Hong Kong marathon coach Wong Ka-bao immigrated to New York, where learning to drive, dealing with injuries, and working as a delivery driver have all become his new experiences. In the past, in Hong Kong, he only needed to focus on work as the family had a Filipino domestic helper taking care of things. However, moving to the United States required him to readjust to a new way of life, facing unexpected injuries and working as a delivery driver outside, presenting a different life experience.
Wong Ka-bao had a stable life in Hong Kong, where his children were born and raised. However, in recent years, there have been significant changes in Hong Kong’s education and social environment. In order for his children to receive a better education and with his wife being a U.S. citizen, meeting the criteria for family immigration, Wong Ka-bao’s family decided to immigrate to New York, USA.
With two children, both siblings have a good foundation in English, and they quickly adapted to the environment after arriving in the USA in 2022. Communicating with teachers and classmates was not an issue, and within a month or two, they had settled into school life. However, adapting to the new environment in the US was not as easy for Wong Ka-bao, with the first challenge being obtaining a driver’s license.
Wong Ka-bao shared, “Friends in Hong Kong who rely on buses are actually very fortunate because in the U.S., buses are often late or disappear without reason. You could be waiting for a bus and suddenly find out that the service has been canceled, causing a lot of frustration. Having a car for transportation is much more convenient.”
Transportation in Hong Kong is very convenient, and living without a car is still manageable. However, upon arrival in the USA, despite living in New York City, it became less convenient when residing in areas further from subway stations. At 50 years old, Wong Ka-bao had no interest in driving. While he had attempted to get a driver’s license over a decade ago and had failed, he hadn’t pursued it further. But now, due to the necessity of life, he had to learn to drive, a task he found daunting since he had no interest in cars.
When he finally decided to obtain a driver’s license, a new problem arose. “To get a driver’s license in the U.S., you need to have six points to register, including proof of address, a credit card, and identification, each contributing different points. I only had four points at the time, falling short by two points!” Initially, Wong Ka-bao faced difficulties applying for a driver’s license due to delays in receiving his work permit through his immigrant visa. This hindered his ability to open a bank account as many banks refused due to the lack of a social security number, affecting his ability to register for a driver’s license. It wasn’t until he found a bank willing to open an account that he successfully applied for the written driver’s test, passed, and obtained a temporary driver’s license to proceed to the road test. The concept of accumulating points for a driver’s license was not something he had considered in Hong Kong. The need to drive in the US became an urgent demand, marking just the first hurdle he faced as an immigrant.
In Hong Kong, Wong Ka-bao was not involved in many household chores, as they had a domestic helper to assist. However, in the US, only wealthy individuals could afford such help. Describing his experience, Wong Ka-bao said, “After coming to the US, I have to do household chores. I am clumsy, and I often break things. When I tried to help with chores back in Hong Kong, the domestic helper told me not to bother as whenever I did, she had to do more work since I kept breaking things.” Consequently, one day in New York, he ended up cutting his hand while clumsily washing dishes, resulting in significant bleeding.
“Fortunately, I had learned first aid, so I managed to stop the bleeding myself. The wound was deep, and I was torn between going to the hospital. I thought to myself, ‘I do not have a car, and there are no buses at night. But first, I need to find a hospital. I don’t know anything around here!'” Wong Ka-bao’s mind was in turmoil, considering various options like calling an ambulance or asking a friend to take him to the hospital. However, it was already midnight, and he was reluctant to bother someone. After much contemplation, since the bleeding had stopped and following his first aid knowledge, he believed there was no immediate danger and decided to rest and figure out a solution the next day.
After a night of rest, Wong Ka-bao felt much better; it was a superficial wound. Eventually, he decided against going to the hospital, and within two weeks, the wound had healed on its own. When he later shared this incident with a friend, he learned that if he had called for an ambulance without personal insurance, he would have had to pay $500. “I had no idea medical costs in the US were so high!” He realized the importance of such knowledge, especially for new immigrants.
Upon arriving in the US and before finding full-time employment, Wong Ka-bao mainly took on the role of a “househusband,” managing household chores and dropping off and picking up his children from school. Feeling bored at home, having watched two seasons of a 100-episode TV show twice, he sought a part-time job to pass the time and found a delivery driver position online.
In New York, online shopping is common, leading to a high demand for delivery drivers. Wong Ka-bao took up a delivery driver job to experience working in New York. One particularly extreme instance was working 18 hours in winter. He described his day, saying, “I left home at 6 am, went to the warehouse, picked up the goods, sorted and distributed them, and only got back home at midnight. During these 18 hours, I didn’t leave the car except to buy things like coffee from a nearby café and donuts, which I ate in the car. As you know, there are no public toilets in the US, so I had to go near a tree. I also encountered heavy snowfall, and halfway up a hill, my car slid sideways down because of my lack of driving skills, which made me quite anxious. Dealing with a flat tire, driving for another 18 hours, unable to dine at a restaurant, and having to relieve myself on the street… I had never experienced anything like this in Hong Kong. Additionally, his earnings as a delivery driver were not high due to high taxes in the US. After deductions, his salary was reduced significantly, leaving him feeling disheartened: “I spent so much time working, and my pay might not even be $10 per hour. Staying in the US, I missed my family, and after driving for 18 hours, it felt like working in Hong Kong would yield more income and be more comfortable. So, after a month, I stopped working as a delivery driver.”
Finding oneself in a foreign land, one appreciates the friends around them more. Wong Ka-bao experienced this firsthand. Before obtaining his driver’s license, even buying daily necessities required assistance from friends. He expressed sincere gratitude for his friends’ willingness to help and how their support influenced his outlook on life.
Wong Ka-bao stated, “Friends will always lend a helping hand here because the friends here are very kind. People who have immigrated all know that help is essential. I believe that every immigrant has been helped to some extent during their initial days. So when we see someone needing help, I am more than willing to assist since I have received help before. Knowing that others have helped me, I was able to get through that difficult period.” For example, before he obtained his driver’s license, buying groceries became a challenge. “We needed to go to large supermarkets for our shopping, and it would take about 30 to 40 minutes to drive there. Every week, we would ask different friends and relatives to help us by driving us to buy things.”
On another occasion, a Taiwanese friend he had recently met in the US took a day off work to drive him for an errand, a gesture that deeply moved him. “He took a day off work just to help me, and we had only known each other for less than two months! He said that since we all live here, we have to help each other for life to work out. At that moment, I was deeply touched.”
Wong Ka-bao’s story embodies the life of many “new immigrants.” Moving to a foreign land necessitates readjustment to a new environment, making new friends, and facing various challenges. However, with a grateful heart and perseverance, one can always lead a different life.
From fishing villages to metropolises, Hong Kong harbors exceptional talents. Some say Hong Kong is a paradise for adventurers, as well as a haven for wisdom and diligence. The civility, courage, and resilience of Hong Kong people shine brightly in critical moments, demonstrating immense tolerance and compassion.
“Hong Kong people” now represent a spirit that continues to shine no matter where in the world they are. There are unique individuals connected to Hong Kong, adding color to its culture and spirit. Look out for the new program “Drifting Legends,” delving into the lives of prominent and ordinary individuals, sharing their legendary stories.
For this edition of “Drifting Legends,” watch the entire content online.
– “Drifting Legends” Production Team