Best advice to deal with Culture Shock

Hello,


I do hope this is an appropriate forum locale to post such a question. I would love to get input on the following question. What advice would you offer a newly-relocated ex-pat wife to make the transition to Hong Kong life exciting and fun?


My wife and I are moving over to HK from California in a couple of months and I will be working longish hours in an office in Central. My wife is currently a high school teacher here in the US, but feels she is a little late in the recruiting season to start looking for a job to start in September. Any thoughts?


When I have lived abroad before, I found that a regular schedule, exercise and some goals (work, academic, otherwise) helped even my keel. This will be my wife's first time abroad and I want to do what I can to help keep her happy. Giving her as much attention as possible is my first method, of course, but I would also like for here to find a way to develop a network of friends etc. Any other advice?


Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Hi,

The regular schedule idea sounds good. There are a number of groups of expat women that meet regularly..The American Womens association; The Australian womens friday get togethers on a friday morning (all nationalities present, not only Aussies) and the YWCA has a great newcomers course, as well as tons of very good courses available.They would be a good start for her.

Also plenty of ads in the South China Morning Post for teachers...esp English speakers.

Hope the shift goes well & you both enjoy HK. It is a wonderful place to be ! good Luck

Some great advice that was given to me when I arrived in town as an Expat wife was to make a circle of friends BEFORE I started looking for work. Joined the American Womens Assoc as well as the Australian Assoc and YWCA. Explored Hong Kong as part of organised events of the above organisations, enjoyed a period out of the workforce, made lots of great friends and then looked for a job. Best advice I coud have been given. My husband and I now have friends outside of our workplace. Goof luck. Hong Kong is a great place to be.

Thank you to all who replied. I appreciate the helpful advice!

Kudos to you for being very considerate in thinking about your wife while you're at work..:)


Agree with the above suggestions. In addition, take time out to explore HK together. While she might be busy during the week with new acquaintances, it is extra special to be seeing and experiencing HK with you during the weekend.


Enjoy!

True, no need work permit if she is dependent on her husband. The law just changed a few months.

She can look for NET(Native English Teacher) post, even now maybe a bit hurry to look for long term(eg 1 year contract) post but still have chances. Every year gets some NET suddenly resign right before school opening. Or sometimes with few months substitute teaching posts. Can also try to look for international schools.

Nearly all schools start new term in september, so still have around a month.

Beside that, if would like to make more friends, she can try to meet some language exchange friends. Quite a lot of locals would love to practise their english with native speaker and that's a good way to get to know some friends and the culture here.

According from my cantonese students and foreign friends said, they all with certain culture shocks and shocks for quite a while mostly. So if this is the first time for your wife be aboard, give some more time for her adapt. Hope she would love here. I heard a story that's a lady really dislike here and told her husband that if he wants to work here, just stay but she is going to get their daughter back home. So he could only resigned his job and back with them. I feel sad about that but can understand that.

Hope both of you would enjoy the time being here. Go hiking and enjoy landscape in HK would be pretty relaxing at weekend too. Take care