New faces often ask: What does it feel like to be alone in a big city? What to do at the airport? What is the plan of action? We asked the model Kristina Maint, Image Models, who recently arrived in Hong Kong, to tell us how she spends her first day in a foreign country and how she gets acquainted with the agency.
Kristina Maint: “We landed at Hong Kong Airport. I get off the plane and go with everyone to the immigration post. There you need to fill out a special card (as an option, it is issued on the plane). At the control desk I show my work visa (now it is in electronic form), I get stamps and retrieve my luggage. You can always look at the scoreboard for the number of the tape you need. Today is my fifth tape. I pick up my suitcase and go to the airport express to get to the centre.
It is not my first time here, so no one greets me. I take a ticket at the terminal (you can also get one at the checkout) and I buy food. You won’t miss a stop — everything is on the scoreboard in the cars. In the centre, I follow the signs to the subway and go to Chai Wan where my apartment is. My neighbour must wait for me as I do not have the keys yet.
I’m at the place. Great — everyone has their own room, a neighbour from Hungary hands me the keys and runs off to the casting. I take a shower, get ready and go to the agency. I’m tired, of course, but I need to go and say hello in person, take some pocket money for a week and gather information about castings. I hope we won’t take snaps today — I look very tired after the flight.
I look for a scout in the office and I get to know everyone. I give presents (I always bring our sweets or souvenirs). I get money and a schedule for castings. Already today I need to be at two, five are planned for tomorrow. We decide to take snaps later.
I go to the store, buy food and ready-made dishes, since I no longer have the strength to cook today. I come home, eat, and then reply to everyone’s messages that everything is OK, and go to bed — there is a busy week ahead…”.
