Shannon Young - Year of Fire Dragons: An American Womans Story of Coming of Age in Hong Kong

The events and conversations in this book are portrayed as accurately as possible, though some have been condensed and rearranged for pacing purposes. Most of the names have been changed to protect the privacy of my friends in Hong Kong. I am still here. One month ago, I left my little apartment above the old police compoundwhich is covered in bamboo scaffolding and changeand moved into a new flat with Ben. He is now my husband.

Shannon Young

Mid-Autumn, 2013

Not only a riveting coming of age story, but also a testament to the distance people will travel for love. Shannon Young is the voice of the millennial generation and anyone who has ever built a new life abroad. Susan Blumberg-Kason, author of Good Chinese Wife

Year of Fire Dragons evokes all of the wonder of being in love as a young expat while capturing the true romance of Hong Kong. As you delight in Shannon Youngs deftly written coming-of-age story, you might just find yourself falling for this fiery city where East meets West. Jocelyn Eikenburg, Speaking of China

Lifes twists and turns are like the tail of a dragon, but this intrepid American millennial holds on tight to her dreams to carve out her place (creatively, financially and romantically) in Hong Kong a world far from home. Shannon Youngs delightful memoir shows us that true discoveries are made when we let go of who we think we are and embrace who we might become. Leza Lowitz, author of Here Comes The Sun: A Yogis Journey of Adapting and Adopting in Japan

After moving halfway around the world for love, Shannon Young unexpectedly finds herself living alone in Hong Hong. One brave, adventurous step at a time, she finds her footing in her new city and in her own life. Lisa McKay, author of Love at the Speed of Email and founder of Modern Love Long Distance

Shannons memoir was so inspiring because it shows that two people can live so far apart in the world and yet be so committed to love. Jane Cornelius, author of Baby and a Backpack

This book is for my husband. Thank you for making me laugh, being my friend, and forgiving me when I set things on fire in the kitchen. Most of all, thank you for bringing me to Hong Kong. I love our life together, and wouldnt want it any other way.

Year of Fire Dragons

eBook ISBN 978-988-13765-0-3

Paperback ISBN 978-988-13764-1-1

Published by Blacksmith Books

Unit 26, 19/F, Block B, Wah Lok Industrial Centre,

37-41 Shan Mei Street, Fo Tan, Hong Kong

Tel: (+852) 2877 7899

www.blacksmithbooks.com

Copyright 2015 Shannon Young

www.shannonyoungwriter.com

akindleinhongkong.blogspot.com

The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Also by Shannon Young:

The Art of Escalator Jumping

Pay Off: How One Millennial Eliminated Nearly $80,000 in Student Debt in Less Than Five Years

The Olympics Beat: A Spectators Memoir of Beijing

How Does One Dress to Buy Dragonfruit?: True Stories of Expat Women in Asia (editor)

I would like to thank the people who have been instrumental in the creation of this book.

For their company and encouragement: Betsy Cheung, Laura Cook, Suvi Lampila, Helen Innes, Amanda Tong, Kaitlin Trowbridge, Marie Sweetman, Willow Hewitt, Terri Chan, Rachel Marsh and everyone else who has come to Holly Brown to write on a Tuesday night.

For their online friendship and support: Susan Blumberg-Kason, Jocelyn Eikenburg, Lisa McKay, Leza Lowitz, Mel Ulm, Laura Besley, ML Awanohara, Tom Carter, Joyce Barnes, Julie Fritz, Ressie Ho, Ana Costa, Kaela Chow and everyone else who has read and commented on A Kindle in Hong Kong over the past four years.

For making my time at the school in Kowloon Bay so precious: Grace, Flora, Fung, Celine, Winnie, Sean, Candy, Hilda, Stella, Rita, Cherry, Olivia, Wing Man, Anderson, Joseph and of course, Alex.

For their advice on the publishing business: Kevin Conroy Scott, Xu Xi, Marshall Moore, Kelly Falconer, Mike Tsang and Susan Blumberg-Kason.

For reading many rough drafts and offering excellent feedback: Kaylee Peelen, Stephanie Barnoff, Whitney Galletly, Kaitlyn Godfrey, Chelsea Nieuwoudt, Hollie Ivany, and Ayden and Julie Young.

For being a first-rate critique partner and a boundless source of inspiration: Jane Cornelius.

For allowing me to share the letters she wrote during her time in Hong Kong: my grandmother, Donna Young.

For his confidence in this story and his work to make the book a reality: Pete Spurrier.

For the beautiful cover I cant stop staring at: Cara Wilson.

And finally, thank you to my family for your constant encouragement and belief in me, especially my parents, Ayden and Julie Young, and all my siblings. Thank you, also, to my in-laws for welcoming me into your family here in Hong Kong.

T he fire dragon trundled toward me through the crowded street. Smoke curled from the incense sticks protruding from its long, thin body like thousands of spines on some mystical porcupine. Sweat poured down the face and back of every spectator. The fire dragon wound back and forth through the streets, faster and faster, dancing to the beat of drums. A wave of cheers rippled through the crowd each time it came near. The drums rattled the high-rises, the dragon danced, and the pavement shuddered under our feet.

This was the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong, a time to celebrate the moon goddess and her flight across the sky.

My flight wasnt like that of Change, the goddess who escaped her lover in a blaze of luminescence. I was flying toward mine. His gravitational field had pulled me across the sea, drawn me to a distant isle of fire dragons and skyscrapers. Id follow him anywhereeven to Hong Kong. We hadnt lived in the same country since wed met, but this was our chance to be together, to build a life in the city where he grew up.

But one month ago, his company sent him to London.

I first met Ben in London, at a fencing club. I was a bookish American student on a semester abroad. He was an opportunity for a real live English romance, my very own Mr. Darcy, except that unlike Darcy, Ben was talkativeand half Chinese.

Id taken up fencing several years before, attracted by the romance of sword fighting and the fact that it was something unique, historic, literary even. I wasnt bad, and the sport brought me unexpected confidence. It seemed like a great way for an introvert like me to connect with people at the university in London.

When I pushed open the door to the club, the familiar buzz of the scoring machine and the squeak of athletic shoes on the floor reached my ears. I rocked on the sides of my feet, unsure how to join in. Ben came over immediately, introduced himself, and invited me to fence him. I was relieved at being included and already curious about this open-faced young man whose accent I couldnt place. He won our first bout by one point; he always said I wouldnt have dated him if I had been able to beat him.

We fenced a few more bouts, and then sat cross-legged in our matching gear, masks forgotten on the floor. He prodded at my shy shell; he asked me questions, joked about fencing, told me he was from Hong Kong. He had an eloquent vocabulary mixed with an offbeat sense of humor. He didnt seem to mind when people didnt get his jokes. He put me at ease, and I found myself stealing glances at him as I adjusted my equipment and met the other fencers. By the time I changed my shoes and left the gym, I was already lecturing myself about reading too much into his attention. I didnt want to get swept away, blinded by the novelty of an international fling. But it was too late.