When I stepped off the plane at Hong Kong International Airport, the air was warm and humid, a gray mist adorning the mountains on the horizon. I had daydreamed of this moment for months, ever since the host family accepted my application as an au pair. Being alone in a country where I knew no one and about to live with strangers never scared me. On the contrary, that morning mist in Hong Kong tasted like inebriating freedom. A taste that would soon be replaced by fresh, juicy mangoes, sticky rice, baos, and, months later, by the taste of tears, longing for that moment in time when I was young, independent, and most of all, free.
The city was a vibrant tapestry of neon lights, bustling streets, and an endless symphony of sounds. If I close my eyes I can still see Victoria Harbour, the red and blue hues of the skyscrapers reflecting on the water, and hear people (locals and tourists alike) making their way on the deck. I explored local markets, where the air was thick with the aroma of exotic spices and sizzling street food. I picked up snippets of Cantonese, enough to exchange pleasantries and navigate daily life and visited ancient temples, their serene courtyards offering a stark contrast to the city's frenetic pace.
Despite the whirlwind of activity, there were quiet moments too. Late at night, when the city’s clamor subsided, I would sit by the window of my small room, gazing at the skyline. The twinkling lights reflected a mirror to my own dreams and aspirations. It was in these moments of solitude that I felt the weight of my journey. The pangs of homesickness were real, yet they were intertwined with a deep sense of fulfillment. I was carving out my own path, far from the familiar, but closer to discovering myself.
When the time came to say goodbye, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and sorrow. The family had become a second home, the city a canvas of memories. As I boarded the plane back home, the morning mist enveloping Hong Kong once again, I tasted the salt of my tears. But mingled with the sadness was a profound sense of accomplishment. I had ventured into the unknown, embraced a different culture, and emerged changed.
In my heart I carried the flavors of Hong Kong – the sweet mangoes, the savory baos, and the bittersweet essence of fleeting freedom.
