Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?

HK is a constantly changing place. People come and go; those who stay rarely reside in the same address for more than 2 years. I've been in HK for 5 years now, living in the same neighborhood (though not the same building throughout). Last week I realized I know most of the people around me. I walked to the supermarket and met several parents from little boy's school. I said hi to the resident handyman, barber and cashier from the supermarket. The staff from the magazine shop, laundromat and Italian deli all know me. A photo shop assistant recognized me in Soho one day, a year after their shop closed. The security guards from our old building still wave to little boy whenever they see him. I truly feel I am part of the neighborhood, a regular fixture, if you will, of the ever changing Mid-Levels landscape. It makes Hk feel even more like home, and will make leaving in the future much, much harder to bear.