HONG KONG

HONG KONG... I went on a holiday and came back with a job. If all goes according to plan, I should be living and working there by the end of February.

The story? Last month I went on a holiday to Hong Kong. The place had been fascinating me for a long time, quite a fez examples of world class contemporary architecture can be found in that city. Last June a friend of mine went and seemed to enjoy the place, so when I was told at work that I had about two weeks holidays outstanding I went to have a look at the ticket prices. Wasn' bad at all (335 quid return, long live Oasis Hong Kong Airlines!) so i booked. I knew that the company I work for was opening an office there, and one of the managers involved in the project was a Dutch guy I had been dealing with over the phone and by e-mail. So I sent him a message, told him I would be there and would love to see the office (hey, curiousity, you know how it goes!)

We agreed to go for lunch on monday, the day after I arrived. There Joris told me they needed more people, and asked me whether I was interested. I did like the position, but I had been in HK for less than 24h and I first wanted to find out whether I liked it or not. After lunch we went to see the office (33th floor, great view!) and it turned out one of the directors - a woman I know from being around in the London office - was there that day. She sat me down, gave me more details about the job, and then they asked me to tell them by friday whether I wanted to do it or not.

For four days I have been walking around the city asking myself if I could live there; I called my sister and a few friends in Belgium and London for advice; I met the other guys from the company who arrived on wednesday. And then I said yes.

So now the visa application is being reviewed by the company lawyers, and will be sent out next week. I will be working in my current position until January 18th, and then I get one more month of training before I move over there.

Exciting? Very! I am really looking forward to it, but at the same time I do get nervous sometimes. There is so much to think about and so much to arganize before I leave. Need to organize some sort of party or gathering for my 30th birthday as well, not sure whether I should combine it with my leaving due or not...

HONG KONG!!! Wooohooooo!!