It’s good to be back here. I’m teaching for the third year in a row at the University of Hong Kong. The first class was yesterday, and I have an excellent group of students. They’re studying for Master’s degrees. We set up weblogs on the first day, and will be working on them in the weeks ahead.
The frenetic pace in this city is remarkable. Someone memorably called it “Manhattan on speed,” an accurate description. To say that people work hard here is the grossest kind of understatement.
The hotel where I’m staying charges HK$20 (about US$2.50) to connect my PC to the Internet. I can take cab to the university for less money. Ridiculous, and greedy on the part of the hotel.
Similarly crazy is the charge for laundry. An old Hong Kong hand introduced me to a small laundry around the corner, where they charge by the pound. Another lost opportunity for the hotel, but another opportunity for me to support the hard-working local merchant.