Floating Island

About this blog:

This is a blog for the New Media Workshop at HKU’s JMSC. It’s intended to feature our assignments for this course, which will include a project that looks at some aspect of Hong Kong since it was handed back to China in 1997.

About me:

I’m from New York City, a first generation American (mother from Puerto Rico, father from Cuba). In college I studied literature and my curiousity drew me to China, it’s mysterious language, exotic imagery, and 5,000-year history. But then I tried to be practical and went to law school.

I worked at a biglaw firm in HK for a couple of years before becoming a fugitive from the law and coming to the JMSC. It’s hard to leave the paycheck behind, along with the (largely illusory) sense of power and self-importance that goes with being a lawyer. Not so hard to leave the endless hours of mind-numbing work behind, or the need to drop everything at a moment’s notice to satisfy partner whims and client demands.

I’ve spent more than three years in Hong Kong and still haven’t managed to pick up much of the language. This has been a huge blow to my pride and is a major reason why I’m looking forward to heading north in the near future. Shanghai maybe. As good as Hong Kong has been to me, I love China more. Things are less expensive, the food is better, and the people are friendlier. Though I will really miss my friends here, and the many hills and bays of Hong Kong.