ABC in HK // Sylvia Chong

ABC in HK is a new mini interview series amplifying the voices of Chinese Americans who’ve returned to their roots / motherland, whether it’s for work or any other reason. These are their stories, their struggles, their triumphs, their dreams.

If you’re a Chinese American (either an ABC—a.k.a. American-born Chinese—or Chinese who grew up in the US) currently living in Hong Kong and would like to participate, see the call here.

For the second installment of this project (here’s the first one), meet Sylvia Chong, an ABC from the Heartland. Read about what it was like for her to grow up as the only Asian around and how moving to Hong Kong gave her a stronger sense of self and belonging.

Photo courtesy of Sylvia Chong

Name: Sylvia Chong

Title & Occupation: Senior customer support at Basecamp, a project management software.

Where you were born and grew up:

I was born in Starkville, Mississippi (my birth certificate lists me as “Oriental”). When I was 2 weeks old, I moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota. I lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and went to college at the University of Oklahoma.

When you moved to Hong Kong: July 2010.

Why you moved to Hong Kong: I moved to HK for law school. In 2012, I graduated with a JD.

Tell me a little about yourself! I care about food, friends, and American pop culture.

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced since moving to Hong Kong?

The language—and being a Midwestern ABC—was odd. It was a huge culture shock; I didn’t grow up with any other Asians, so I didn’t know a lot about holidays or cultural norms. It was pretty hard living somewhere where I was expected to know certain things and I just had no idea. I’m not fluent in Cantonese now, but I can get around all right on my own.

What have been the best things about living in Hong Kong?

The food! Public transportation is also huge. I love that I can walk up to the Peak or take a 20-minute cab ride to the beach. I also think it’s helped me mature and grow more than I would’ve had I stayed in the Midwest.

Photo courtesy of Sylvia Chong

Have your views about being an American changed since you came here?

I was always an advocate for gun control. Now I’m not.

Have your views about being Chinese changed since you came here?

I used to hate being Chinese, but now that I’ve lived somewhere where I’m not Other, I don’t.

Has being an ABC in Hong Kong shaped/changed your overall views about heritage, home, and identity?

I didn’t have a strong sense of belonging when I was younger; it’s hard to do that when you feel different from everyone else. But in Hong Kong, there are so many different definitions of a Hong Konger that it’s helped me come to terms with who I am.

What advice would you give to an ABC who would consider moving to Hong Kong?

My only advice is to do it. And make sure you’re getting paid “fuck you money,” ‘cause Hong Kong’s expensive as fuck.

You can find Sylvia on Twitter and Instagram.

To view all interviews in this series, visit the ABC in HK tag here at Artists on the Lam or my latest stories on Medium.