Yu Sum Cheng

I am Sam Cheng, a Mathematics student from Hong Kong. I have been a long-time member of the Society, and I am shocked to see many students gathering around every Friday night just to play one game for two hours. People from different background, whether they are veterans or rookies, Asians or non-Asians, have the passion in Mahjong, which is inspiring. Every time I come to a Mahjong session, I just go with the flow, as I sometimes sit in a table with regular players, while at other times I play with strangers, and sometimes these people are unfamiliar with the game. However, I always find it very fascinating to teach newcomers about Mahjong, and seeing people's willingness to learn about such a complicated game is very uplifting. Even if it takes a longer time for newer players to get used to the rules, I enjoy the teaching experience, since it is a way for me to express my interest in Mahjong.

When I play with newbies, I always try my best to explain different aspects of Mahjong, from the basic rules to point counting, and I always have a game or two to start with for easier explanation of rules. When they make mistakes, I always explain why it does not work, solving their confusion with the rules. Besides, for people who cannot read tiles, I guide them to what each tile means. I hope, as a technical instructor, I can enable people to appreciate the art of Mahjong.