I have heard so many answers to this question: get to know the language, you know your way around the town, you can use mass transit. Some will say it's when you get your Hong Kong ID card. But I am convinced that you know when you are becoming a local when you join in and jay walk with everyone around you. The amount of courage and tenacity it takes to jay walk determines how comfortable you are with your surroundings.
We were told, that you should never jay walk. The police will automatically fine you, maybe even take you to jail. So I dutifully stood at every corner waiting for the light to turn green before I crossed. Well at some point into my stay here, I want to say, 10 days, I gave in. People around me would glance with that "get out of my way" look or the "there are absolutely no cars coming, do you have a street crossing phobia" look and walk right by me. Over and over again. Then I just joined in. It was actually somewhat liberating as if I had joined the unspoken Hong Kong Citizens jay walking association. I wonder when I will get a welcome packet.
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