How Much is Enough?

If you didn't know already (either because you don't pay attention to detail, have never talked to me, or haven't read any of my blog posts), I used to living in香港 (pronounced "xiang gang", or Hong Kong for those of you who don't speak Chinese).  If you want to know more about what living in 香港 as an expat is like, I highly recommend this blog.

In 香港, I had a really great life.  Although school was hard, I had a lot of opportunities and a lot of freedom.  I hung out with friends for a few hours every week too, and I became close with a lot of people.

Leaving 香港 was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I had to leave the people I trusted and the place that had become my home.  

Louisa and I on the night of our middle school graduation.  

"Lulu" was my closest friend during my 8th grade year, and the hardest part of leaving 香港 was saying goodbye to her.  She is still my best friend.  

One of the hardest things to find time for now is talking to old friends, like Louisa.  The time change is definitely not on my side either. The only time I really have is on Friday and Saturday nights, because Hong Kong is 14 hours ahead of Utah, where I live now.

Even though the only thing I ever want to do is talk to them, I have to carry on with my life here.  If I don't make friends here, I am going to be miserable, because I won't make any new memories, and I won't have any fun over the next four years.

It's literally killing me to not see Louisa and my other friends every day.  With all of the other things going on in my life, it's hard to find time.  The only way I find myself chatting or skyping with 香港 friends is by setting up a time a few days before.  By doing this, both of us are expecting to talk to each other, and I look forward to it.  It guarantees that I will talk to them in the near future.

If you have moved, even if it's just a few towns or a state away, I highly recommend setting up a time before you move to talk to old friends.  If your schedule doesn't allow it one week, let your friends know that, and set up an alternate time.  If you don't set up a time, and choose to talk to friends on a random basis, it's going to be a lot harder to keep up with everyone.

Sometimes, life gets busy, and that's okay.  But it's important to factor in time for people you care about.  Even though leaving 香港 was incredibly hard, I came out of it stronger and with great friends and memories that I will work to keep.