I was born in Hong Kong but raised in Toronto so I consider myself Canadian and my family considers me CBC, Canadian Born Chinese. However, despite my last visit to Hong Kong being 11 years ago, coming back, I don't really consider myself a tourist. Mandy, whose family is here and truly is from Hong Kong thinks I am, but I don't come here as a tourist. I have family here, I went to (pre)-school here, I know the language and can read decently except for some words which I can usually figure out from the context. Nonetheless, there are often moments I feel like a fish out of water.
For one thing, I find the people in HK love brand names. It's not so much for the quality but as a symbol of their status. Of course I'm stereotyping, and to be frank, we all participate in such consumerism but to see every brand having their own store at the mall was a bit shocking to me at first. Apparently, it is partly due to the fact that rent is REALLY REALLY high in Hong Kong, which makes sense as the city is so densely populated, so only the expensive brands can afford to rent a space in the malls. If you want the cheap stuff, you go to the markets. But being the sheltered brat I am, I usually stick to the indoor air-conditioned places.
Another thing that isn't exactly unique to Hong Kong but seem to dominate are the "see lai". You know, the ladies who are past their prime but don't think so, whose husbands probably work late hours to avoid hearing them bark at them in their shrilly, annoying voices... my worst nightmare that I one day may become one. They are a different species (or should I say, beast) than their cousins, the cougars. Though similar in age, cougars are more refined, and would not be caught dead wearing lace-trimmed leggings with plastic flip flops that belong in the living room and the living room alone. Stacy and Clinton would have a ball trying to tell the ladies to start wearing things that may be more age-appropriate. For some reason, leggings and tights are really popular and there are some people whom this look is no longer appropriate (a.k.a. anyone over 40. And I feel I am being generous with this figure). It's not like I am against the "see lai" - they are family-orientated and good people, but they just love to compete and dominant, even for the most menial things. They have to have THAT booth at a crowded restaurant. They have to be the FIRST to get in the subway. They push and shove and upon reflection, I guess I can't really blame them if the only joy in their lives comes from the exhilaration of getting that bushel of bok choi from that other "see lai" who was also eyeing it.
So even though there are some things that I find strange or odd (like the insistence of liking celebrities who have 0 talent but I guess that's any culture), Hong Kong is my birthplace, thus part of me. And I'm very happy to report that people here seem to think I belong here as well.
