what do you miss about home?
- Thread starter aussiegal
- Start date
Princess101
Registered User
If anyone is still adding to this thread, then does anyone know where there are some nice green spaces to take little ones to? I have a 11 month old who just wants to crawl everywhere. We went up to the peak last month which was lovely but I got bitten alive - literally 30 bites (I know not what from) on one foot! Any recommendations for nice outdoor space greatly appreciated!
What I miss most - Friends & Family, clean air and buggy friendly terrains!
What I miss most - Friends & Family, clean air and buggy friendly terrains!
This post caught my eye and I wanted to chime in. But, reading through it made me realize that I'm not so different from most of the people on this list so I first went through and noted the points you all made that I can really identify with. I pasted those below as a synopsis of my feelings.
Honestly, I've lived in more polluted places. I lived in the ?Detroit? of Mainland China for a year where the sky turned black with soot and dust for about 3-4 months of the year. The car manufacturing and heavy industry combined with coal burning used everywhere and dust storms blowing in from the Gobi Desert made for really horrible air quality. I grew up in a place with virtually no air pollution as well so I know what beautiful blue skies and fresh air is.
However, living in a polluted city was something I could manage because people were friendly and polite overall and there was a sense of brotherhood and neighborly kindness. This is absolutely lacking in Hong Kong. Some days, I say to myself, ?This has got to be the rudest city!? So, that is the thing that I miss. I miss kindness and a sense of caring demonstrated through awareness of others and small gestures.
All of your comments are wonderful. Thank you all for sharing!
aussiegal
1) grass kids can run on and beautiful parks.
2) clean air.
4) space. (apartment living sucks).
Southside852
2) wide sidewalks and sidewalks that don't mysteriously end
3) grass and parks that are within walking distance
10) pediatricians having the right of way
carang
3) BLUE skies
7) parks that people are allowed to enjoy, not just look at!
but the thing i miss the most.....FAMILY!!!!!!
Shenzhenniifer
4) north american humour
5) western `common` sense
6) now that I have a baby, I miss the seeming abundance of changing tables and handicapped ramps
megan2008
grassy backyard and parks and watching the beautiful sunset....without hearing other people and traffic.
Bumps
When people smile and say hello and they are strangers
Little Monster
1. Cosco
babymommy2
I've always thought of Hk as a nice place to visit, a bad place to live, especially with children. [This sums up my feelings as well. I loved living in HK as a single person when it was short-term--not so much now] So many people are listing things that are so basic: clean air, grass, safe food, free schooling. That is so so sad!
radicalmum
- the smiles and the "hi"
- having nice, non-culturally challenged conversations with my beloved friends and family (mainly to express: no fears of being misunderstood)
-the lowered standard of living.. but better standard of living and lifestyle (housing mainly)..
- baby and family friendly places to go and activities
- much more "smoke free", since being a mum, found that it's a real good idea to have more outdoors/public areas banned from smoking
Matty
6 People that say excuse me and thank you.
chrissy2
4. Affordible clothing stores, that have bigger western sizes (I.E Bras, shoes)
8. Christmas with my family (due to my husbands job we cant go home for Christmas)
10. Driving (we dont drive here and we dont have a car here)
Monty
Like others, I also find cultivating friendships hard. In Hong Kong the friends we make always seem to be busy or away (or leaving HK permanently) and organising dinners/catch ups always require great organisation. I miss the spontaneity of a quick text and an hour later meeting up for Sunday afternoon beers with friends!
apples
Space and the ability to walk down the street without people bumping into me.
I also miss "excuse me"
louisouis
5) Happy and relaxed people
Honestly, I've lived in more polluted places. I lived in the ?Detroit? of Mainland China for a year where the sky turned black with soot and dust for about 3-4 months of the year. The car manufacturing and heavy industry combined with coal burning used everywhere and dust storms blowing in from the Gobi Desert made for really horrible air quality. I grew up in a place with virtually no air pollution as well so I know what beautiful blue skies and fresh air is.
However, living in a polluted city was something I could manage because people were friendly and polite overall and there was a sense of brotherhood and neighborly kindness. This is absolutely lacking in Hong Kong. Some days, I say to myself, ?This has got to be the rudest city!? So, that is the thing that I miss. I miss kindness and a sense of caring demonstrated through awareness of others and small gestures.
All of your comments are wonderful. Thank you all for sharing!
aussiegal
1) grass kids can run on and beautiful parks.
2) clean air.
4) space. (apartment living sucks).
Southside852
2) wide sidewalks and sidewalks that don't mysteriously end
3) grass and parks that are within walking distance
10) pediatricians having the right of way
carang
3) BLUE skies
7) parks that people are allowed to enjoy, not just look at!
but the thing i miss the most.....FAMILY!!!!!!
Shenzhenniifer
4) north american humour
5) western `common` sense
6) now that I have a baby, I miss the seeming abundance of changing tables and handicapped ramps
megan2008
grassy backyard and parks and watching the beautiful sunset....without hearing other people and traffic.
Bumps
When people smile and say hello and they are strangers
Little Monster
1. Cosco
babymommy2
I've always thought of Hk as a nice place to visit, a bad place to live, especially with children. [This sums up my feelings as well. I loved living in HK as a single person when it was short-term--not so much now] So many people are listing things that are so basic: clean air, grass, safe food, free schooling. That is so so sad!
radicalmum
- the smiles and the "hi"
- having nice, non-culturally challenged conversations with my beloved friends and family (mainly to express: no fears of being misunderstood)
-the lowered standard of living.. but better standard of living and lifestyle (housing mainly)..
- baby and family friendly places to go and activities
- much more "smoke free", since being a mum, found that it's a real good idea to have more outdoors/public areas banned from smoking
Matty
6 People that say excuse me and thank you.
chrissy2
4. Affordible clothing stores, that have bigger western sizes (I.E Bras, shoes)
8. Christmas with my family (due to my husbands job we cant go home for Christmas)
10. Driving (we dont drive here and we dont have a car here)
Monty
Like others, I also find cultivating friendships hard. In Hong Kong the friends we make always seem to be busy or away (or leaving HK permanently) and organising dinners/catch ups always require great organisation. I miss the spontaneity of a quick text and an hour later meeting up for Sunday afternoon beers with friends!
apples
Space and the ability to walk down the street without people bumping into me.
I also miss "excuse me"
louisouis
5) Happy and relaxed people
This and being allowed to exit a train or lift without people trying to come on board first. And the big Sunday newspapers.
What I don't miss about home:
- high tax rate
- expensive taxis
- inefficient public transport
- unsafe streets at night
- shopping not that great