December 14, 2008

Bye Bye Hong Kong

Category: life — Cosima @ 10:12 pm

This evening, little man asked me to pull the blinds up before going to sleep.

“Mama, I want to see Hong Kong.”

“The lights are beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Yes. I am going to miss Hong Kong, and I am going to miss my friends at school.”

“I am going to miss Hong Kong too.”

Little man and I are going to move to Dubai at the end of the year. It is not something that I do light-heartedly, but there was really no other alternative. There are personal aspects that I won’t go into, but let’s just say it’s not going to be easy.

Hong Kong has become my home over the last thirteen years, it is the place where little man was born, and where I had so many other wonderful experiences.

I am going to miss the sidewalks packed with people. I am going to miss the wet markets, noisy and colorful. I am going to miss that there is at least one dingy alleyway next to every glitzy skyscraper. I am going to miss hiking in the green mountains behind my house. I am going to miss having dim sum with friends or a quick noodle soup in a tiny cafe. I am going to miss strolling around old neighborhoods, and always discovering something new. I am going to miss riding on the tram to Causeway Bay, and the Star Ferry across the harbor.

I will miss silly things like the towel rail in my bathroom. I hung on it when the hard labor contractions began. I am going to miss the wonderful view from my bedroom. I will never forget the sunrise on the morning little man was born.

I had written another blog post about our move. It was angry, full of self-pity, and quite pathetic. I deleted it.

Dubai is not a place where I desire to live, but I really have no other choice, and I intend to make the best of it. For little man. I hope that there will be new and interesting experiences.

Before closing his eyes little man said “I love you, mama”. I really have no reason to be grumpy. Next week, we will say a long goodbye to everything and everyone here, then the moving company will pack up our belongings, and we will board a plane. First to Germany to spend Christmas there, then to Dubai.

9 Comments »

  1. Wow, that is big news. You will be missed but we’ll look forward to Dubai blogs.

    Yes, it is :). I should have told you guys earlier, but I was a bit in denial.

    Comment by Charles in Hong Kong — December 14, 2008 @ 11:52 pm

  2. I do know how much you have come to love Hong Kong and how much you will miss it. I am wishing you adventure with what’s ahead.

    Thank you :). I hope I will come back to Hong Kong often.

    Comment by lecram — December 15, 2008 @ 12:52 am

  3. Leaving? My visor has SHATTERED! Please check your Cosima e-mail.

    Comment by The Astronaut — December 15, 2008 @ 11:34 am

  4. Ohhh, that makes me a bit sad. Your blog was one of the first I started reading and you transmitted to me the love of HK even before I got here. But in the current environment it’s hard to stick to the status quo. It’s obvious you are sad to go but whatever reason pushes you to do it must be good, take strength in it. And a new place also has a lot to offer in terms of exploration, you have a whole new world to discover and learn to love!. I wish you lots of luck in finding the missing puzzles in the new life and hope you will keep giving a bit of news in the blogosphere. And Middle Eastern recipes of yummy food.. Sorry for the long comment :)

    Evie, you have to carry the torch now. I will rely on you and Charles to keep me in the loop of Hong Kong happenings.

    Comment by Evie — December 16, 2008 @ 12:15 am

  5. wishing you the best.

    Thank you Kamotion.

    Comment by kamotion — December 16, 2008 @ 12:56 pm

  6. I wish you and Little Man the best! Moving is hard and I hope this truly is a wonderful adventure ahead of you!

    Thank you, Solitaire.

    Comment by Solitaire — December 17, 2008 @ 3:38 am

  7. Take a picture of the towel rack and post it for us!

    :) I will. I try to take some pictures tomorrow, before the moving company comes.

    Comment by The Astronaut — December 17, 2008 @ 9:22 am

  8. I know you will find something positive and exciting in Dubai. And…..there’s always Fresno!!!

    :)

    I love Fresno!!! It would be wonderful to travel year round from one place to the next.

    Comment by APj — December 18, 2008 @ 1:24 am

  9. i’m sorry i am getting here so terribly late. international moves aren’t easy and when we don’t want to go it is hard enough for us as adults, even harder when we have to help our children navigate a transition we ourselves don’t want to make. (been there, done that, have the t-shirt). my best wishes go with you and i send along many virtual hugs. please feel free to email me if you’d like to vent or just need an empathetic mommy’s ear/shoulder. i hope christmas in germany is as lovely in every way.

    Comment by lime — December 22, 2008 @ 10:26 am

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