i was born in hong kong and my family moved to the uk when i was 13.
my dad was feeling homesick.
when we first moved to england, i was desperately homesick too.
i remember my first holiday back to hong kong, seeing those high rise buildings, hearing the hustle and bustle, and feeling like i had come home. and i remember the feeling of heartache as the plane took off and left the multi-coloured lights of hong kong at night fading away below me...
but over the years, as my time in britain overtook the years i had in hong kong, i began to identify with being british; until i never really questioned it being home.
that is until recently when my mum's best friend asked me, "why are you living in england? you're from hong kong and your husband is australian, why are you both living in england?"
you know, it never dawned on us to question this but, now that she's asked, we realised we didn't have an answer. and actually she's right, it doesn't really make sense either. other than a handful of good friends, neither of us have any strong ties to britain. i have never been close to my dad's side of the family and cam barely knows his extended scottish family. in many ways we've existed as an isolated unit of 3 people since my dad passed away, and the strains of that have been particularly noticeable in recent years. yet on the other side of the world we have a host of family members who miss us and love us. why are we still here?
and so our imagination has been running wild ever since, and maybe, just maybe, after 25 years, i will be going home.
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8 comments:
Oh Pen. This brought up so much in me. I have been wanting to fly my own coop for a number of years. Many things holding me back...but if you have the opportunity and the desire, the added bonus of citizenship in countries where you would love to live, then I would encourage you to go for it. I know from reading lately that you also have your mother to consider. But if the bug has bitten you, act now. This could be your next life adventure to leap into. I'll be reading and waiting to see what you ultimately decide.
Oh my god!!!!!!
oh penny, wow. this is big. and i so admire your honesty in the revelation.
but, on one condition. you must always come back for bbc camp.
loving you.
WOW ... what a decision to make! Consider carefully ... follow your heart; i think your heart already has made its mind ...
hugs.
It's interesting to discover what really makes home home for us. That would be an incredible life change to go from the UK to Hong Kong, wow!
Just here to say i've been thinking about you... xx
It’s a great post you really are a good writer! I’m so glad someone like you have the time, efforts and dedication writing, for this kind of article… Helpful, Useful, and Charitable.. Very nice post!
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we were just in your hometown a week ago! if only my husband spoke chinese and i knew more of it, we'd be there RIGHT NOW. we may end up there in a few years. :) go. go! if there's nothing holding you back, just pack up and go. ;p -fellow unraveller
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