Despite growing up in Hong Kong, Phoebe Wong had no idea what to expect when she decided to take her first full-time job in Macau. The 23-year-old left her Kowloon home at the age of 17 to study finance at the University of Washington. After completing her studies in the United States, Ms Wong spent a year travelling and doing part-time jobs, before returning in July last year.
'When I came back to Hong Kong, I really wasn't thinking that I would be working in Macau, that just wasn't something that entered my mind,' she said. 'It was just the job opportunity came up and, after weighing it all up, I don't think I would have found a better offer.
'So far my impressions are that it is a lot less crowded than what I am used to, things are slower and there is not a great deal to do, but the place is growing on me.'
Ms Wong took a job in April as a co-ordinator in the planning and analysis department at Wynn Macau. The finance-based role involves doing reports and examining data for the mega resort in the heart of Macau.
'The job is great and it is what I was looking for, so that is all really good,' she said. 'I know the gaming industry is growing so it is not surprising that there are good opportunities.'
Ms Wong said she had been to Macau a few times with her parents when she was young, but had spent most of the time in a children's day care. The first time she really got to see Macau was when she visited with friends last year for a Black Eyed Peas concert at Venetian Macao.