Just played two consecutive nights of mahjong. One word to sum up the experience - fantastic! I’m really using the free time this semester very well indeed. I’m glad I found many more mahjong khakis - and very enthusiastic ones to say the least!

I don’t know why I like this game. As much as I don’t understand people who find mahjong boring and a waste of time, they probably can’t comprehend the ultimate joy of getting a 清一色 (All-one-color) or even a 大三元 (Three-fortunes).

Contrary to the popular belief, I do not see mahjong as a form of gambling. It’s really more like a social activity where groups of friends get to together to catch up, play and get excited during the whole process. You bitch about your work and your lives. You gossip. You joke. It’s all these (random) conversations during a session that spice up the whole game.

When we play, we like to set the maximum loss limit to $10. After all, the goal of the game is to win, and not EXTERMINATE your friends. That said, I can’t understand how people can play mahjong without money at all. The whole psychology of the game really just changes. It’s amazing how an introduction of a bit of money flow during the game can set the whole excitement flowing, without burning too huge a hole in our pockets too.

Oh- did I mention that I enjoy mahjong more with booze?