When people describe me, they think of a reserved and gentle fellow. Still, I'm quite a sociable person, without being superficial nor too forthcoming. People also say that I'm polite and thoughtful; I would hardly disagree. If you talk to me, you'll find that I have very considered opinions.

I moved to Canada at a tender age, and so I think between two cultures. From my Chinese heritage, I am respectful, dutiful, honourable, loyal, and stoic. From my Canadian upbringing, I am socialist, compassionate, independent, liberal, and free-thinking.

Because of these two complementary influences, I have some pretty interesting beliefs. For instance, I like to mix modern norms with traditional forms; I really am a modern man but I do prefer the dignity of age.

I am far too wise for my own good.

I am eccentric, stalwart, and tender

Currently, I'm a software hacker working for a small company in downtown Montreal. But I tell people that I'm a photographer, because saying you're a programmer leads to only two conversations. The job's great: the hours are good, the co-workers are awesome, and it's a pleasure to work there. So I'm pretty happy on that front.

In my spare time, I try to entertain a diverse set of hobbies. I'll go to the cinema or the theatre with friends. I'll go shopping with some others. I'll go see concerts by myself. Or I'll invite people over for a dinner party. If I time left over from that, I'll typically hack on some Free Software.

I plan on getting into a Master's programme one of these days. I used to be more excited about this, but I've decided to take it more slowly. Now I submit papers to conferences and try to get published. And if I don't, I still travel in order to meet people who do interesting things.

After pursuing graduate studies, I aspire to become a professor. I'd like to do research in user interfaces, but honestly I have a greater desire to shape the dreams of young minds. If I ever get rich, I'll start a non-profit organisation. If I get stinking rich, I plan on becoming a professional philantrophist.

I have a good grasp of how to take care of people: myself, and my friends. You could say that I'm really good at being responsible.

And since I'm good at that, I've had a chance to develop myself in other ways. I am a very decent cook, for instance. I can write reliable, useful, pleasant software. I take surprisingly pleasing photographs. I can read super-fast. I'm a decent amateur carpenter. I can solve complicated abstract problems with logic. I make a decent amateur electrician. I can churn out legible prose. I'm a good driver. My Google-fu is astounding, and card indices love me.

I'm an excellent listener.

I used to be a nice contralto, but then my voice cracked and I can't sing in key anymore.

Actually, people don't notice very much about me at first. I tend to be slightly introverted, so I'll watch new people from afar to see what they're like. You could say that I'm pretty non-descript.

Books: How could I possibly choose? I have read voluminously for as long as I can remember; it is as natural as breathing. To start, I suppose, I must admit that I'm partial to the short story. But I don't turn down a novel nor a poem. I read literature and fiction, with a soft spot for the golden age of science fiction. Plays, I adore. And I read non-fiction of every kind.

Movies: I have to admit that I don't want very much cinema. I think I prefer independent films more than mainstream ones, which is good because the little cinema in much cheaper. I have yet to get through all the classics, but I aspire to some day.

Music: I've just started learning to appreciate music, so my tastes are wild and difficult to place. I think I like music across all genres as long as the lyrics as lyrical and the music is skillfully played. From past to present, music that represents my taste include: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Holst, Wagner, Scott Joplin, The Beetles, Simon and Garfunkel, the Mamas and the Papas, the Bee Gees, Kate Bush, The Weakerthans, The Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, Katie Moore, Franz Ferdinand, and Kobayashi.

Foods: Oh dear, another category where I'm at a loss. I adore food. I love to feed myself and feed my friends; food is love. I'm quite capable of cooking French, Italian, and Chinese food to a respectable degree. I'm also fond of Indian, Mexican, and Vietnamese. My own personal weaknesses include Cantonese soups, baguette, chicken pot pie, duck confit, channa masala, steak tartare, lasanga, steamed dumplings, chili on toast, avgolemono, sashimi, dim sum, borscht, croissants, butter chicken, and so on and so on... Another quirk of mine is that I love making desserts, but hate eating them, so I love to invite people over for dinner.

I'm stoic enough to think that I could do away with all my material possessions. But I like my comforts, so I normally surround myself with the best of conveniences. When I travel, I'm quite capable of living out of a backpack.

That being said, I think I'd rather not part with:

• Pencil and paper, for fixing my thoughts.
• My kitchen cleaver, for chopping food.
• My eyeglasses, so that I can still see.

I'm afraid I really can't think of two more.

I think about everything really; if my mind isn't occupied, then I'm terribly bored. You can find me considering how to make a better chocolate mousse. Perhaps I'll be trying to recite a poem I used to know by heart? I spend a bit of time pondering the socio-political-economic ramifications of computers and networks. You can get me into a heated debate about ethics, or philosophy, or art. I even walk to the bus in the mornings trying to solve problems at work.

Recently, I've branched into thinking about shallower things, like how I look, how I speak, and how I present myself. This has the added bonus that I dress fairly sharply now and have started to acquire good taste in clothes.

There are no typical Friday nights for me. But I could be doing one of the following things:

• Working late at the office to meet an important deadline? I'll usually take Monday morning off if I've been doing that.
• Seeing a band at la Sala Rossa.
• On the train to another city, to attend a party or a concert. Perhaps I'm travelling to visit friends and family?
• Hanging out with people at Réservoir, indulging in good beer, great food, and excellent conversation.
• Taking in a film at Cinéma du Parc.
• At a friend's house having dinner and playing party games.
• Reading a book or writing in my journal.
• Enjoying the last days of summer in Parc Jeanne-Mance, which is right across from my flat.

Although I have the public image of a reserved and cautious person, in my heart of hearts I want to be go on exciting adventures fraught with intrigue and spiced with danger. I am very good, however, at repressing these desires.