Summary

Best investment: Bass guitar and headphone amp (~1500 HKD)

Fills free time, get to practice a lot (nothing to distract me from playing bass), lots and lots of fun. Last night spent like 45 minutes working out a David Byrne's "Strange Overtones" that combines the bass line and rhythm guitar part in a slap line. So satisfying once I got it.

Best technology: Skype (100 HKD for minutes, ~150 HKD for webcam)

I get to talk to my family, and videochat with friends. There is no downside to that. Other than I have to worry about my appearance when videochatting.

Best discovery: Shortcuts

When I first got here it took me about 30 minutes to get from the top of campus down to the bottom, and that also took a lot of effort as well. Now it's a series of not-that-bad stairwells and lifts. Takes about 15 minutes, which is great considering...

Worst Inconvenience: The campus bus system

It's designed to be convenient, but to be polite: fail. During class hours busses come to each stop at 20 after the hour (classes are scheduled until 15 past the hour), but if you miss that bus right after class, you're either walking, going to a different stop, or waiting 20 minutes until another bus shows up. Then you factor in the fact that professors struggle with letting you out on time. Case in point: I've never been on time to my English class. Not once. Thanks, Mandarin class.

Best food: Roughly, "Cha siu fan"

Pork, rice, veggies, sauce. Easy to order, cheap, and pretty tasty. I can say it without embarassing myself too badly. You always feel bad when you make the lady taking your order get off her stool so you can both walk over to the menu so you can point at what you want.

Biggest non-issue issue: Chinese guy who can't speak Chinese (me)

Went into Shatin mall Monday to go and try to find someplace that changes money (going traveling this weekend). Needed help, asked two older ladies at an information booth. In English. Much muttering, embarassed smiles, and wondering aloud "He's Chinese, why doesn't he speak Chinese?" I understood that, and tried in Mandarin. Much muttering, embarassed smiles, but no more wondering aloud. Maybe it's not me?

Thing I should fix: Tie - camera and sunglasses

Camera has a dust mote stuck inside the lens ruining some of my shots. As for my sunglasses, a few days ago I went to go take them out of the case my dad gave me, and I grab one end, pull it out, and pull out one earpiece and one lens. I think a screw fell out, but long story short it's in two pieces.

Most convenient: Octopus card

Thank goodness for the Octopus. If you ever stay in HK for any period of time, you'll know the power of the eight armed card.

Most friendly:

Canadians. No idea why, but it's true!

Least friendly: Chinese people

So. Much. Glaring.

Hardest class: Mandarin

Gahhhhhh....should study more

Easiest class: English

Gahhhhhh...should apply myself more

Biggest waste of time class: Meanings of Life

Gahhhhhh....should do the readings/I don't think the professor would make it in the US academy

Most confusing class: Microeconomics

Sam in class: "Um...what?"

Biggest detractor of the USA: Professor for my HK/China/World economy class

This man just hates on the US banking system. Every punch line is "Lehman Bros and Freddie Mac." With good reason too.

Biggest undoing: Heat

Way too hot to workout => (relatively) out of shape Sam. Weather has been cooling down, so I'm back at it though...

I have too much: Spare change.

Seriously, knock it off. Stop giving me two 50 cent pieces instead of a one dollar piece. C'mon.