So my dear mum & dad, Hong Kong is so cool. I arrived on June 3rd due to the visa problem (restrictions on mainlanders) and went thru the Custom in Luohu, Shen Zhen. It was hott there and I could barely sleep at night. Too hard to intake oxygen when the air pressure was so low. Hong Kong was no better, in terms of weather. I live in the Graduate Hall in Hong Kong University. Jeez, on the top of a mountain. Everytime I look up I have the impression that our buildings touch the clouds. I arrived at 12ish around noon and followed the flow to Central. We went in and out of the cif towers, the buildings on every postcard you see of HK. We got food at Pret a Manger. To me, just a variant of au bon pain, with small sandwiches. We were expelled from the balcony, from the window seats, from the benches -- everywhere while eating. "The suits are coming..." Some people among us, Seth, a new Yale graduate, are obsessive with fashion and clothing. I had great lectures on men's suit when we windowshopped (actually went inside with no one coming to us) in Armani, Zara, Zegna, etc. He was like, look at the button wholes, feel the pocket flat not bulging, wow the details (a round pocket corner), slanting stitches are in, cuttings like the 80s, the cuff and wool percentage ("I wont settle for anything below 150. I will ask my tailor to make 220 at a price of 120..."), the width and stuffing (transition) of the collar (pop the collar :D), random tailors in Kowloon ("lose money make friends") and craftsmanship. In the end I had enough of his fashion addiction. I puchased an Octupus (brilliant name for transportation) Card at 7-11 and took the metro and double-decker home. I checked in my room one day earlier so I had to pay extra. Actually it is really nice. I mean you have people change your sheets, sweep your floor, clean the bathroom, fill the waterbottle, and a kitchen with microwave and refrigerator. I have a great view from the window. HKU is a bit like Hawaii (what Seth compares to), with all these jungles, waterfalls, and tropical plants, wall paintings, winding roads. Except that we have to climb all the way up along an almost vertical slope to get to the bus station. Too much exercise. I dont need to go the gym for a while. I was desperate to find that elevator which sends us 9 floors down to the foot of the mountain. Otherwise I would die to commute on these mountain roads. Traffic is crazy as well. I sat on the upper level and am totally blown away by how dangerously and carelessly (seemingly) the drivers conduct the huge vehicle. When it stops at the station, it is barely one finger from the bus ahead. When it turns, I have to cover my eyes coz it almost hits people or crash into buildings. Trees brush the windscreens. So you can imagine how narrow the streets are and how scary it is. So I share the bathroom with a rising senior. She is the coolest girl I have ever seen. She has those crazy adventures in Bangkok, incredible life stories, grand traveling plans and 100 missions in 1000 days, and a very good sense of direction. We did a lot of stuff together. We met people at Lang Kuai Fong, the pub/ party/ happy area. Ironically, we find our way by noticing the KFC sign. It is very expensive there, anyhow, with the 10% service charge. The waiters are demanding us all the time, "Order this, PLEASE!" Linda and I took the metro to meet Pam at the Langham Plaza, Mongkok. This is a new sight, bright, glassy, with millions of people. Pam had a haircut but she does not change much. We were complaining about the crazy Asian sizes ("one size for all in Bankok", says Linda. "No, you cannot fit the size small, girl," says Pam. "All the shocking feedback and mortification I get at home," I say) and walking skeletons and our tanned skin color. However, we ate at Xu Liu Shan and had the fruit dessert plate. Who cares??? We shopped at the Lady's Street and looked for the white not-fake-looking Converse for Pam. I was not good at bargaining so I cut the price by 5 dollars. Anyway, fun night. We took the metro back past midnight. But the bus station was all closed. We had to take a taxi which stopped at an unrecognizable gate. Too bad coz we climbed all the way to our residence (all those stairs...) And this afternoon Linda and I took 970X to Kowloon. She was meeting some random manipulative Asian couples to whom she was supposed to deliver bottles of vitamin. I was just making sure I knew where I would work. Bus - (metro) - exit A - Jordan - Ferry Street. Kowloon is different from Central as it is more local and closer to the 'real' HK in my mind. I got to my working place and Linda met the mean Asian couples with fake smile and fake concerns. The reception started at 6 pm, kicked off by an awkward cocktail hour. The Yale Alley Cats sang for us and lots of alum came also. One lady brought her aspiring-designer-to-be daugther to my table as well. Some rich Korean parents also showed up and gave out name cards to Korean kids. Food is a so-so three course meal. The citi and sino group people will start their assignment tomorrow and it sounds too daunting: sensitivity of the oil price, some Asian country analysis... Saturday morning is also woking hours! But nice pay-off. Oh, money is never a bad thing. I-banking is appealing only in this way. I will see if I can get up at 6am in the morning to go jogging with the other guys to the peak. Seth is nuts, he pictures running to central, his working place and getting back. He is so desperate for good shape, for what, bloomberg sales people are more fit and good-looking than anyone else? Love you, Sj