Transitions

The thing about being an expat in Hong Kong is your life is about continuous transitions.  Even if you are settled, there is always a transition or two or five going on around you: new people coming, people you have befriended leaving, as Maggie would say “forever.” It is a constant state of no steady state. I find myself looking to the local scene for that sense of permanence. Even that is in a constant state of change.

There was a funny story in the paper several month's ago that stated that the average lifespan of a business in Wan Chai, our nieghborhood, is about 16 months if that.  And now with all the weathly spending in Hong Kong, upscale stores are pushing out local stores faster since they will pay insane rents. The thing is there is generally no report or story.  One day your favorite restaurant is there, the next it is a hole in the building. No time to prepare.  The entire city seems to take it in stride.  So even the local scene is in a slower yet constant state of change.

With that, a family we befriended almost on our first week here is leaving for Spain on Monday.  The Grahams. I remember waiting down in the temp apartment lobby for Maggie’s bus and there was Alistar waiting with his son Alex. Then when I took a taxi to pick Maggie up the end of the day, there was Alistar again picking Alex up.  We started talking, thought it silly for us to each take a taxi to the same temp apartment and agreed to car/taxi pool in the afternoons.  The preschool did not have a bus in the afternoon.

From there we have had play dates and trips together.  We will miss them, but that is the life here. Exciting and changing all at the same time. A life of good byes.

And….

Maggie’s adopted preschool had her graduation day today (Friday morning).  Don’t worry Ms Janice, Maggie will always be a FUMCDC girl!  It was a very nice ceremony.  Pictures on Facebook. I remember how I was so concerned about Maggie’s adjustment midyear to this school.  Not only mid year, but a British style program.  It and Maggie of course worked out fine there. So just as Maggie and I got settled, we have to say goodbye to Woodland.

I leave with a strong recommendation for the Woodland Beachside Preschool to anyone in Hong Kong. They have taken care of Maggie and brought her into their family.  We are very grateful for it.

And….

Maggie starts Hong Kong International Summer Program in July. She will take a reading and writing in the morning and Chinese in the afternoon through July.  This will be the last school transition we have to make during our stay.  I welcome that.

A least a very little bit of continuity.  I will take any small piece I can get.