"Two prisoners look out the window..."

Today I feel overwhlemed by homesickness. It feels like I'm drifting further and further from my goal of returning to Hong Kong. I'm worried, dead worried, about being stuck in this hellhole forever. Damn, how I miss Hong Kong. How I miss her skyscrappers in Central. How I miss her masses of people in Causeway Bay.

How I miss the feeling of entering the cool and metallic car of the MTR. How I miss lying on the edge of the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui and viewing the beautiful neon lights emitted by the IFC and China Bank buildings. How I miss looking at the young lasses in their hot pants and miniskirts. I even miss the food at Cafe de Coral.

But in order to move back to HK, I'll need to have an adequate income. At this point, there seem to be very few opportnities for pharmacists in Hong Kong. So my plan is to get a degree in medicine and try to practice med in Hong Kong with a Canadian MD degree. But even that route would be tough. Even if I were *lucky* enough to be accepted, how will I handle the physical and financial toll of being a med student?

After I do the mental accounting, the situation seems even more dire. I'll likely be pulling in 4000 a month as a pharmacist. 1000 will go towards rent. 300 will go towards my outstanding student loan. 400 will go towards a car, leaving me with about 2000 dollars. Actually, I suppose it is okay.

"Two prisoners look out the window. One sees mud, the other sees stars." - Oscar Wilde

One voice in my head is telling me: "Stephen, why bother trying so hard? It looks like you're going to be stuck in Vancouver for good."
Another voice from my heart says: "Stephen, it is because you love Hong Kong that you have to work hard. If you give up now, you'll never be in Hong Kong."

Let's hope I heed the voice in my heart.