I’ve just realised that I haven’t taken a moment to blog about my Hong Kong adventure. I haven’t even taken off (or got my visa) but it’s already an adventure.
Everyone who hears the news asks “Why Hong Kong?” and to be honest I do not know. I guess it came down to visas in the end, and where Flight Centre allowed me to move to. Oddly, it used to be a joke between a friend and I, and I often threw my hands in the air, and said “fuck this, I’m buggering off to Hong Kong” and while I was in Cape Town, I decided to go through with it.
I don’t know what made me decide to go through with it. I don’t know if it was just general frustration with life in SA, or in Pretoria, or my gypsy tendencies, or the desire to run away from someone who kept breaking my heart. I genuinely don’t know, but I’m glad I made the decision to do it. I don’t regret it for a second. Yes, I’m going to miss 5 of the most amazing friends I’ve ever had, who I love to the ends of the earth, but they’ll be there whether I’m in the next suburb or two continents over. Yes, I’m going to miss my folks, but there is Skype for a reason, and they’ll be able to call me whenever they want, or text and email (I’m going to have to get my mom an email account and a Smartphone!)
My friends have been the rock in my little ocean of terror the last couple weeks. They were there when I made the decision, there for me when I had my interviews and even there when I got the email with an offer of employment. My friends are also the only people on earth who could convince me to stay (not that they would). They’ve been amazing, and I love them dearly! I can’t begin to thank them enough, and it’s a kindness I will forever be grateful for. Tyron, HK, Princess, Baas and Tam, if you’re reading this, you guys have been amazing, and I love you to pieces.
“What about that guy you mentioned?” you ask? Well, let’s face it. I can’t base decisions on a maybe. He could ask me to stay, and part of me wishes he would, just so that I can know he truly cares, but I know he won’t risk the rejection. I love him, I do, but love isn’t enough. Love isn’t stability, or commitment, or anything that I would need to stay in SA. Maybe one day, maybe, but today, it’s not meant to be.
Am I running away? No. I’m not running away. I LOVE my life in SA, I love Pretoria. I love my job. I’m genuinely happy with life as it is right now. This isn’t running from, but running to. I spent 5 years with Kobus, and I wasted SO many opportunities to live and work overseas because I thought he was the One. I’m 24, I have no commitments, and right now, I feel that if I don’t do this, I’m going to regret it. I often say “Rather regret the things you’ve done, than the things you haven’t.
So where to from here? I’m busy waiting for my visa paperwork to be processed, and hopefully I can fly out in a couple weeks – flights are reserved for the 26th of April and my going away pencilled in for the the 20th of April. I’ve taken leave from the 20th to the 30th. Here’s holding thumbs that my visa is sorted out quickly!
Alright peeps, lots of love, and hopefully I can update you on my Hong Kong adventure soon!