What I know... The Trip Ahead

Here are the things I know, right now, for certain.  Beyond this short list, I am not sure I know anything.

I know I am leaving the United States in 17 days for an indeterminate amount of time.  I know, I will be boarding a plane with my wife who I love and trust deeply and when I land I will be in Hong Kong.  The weather in Hong Kong is "Sub-Tropical", which to me means Tropical.  My winter coat along with a majority of my possessions will land in a storage unit somewhere in Union County, NJ.  The Chinese call Hurricanes, "Typhoons".  

I know that I will be unemployed by the end of next week, and while I expect to get work quickly this is not something I know.  Finishing a 7 year run at the JCC in Bridgewater has been emotional- leaving families, swimmers and co-workers has been draining- I will miss them all, more then they know.  

I know we will be living in something called a "serviced apartment" which is not likely to be larger than 700 square feet.  While the daily cleaning and in home laundering service is a nice perk, getting used to one of the world's most densely populated cities will be an adjustment.

I know Hong Kong is an Island (mostly), and it has huge skyscrapers, a fairly major mountain range and beautiful beaches.  Their are parks and people tell me this town is similar to Manhattan in many ways.  I know, this town will be different than Manhattan in many more ways that it is similar.  Hong Kong has roughly the same number of people as their are in NYC; HK is one third the size.

I know one Chinese word.

I know I will miss my family, friends and dog- I know my mother is worried.   I know I am scared, excited and ill prepared. I know I will see things I have only imagined and others that I have not even dreamed.