also as the destination living quarters of the so called expats, expatriates from UK EU etc. The beauty of HK is that you can escape from it all through mini vacations to it's various islands. And for us non-locals, it's essential to have an escape in order to clear our heads haha.


As remote as the place may sound, the village itself was well accessible via 45 minute minibus ride. More and more expats commute to and from work daily from HK island to Sai Kung because it offers them a break from HK's daily buzz. In any case, what I really want to talk about is the idea of the expat. In HK's so called "melting pot," why does the term expat come up so often?

As an Asian American from a very Vietnamese community, I too am considered an expat, however it completely confuses my own identity as expat usually refers to white foreigners of european or british descent, that is the dominant anglo saxon population. And all of the sudden, I switch roles, from a minority in California to this so called expat, which everyone refers me too. Quite puzzling on my behalf, how perspectives change, expectations in reverse. It's a total identity crisis--how do I fit into this category?

Why do I make such an issue out of a mere label you might ask? Because this term goes beyond the label. In a very hush hush manner yet through very clear action, I realize that HK isn't so much of a melting pot the way L.A. might be. Although everyone speaks English, it really isn't the preferred language and that's not to blame HK's history of past colonization, no one wants to be colonized. However, I am pessimistic about the ideals held of HK as a global player, as in my own experience, it neglects to embrasse non-locals.

In my own experience and through my own observations, I can almost conclude that HK is actually a very exposed yet localized city. Completely polarized between social and economic groups, from HK locals to Chinese "Mainlanders," between Cantonese speakers and Mandarin speakers and then add the "expats" from the UK, EU & US to the mix and you get oil in water. It's not to say that everything is black and white, sometimes you do see the mix but that comes very rarely when efforts are made from both sides to share and communicate common ground. As a Vietnamese American coming from a very mixed community of people, it's a very harsh reality to face.