It’s a long way from Edinburgh Scotland to the heart of Hong Kong; not just in distance but also in contrasts. For Joanna Claire an opportunity to shift with her employer was too good to turn down and she made the move in early 2015. So far the experience has been wonderful for her making new friends and giving herself the perfect starting off point to explore much of Asia.

Joanna sat down for an interview with us and shared her perspective of being a young woman in one of the world’s largest business hubs. Here’s what she had to say

You can follow her blog at http://www.b-hongkong.com

What I learned from speaking with Joanna:

1. Hong Kong is a friendly place, especially within the expat community. People are very welcoming to new comers especially as they have often been in the same shoes themselves and Joanna has already made a lot of friends during her short time there. Again, like any travel transition you need to be willing to put yourself out there in order to meet people and take advantage of the opportunity. Being in a work environment as Joanna is certainly makes it easier
2. Hong Kong is extremely safe. Joanna has not encountered any crime or even heard of it happening to friends or anyone she knows. It will obviously be around and like all big cities it’s important to be vigilant but Hong Kong appears to be much safer than an equivalent western city of similar size.
3. Hong Kong has more to it than the city itself. There is a rural area offering much more and some great beaches you can enjoy. Further afield it’s on the edge of China which offers unique experiences in itself and it’s a great airline hub. Joanna has already booked trips to South Korea and the Philippines, both only a few hours way and costing her less than $US200 for a round trip fare.
4. There are two lifestyles in Hong Kong and you can choose the one that suits you. Eating out expat style can come with a heftier price tag, but if you’re happy to eat like a local the cost is much more affordable. Joanna often dines out with her friends for as little as $5-$10 and enjoys a wider variety of flavors as a result