What is a home?
A birthplace? A passport? A language spoken without thought?
No—home is not where you begin, but where you choose to become.
It is not something you are given; it is something you choose—repeatedly until the choosing becomes identity.
Ilnur Minakhmetov is our protagonist today.
Born in Kazan, a city deep in the north where winters are long and the air still, he left behind the familiar—not to escape, but to seek.
To seek something deeper, something unknown.
He came to Hong Kong not to stay, but to try.
To teach English for a year or two. To see the world.
But the world saw him back.
And this city—wild, sleepless, electric—held a mirror to his soul.
Since 2012, Ilnur has been teaching English in Hong Kong.
What began as a short-term plan to gain overseas experience slowly unfolded into a thirteen-year journey of belonging.
Through his students, he rediscovered the meaning of education.
Through the rhythm of the city, he found a sense of place—and purpose.
From classrooms to community halls, from school lectures to public forums, he has not only taught but also fully immersed himself in the life of this city—its present and future.
Ilnur is deeply engaged with local issues.
Each year, when the Chief Executive delivers the Policy Address, he reads it closely.
He is often invited to share his thoughts on education, multiculturalism, and social development on local radio and in the press.
To him, a teacher is not merely a bearer of knowledge, but a participant in civic dialogue — an agent of change.
His presence extends far beyond the classroom.
Art exhibitions, cultural talks, community forums, charity dinners — wherever there is conversation about Hong Kong's future, he shows up with curiosity and care.
He is also a devoted chronicler of his daily life.
On Instagram, he shares images and insight — posting a dozen or more stories daily to document the people he meets, the causes he supports, and the city he embraces.
"It's not about showing off," he says. "It's about showing what Hong Kong truly is — diverse, vibrant, and alive."
But the journey hasn't been without struggle.
Language barriers, cultural differences, and the city's relentless pace have tested him — at times, even made him question his place.
Yet he did not retreat. He leaned in.
Though not fluent in Cantonese, he reached across with body language, questions, and a genuine effort to understand the city's history and soul.
To him, proper integration is never surface-level. It is a matter of the heart.
That is why he never considers himself an outsider.
"I'm not a foreigner living in Hong Kong," he says. "I'm the permanent resident."
He advocates for inclusion and cares deeply about sustainability, the arts, and the future of education.
He encourages fellow expatriates to engage, to contribute, to belong.
Because he believes that only when everyone participates can Hong Kong become a fairer, more inclusive, and truly global city.
"I'm not just passing through," he says. "This is my home."
This is Ilnur's story — but it is also the story of thousands who have chosen to root themselves here.
They are not merely visitors.
They are part of this city.
Hong Kong is the home they chose.
(Reporter: Zoey Sun / Videographer: Jack Wang, Ian Lau, Sammi / Video Editor: Felcia Li / Editor: Zoey Sun & Felicia Li; Cover Design: Shing)
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