How a trip to Hong Kong in 2011 led to me living in Japan today
In 2011, I went on a trip to Hong Kong in what would mark my first venture into Asia and though I knew this trip would be special, I didn’t expect the experience to have an impact on my life the way that it did. I will always look back fondly on this trip because the truth is, if I didn’t visit Hong Kong in 2011, I would not be living in Japan today. For that, I will forever be grateful.
This is a story of why it is sometimes better not to follow sensible advice, whether it be your own or somebody else’s. Allow me to explain.
The story begins in 2009 when my friend Johnny shared his thoughts with me about his plans after graduating from University. We were sat in my garden on a sunny afternoon when he first mentioned to me that he had the opportunity to become an English Teacher in Hong Kong. He asked me what my thoughts were about this life changing opportunity and when I think back to my response to this question, I still shake my head to this very day.
My response was that I thought it was best that he didn’t go and instead to search for a good job and work towards getting on the property ladder. Thankfully, he did not take my advice.
It is safe to say that my advice would be very different if I were asked this question today, however at the time I saw life in a very different way. Back in 2009, I would not have been able to point out Hong Kong on a map and it is very clear to me now that my advice stemmed from my own self-doubt and insecurities at the time.
Despite my advice, Johnny decided to move to Hong Kong and looking back even now, it was the right decision. Yet interestingly, the most unforeseen aspect of his move to Hong Kong was how his decision would positively impact so many different groups of people. Least of all – me.
The journey begins….
In February 2011, off I went to Hong Kong - a place I knew nothing about, including the fact that it was a former colony of the UK. I stayed in Hong Kong for around 8 days and I enjoyed every second of the trip. Thinking back, I had so many first time experiences there which I now take for granted in Japan. The most memorable thing of my time in Hong Kong however, was the people that I met there including Johnny’s partner Carmen who now both have a wonderful family together.
After 2 years of living in Hong Kong, Johnny and Carmen returned to the UK and became husband and wife. Even all these years later, I still consider their wedding day to be the closest thing to perfect and I will no doubt be going to them for advice one day when my time comes.
Their wedding ceremony and reception brought so many good people together, resulting in many new friendships between the guests from both the UK and Hong Kong. I was fortunate enough to be best man for the wedding and I was also lucky enough to work with the bride and groom to put together a video that was shown in the Church to all of the guests before the ceremony which was a true honour for me. It really was a special time for all of us.
Sowing the seeds for Japan
Some weeks after the wedding, Johnny arranged a dinner for a few of his friends that helped out with the wedding. At the dinner I met Johnny’s friend Neil for the first time who had recently came back from travelling all over Japan. Me and Neil spoke for some time about this trip and I hung on to his every word. I was just fascinated. The thought of travelling around Japan was a dream for me and it was the first time that I had spoken to somebody who had actually been there.
As Neil spoke, I remember saying to him that I could imagine how futuristic Japan must be when to my surprise Neil replied by saying “well actually, no”. He went on to explain how Tokyo, Osaka and the other main cities are quite modern as you would expect but the rest of Japan is actually a lot more traditional. I had never thought about Japan in this way before and in that moment, I knew I had to go there and experience it for myself.
Shortly after this dinner, I discussed this revelation about Japan with another close friend of mine which resulted in us spontaneously booking a flight to Japan by the end of our conversation. It’s quite unreal when I think about it but these are the series of events that led me to visiting Japan for the first time and why I am living here today. In my younger years, I would never have thought that I would be living in the far east and yet, here I am.
Reflections
While my advice to my friend Johnny came from a good place, I remind myself regularly that had he followed my advice, many lives would be very different right now. His decision to move to Hong Kong positively impacted many groups of people and I can only hope that my decision to move to Japan can do the same with my friends and family.
Sensible advice has its value but, in most cases, the advice comes from a person’s own insecurities, as it did with me. When it comes to making the bigger decisions in life, sometimes it’s better to follow the path least travelled and trust your instincts.
Speaking from my own point of view now, had I not experienced living abroad, I know that I would have lived a life filled with regret. If I was to advise someone thinking of working abroad today, firstly, I would say - what do you have to lose? If an opportunity is there for you to work abroad which provides financial security and it is safe to go there, go for it.
If you are now reading this now and thinking to yourself that you would like to travel or work abroad “one day”, the truth us “one day” never comes. You have to make that “one day” - today. In my case, I always said that I would go to Japan “one day”, but in reality, had my friend Johnny never gone to Hong Kong, I wouldn’t be in Japan today.
The experience of travelling and working in a different culture will make you grow in so many positive ways and growth is what life is all about. Afterall, it is only when we are growing - that we are truly living.