“I feel everything deeply”

Hong Kong Homies is a series where we get deep real fast with Hongkongers.

Anthea Suen, Busker, 20s

On Life
I laugh easily, and I cry very easily. I often find myself going from extreme happiness to extreme sadness within a day. A few years ago, while I was in university, I would become so angry all of a sudden, crying and yelling at my friends.  I’m much better with my emotions now. Still, when I’m sad, I cannot work. All I could feel is my emotions and I cannot do anything. But sometimes, I like that I’m oversensitive. I feel everything deeply. Even though sometimes it can feel like everything is crumbling around me, it makes me feel alive.

“I’ve found that eating spicy food when you’re sad really does help.”

On Food
A friend told me once that when she gets sad, she goes for spicy food, because no one would find it weird even if she was crying in public. She said it was a poetic thing to do. I thought I’d give it a go, and I’ve found that eating spicy food when you’re sad really does help. I read that it helps the release of endorphins, which makes you feel good. It’s become a ritual for me to go to TamJai SamGor Mixian [restaurant] when I’m sad. Now, when I ask my close friends out to a TamJai dinner – it’s basically code for “I’m sad and need to talk.” We would sit there for hours and have heart-to-hearts.

On Work
Ada, a friend of mine, was a busker, and she introduced me to her fellow buskers. I remember during our first meeting, they were practicing just outside the Cultural Centre, and I was struck by their passion. I am now a drummer on their busking team. One time, I decided to sing. But when I started, people lost interest and gradually the crowd dispersed. They all left!