10+ ago, despite me being from the US and speaking only English, my first job in my field was with an international company that moved me to Hong Kong, where I lived for almost three years. After I left, I was pretty good at returning for visits, going back twice with only two-year gaps in between.
That consistency ended once the pandemic hit, followed by me going back to school to finish my bachelor's degree, along with other travel plans I wanted to check off first. Years went by and I really missed it, feeling a pang every time I watched a Hong Kong movie or saw photos from friends there.
But this year, the timing finally felt right for me to go back. After a week in Singapore, I made it back for ten days, which was enough time to catch up with a lot of old friends and revisit old haunts. I even joined some friends to a day exploring Macau, which was great to revisit.
On a trip full of good feelings, nostalgia, and even a few days of romance, I’m grateful that Hong Kong is forever my second home.