I woke up early this morning to fit in more studying. It is difficult devoting time to academics when there are so many more interesting things going on around me, but grades will be the only tangible proof I know anything at the end of it all.

After my classes finished for the day, I went to a confluence dinner sponsored by the university and businessmen from across Hong Kong. I was unlucky enough to be stuck at an IT (Internet Technology) table, and the sad truth of many Asian IT employees is that they are not the world’s most interesting people. I fulfilled a self-imposed three questions for each of them about their work and emerging technology. It was torturous laughing at their jokes.

Thankfully, there were plenty of interesting students at my table who were able to carry on the conversation. We talked a lot about the North Korea nuclear issue as it is very serious for much of Asia. Although engineering students do not study politics, in many ways I often find their points of view much more interesting than those who study the social sciences.

Technically-minded students are not interested in sounding eloquent or displaying their vast (and often irrelevant) knowledge base. Instead, they get right to the point with the intent of solving the problem.

Further, a religious adherence to the scientific method dictates the flow of discussions. Topics are approached with the intent of finding a solution. It is much more rewarding than the all-too-common discussions where many opinions are stated, but little headway is made. Perhaps the more likely explanation is that I say all of this because I am an engineering student…

After the dinner I went to a pub night sponsored by my hall. It was strange going to a school-sponsored drinking activity on campus. The drinking age is only 18 in Hong Kong, and the students are not able to consume unruly amounts of alcohol. Indeed, Asians are notorious for becoming red in the face after only one beer.

One of the funnier moments of the night was when I was forced onto the stage to sing Asian pop music. I was given headphones that played famous songs in Chinese, and I did my best to imitate the words into the microphone. There was plenty of laughing at my expense, but I did not mind because I wasn’t the one having to endure my voice.