-Malaysian Studying in Japan-

I and Greetings to my Prof

2009-11-13T20:22:00.005+09:00

I have a very bad habit.

Especially in greetings. Not to forget. Greetings is the most important thing you should do in Japan.

In my secondary days, I have this weird habit of greeting the others before the assembly. It has been a habit since my secondary days. Thanks to it. Though I have a number of school transfers, I still get people to remember well.

But, it has proven to be a big blow to me now.

I had the weirdest way of greeting to my Japanese friends.

"YOHHH!"

Rap style greeting. Sometimes I will just say `Good morning` if I am a bit tired or not into the mood.

Something to prove that I am there or to show that I am hyperactive or `existence` for years in Japan.

It proved to be the worst way once I got into my desired lab. I used that style to greet my friends in the lab. It was such a coincidence that my prof was behind me by that time. Immediately I apologized and give my greetings.

The next day morning,

"YOHHH!!!"

Guess who said it?

Me?

No.

Its from my prof to me.

Now tell me. How should I fix this?

I and GoroGoro

2009-11-10T00:27:00.002+09:00

OK, sorry for the lack of updates. I felt guilty about it either.

What is gorogoro? In Japanese, it is often written in Katakana which is ゴロゴロ.

#1 A paintbrush???

This is something we used for Gorogoro.

#2 Something we used to get rid of the hairs on our clothing

Maybe it has slimming effects unless you have your clothes on.

#3 Oops! Wrong move.

#4 How I used it.

I am living in the highlands. Plus, my house is just next to the main road where dust will storm and rush into my house. In order to get rid of the dusts, I got myself a few carpets in my room where I could prevent the dust coming in.

But, it is just a control of dust intervention after all. Not all dust can be prevented from coming into my room. All the dust are stuck in the carpet. It will not be a good way putting it into the machine to wash. So gorogoro might be the perfect way.

#5 And what I got out of it...

It is made of layers of sticking papers. So you an just peel the dirty part and throw the piece away and you may do your next gorogoro.

I and Kenben

2009-11-06T01:24:00.006+09:00

I have posted something similar like this in the past. But it looks like the time has come again for me to post it again.

kenben, 検便 is known as feces test. It is often handed out to the part-timers in certain companies. In the place I worked they have the test tube given to us twice in a year. There were places that does it 3 or4 times annually. The part I dislike is that the test fee is deducted from our salary.

>updated part<
Why is it compulsory? In the food industry, this kenben test is common. It is a general issue to them when it comes to kenben. In order to guarantee the customers that the food served is prepared by healthy people (安心、おいしい、きれい?). It is an easy test to determine whether the examiner is down with parasites, dangerous worms or bacterias.

Would you as a customer realized whether the food consumed is prepared by an ill person? We would not know about it either. If anything goes wrong, the management will be at fault. So it is something responsible for both sides to do to prevent such problems happening.

#1 The test tube

#2 The spade part you use to dig the specimen

How much does it costs then?

150yen. (RM5.60)

Heard it is going to double by next year.

If you could not hand it over before the deadline, you can go right to the toilet to get a simple small sample of it FRESH and hand it to your boss.

>Updated by 2009/11/7 Sat. 19:00<

Full Moon 11/4

2009-11-05T14:00:00.004+09:00

Today I will be posting pictures.

These photos were actually taken last morning which is 2009/11/4. I was supposed to take a few snaps of the Orion but failed to do so as the stars to dull to bright. But, I was lucky that the sky was clear and the Full moon was beautiful.

It was taken around 4am and using DSLR Olympus E-420 with a focus length of 17.0-42.0mm.

Not to forget, taken under 7℃...

I and Happoushu

2009-11-04T23:28:00.002+09:00

Most of my foreign friends who drinks beer would always asked me this question. Why is the beer in Japan cheap and delicious?

Well, it is not beer they have ordered. We could consider it as beer. But scientifically it is consider as alcoholic drinks which we refer as the "Third Beer",「第三種ビール」or low-malt beer. It is much known widely as sparkling spirits or Happoushu, 「発泡酒」.

If you were wondering which category does raw beer, namabi-ru生ビール where you order in the isakaya belongs to It also listed inside the Third Beer list. It is strange but I found out that is the way of Japanese business. You could not differ whether the drink is Happoushu or beer anyway unless you have a good tongue.

I am a fan of Guinness myself. I must admit that the use of hard water in the fermentation process was fantastic. It gave me the idea of usage of hardness of water in the fermentation culture in Europe and East Asia. (Japanese manufacturers mostly used light water)

Happoushu commonly has 25-50% malt content. But recent Happoushu fermentation technology has evolved into a stage where malt content lies below 25%. Compared to beer which has malt content of 50% and above, Happoushu is cheaper according to the Japan`s alcohol taxing system. As additional information, Japanese alcohol taxing system is divided into 4 parts: >67%, 50-67%, 25-50%, and <25%.

You could get a 500ml Happoushu for around 190yen. For beer, you will need to fork out 260-350yen for 325ml. Of course, you would not know that it is no beer but it is actually liquor itself. It will be better that I describe Happoushu as beer-flavored liquor.

#1 My favorite Happoushu, Mugi to Hop by Sapporo

My favorite Happoushu is Mugi to Hop 100% from Sapporo. It is mixed with barley spirits as a rare trend. Suitable for poor guys like me.

Why am I writing this? The fermentation culture in Japan just rocked my world. Thanks to my lecturer who teaches Fermentation last term. Too bad I got a C for his class.

Reference

-Mugi to Hop from Sapporo (Jap), http://www.sapporobeer.jp/mugitohop/index.html

-Japanese Alcohol Tax System (Jap), http://www.sapporobeer.jp/book/tax/index.html

-Wikipedia on Happoushu, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happoshu

I and 3rd Autumn Timetable

2009-11-04T01:28:00.003+09:00

This is my timetable for Autumn in my 3^rd Year.

#1 Timetable for Bionics 3^rd Year Autumn

	月（Mon）	火（Tue）	水（Wed）	木（Thurs）	金（Fri）
1	English Ⅳ	生物物理(Biophys)		発生工学 (Embryology Engineering)	免疫学(Immunology)
2	English Ⅲ	近代西洋史(Modern History of the West)	バイオセンシングBR (Bio-sensor BR)		薬学論(Pharmacy）
3	タンパク質工学 (Protein Engineering)	研究室 (Lab　Training & Group Meeting)	研究室 (Lab Training)	バイオテクノロジー実験Ⅱ(Biotechnology Experiment 2)	バイオテクノロジー実験Ⅱ(Biotechnology Experiment 2)
4
5

Time for Period 1:9:00-10.30; 2:10.45-12.15; 3:13:15-14:45; 4:15:00-16:15; 5:16:30-18:00

What should I say? Welcome to hell?

At least I am able to make a big sigh about my timetable. By the way, I will not be having any Winter Holiday, Spring Holiday or whatsoever holiday you can think about. Maybe I am already a part of the society.

By the way, I still need to make some time out to spare for job hunting we call syukatsu, 就活（しゅうかつ）in Japanese. The good news is that most of the class I took does not need attendance as a part of the grading system. So I guess my results will be decided by the examination.

But at least I already know that I would not be able to play or sleep well from now on. I am well prepared to not sleep for a day or two. But I still got to sleep in the class and the lab.

To make things much worst, my time to spare for baito has reduced to a quarter. It means I need to save on food and bills. Good grief that I invested on energy efficiency stuffs.

Who says studying in Japan is fun?

It is about early mental and social training of manhood. Thanked that I have faith with myself.

I and Sloppy Roads

2009-10-30T14:10:00.004+09:00

Before I came to Japan, I must admit I looked like any nerds you can find around you. Believed or not, I was err...128kg when I was back there in my first year.

Now, you know the size of my shoe. You know my height too. You also know my weight when I came to Japan. What is the weight now?

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
91kg

The secret?

Walking.

And I mean walking these sloppy roads.

#1 Walking to the station from home every morning (10min walk)

The place I stay is in the highlands and it can be very cooling in the Summer but extremely cold in the Winter.

Since it is in the highlands, it is not rare to see a slopes around the neighborhood.

#2 We even have slopes in school...

Concerning the slope in our school, it has a slope as far as (I dunno). It was built on a mountain after all.

The area of our school is 380,821m². Imagine walking around a campus with that area.

We actually have 15mins after a session to allow us to change classrooms. The truth is we still get to be late to class.

Anybody interested to join the walk?

I wun guarantee whether you will be able to reach the end of the slope...

I and Ultimate Side

2009-10-29T00:11:00.001+09:00

I have probably reached the ultimate side of `something`.

I am good at sleeping. But there is no ultimate side of it. If there is so, it means this blogger with the name of akatsukiotoko has gone into the after world.

Though I was sleeping doing `it`.

You might wonder about the ultimate side I am trying to bring up.

You see.

There were times that I had to sleep in my friend`s place if I did not make it to the last densha. Same to my friends who could not make it into the densha

Then one day, the gang talked about me in the canteen.

A: akatsukiotoko, I am shocked that you could talk in your dreams

Me: You must be joking.（笑）

B: Ehh, you heard him talking in his sleep too??? I actually heard him talking in his sleep too!!!

C: I thought I might be too tired that it was a dream. I thought I misheard it too.

Me: Is this a conspiracy or a joke to scare me?

D: No, it is real. You actually talk in your sleep.

Me: D, you think so too? Are you trying to scare me too?

D: No, but you really talk in your sleep!

(ABCD are Japanese, will relate this to the next post)

I went home. Shocked, Curious and worried.

I went into a friend (who does not know ABCD) and discussed about it.

And he said that I did talk in my sleep. The worst thing is I speak Japanese in my sleep, not in my mother tongue!

Great, I actually speak Jap in my dreams!

I have reached the Ultimate side of mastering the language even speaking Japanese in my sleep.

Nonononono, I need to see a specialist now!

I and His Proud Hobby

2009-10-27T13:34:00.001+09:00

I mentioned about my success of getting into my desired lab.

In our first day, as expected, we were given a chance to do a self introduction before presentations from our senpais started.

As anybody knows well, it is better not to start first. It is better to look at how the situation goes on and follow the flow. I quickly hid behind the line being the last of the line but managed to get into the 10/12^th line.

We talked about where we come from, our hobby, proud moments and our future.

Then it is his turn.

"Everybody, I do not have any proud interest but I have a very nice hobby. "

"I believed everybody has the same hobby like mine. With my humble apologizes to the professor…"

"I am proud to say that my hobby is sleeping."

"Is anybody around here having the same hobby as mine?"

The professor, all the senpais and we soon-to-be-colleagues rise our hands up.

Like him, I am proud to say what I am good at, Sleeping.

(Of course, I did not included it into my own self introduction)

I and DOZO DOZO DOZO!!!

2009-10-25T00:01:00.001+09:00

This is a joke I and my Japanese friends often played around. Quite famous around as a harmony joke. I was shocked when I saw such a joke around in the Japanese environment a few years ago. Then I eventually got involved into it myself. Thought it will be better to share it here telling things that you could not read in books.

Thanks to it. People always said to me that I am indeed a Jap despite being a gaijin myself.

Here it goes.

Inside the office,

A: This task is too hard to be completed. B, I Need some help.
B: Then, I will do it too.

C cuts in

C: No, I will do it then.

D joins in the party.

D: I will I will.

E suddenly cuts in.

E: I will I will.

#1 Dozo Dozo Dozo!!! (something similar)

ABCD: Dozo Dozo Dozo!!!

It was like pushing responsibility around.

Manager: Oii, Urusai! Back to Work!

I and Ochya-no-mizu

2009-10-24T16:00:00.004+09:00

#1 The view from the bridge called Holy Bridge

This is actually the place of my sad sad memories.

2failures. I really do not want to say this but this is the place where I failed my interview for a job, and an University entrance exam.

Those days I will study so hard to get a job in the middle of Tokyo just to think that it was cool to tell people that I worked in the middle of the city. Guess it was a childish thinking. Glad I was young. Now I prefer to work in the kampung sides. I had enough of the 21 years city life.

Bringing up bad memories.

It was my first year in Japan that I was struggling to find a job for living. I am not some rich kid where I can ask for financial assistance from my parents. Those days I had to do 3 part-time jobs in a month. I thought that it was unnecessary for me to make a move that far. But it was hard for me to cope with language problems.

I took so many routes to improve my language. Those days were tough days. I should thank myself for working so hard and got the me today. Little could I imagine how I managed to make it into a Uni studying a year of Japanese.

The job interview to be a teacher was not a wise choice to me anymore.

Failures in life were indeed fantastic. I got to know what is wrong with me.

But I felt like dying now just thinking about it.

#2 The 3 lines involved in the Ocya-no-mizu

Next, the interview exam for the University. It was great news that I passed the 1st screening exam and the paper exams. But it was hell in the interview. People do say that interviewers from top university are very harsh and willing to drop you. They were so scary and the words they are speaking were so hard too hear that I was suspecting I am having hearing difficulties.

As expected, I failed that Uni.

But every time I crossed a bridge called 聖橋 hijiribashi (holy bridge?). I often stopped there and looked into the Akihabara side. Pausing there thinking of the failures, then I thought again, I have to move forward again.

#3 The loop is too fast I guess...

Yes, I better finish my entry sheets now.

I was having a bad headache while writing this post...

Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Nicholai-do （ニコライ堂）

2009-10-20T22:44:00.008+09:00

#1 Nicholai-do

Tokyo Metropolitan is indeed a big place. There are still many other sites I need to explore. In the middle of the Yamanote Line, which is the Ocha-no-mizu station (お茶の水駅) stands the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Nicholai-do which is also a cultural heritage.

I took the time to dropped by there after school since I only have morning classes which makes me free for the whole noon. So, I thought of visiting this place I have been planning to do on my free time.

#2 The introduction board stating the Nicholai-do as the Cultural Heritage

This church is hidden under a number of tall buildings which I have some little trouble locating it. But eventually I got to find the building. Nicholai-do is known as the main cathedral of the Japanese Orthodox Church.

The original building collapsed in the Great Kanto Quake in 1923 and rebuilt in 1929 under funds from making Cathedral choir concerts. Compared to the old Nicholai-do, it has a shorter bell tower, a modified dome and a less ornate interior.

#3 Splendid architecture

I visited the interior and was surprised. Photography was not allowed inside the church so I had to scan the stunning craft works like glass art of the Christianity symbols into my mind. But you can visit the interior with this link.

Yes, a church left by the Russians but maintained by the Japanese.

References
-Wikipedia, Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Nicholai-do
-Homepage, Nicholai-do

I and Being Tall in Japan

2009-10-19T15:38:00.000+09:00

You know I have huge feet. So you know that I am a tall guy. I am 183cm tall now. But I really got to know lots of things from being tall.

Being tall in Japan can be a good thing like getting a wide view from the top. (I assume you know what I mean, keyword:balloon).

Being tall in Japan can bring you big trouble(s)

Old Japanese houses is my enemy. I just could not enter by not leaning my back lower or move softly. If I were not to be careful, cracking sounds will be heard...
Legs are too long that I have trouble bringing the blanket up to my neck. I need 2 blankets for cold seasons.
People will complain if you sit in the front rows.
Having a bad backache for bowing too much.
I must only look for XL T-shirts.
I just could not find the right size for my jeans.
The handles inside the densha will hit your face timeless.
Smelly hairs, dandruff's coming near your face inside the packed up densha.
I could not get a panchira (peeking into panties) while walking up the stairs. Those who are shorter are much more in advantage.

Friends will came to you and say,

「身長ちょうだい！」←Give me some of your height!

「部活参加している？」←Are you in a sports club?
「いや、ないわ・・・」←No, I`m not...
「ええ！？もったいない！」←What a waste!

「どうやってそんなに高いの？」←How did you get that height?

「モテるよね？」←You must be popular.

Friends will do this to you,

Hiding behind you. ←Little kids liked to do this to me
Be their sunblock. ←Get your Umbrellas!!!

Maybe being tall can be fun and suffering at the same time.

I and Katsu Curry in Japan

2009-10-18T01:28:00.003+09:00

Katsu Curry is probably the best curry meal I ever had in my life. No, I should say that the curry, katsu meat and the rice were the best combination that made the perfect Japanese meal. If you are here in Japan, you should never forget about it and try a meal.

#1 Atsukiri Katsu Curry (￥680)

My thoughts about Japanese Curry is that they are not spicy. In Japanese curry restaurants, you will asked to choose the spiciness of the curry (sweet/mild, normal, spicy). I will choose spicy each time I ordered a meal of curry rice. I mean, curry are supposed to be hot and spicy, not sweet.

Also, I just loved Katsu so much I have the feeling to win something (Katsu means win). I just loved it so much I will forget about the diet plan I was supposed to take care of. After a meal which has anything with Katsu, I will go to the game center and try to pick up some big prizes with 100yen coins. Yes, not to forget that I went to play some virtual keiba (horse betting) game inside there where I will try winning some yen back. Yah yah, not to forget the pachinko I was so hooked up once before this, it is irresistible.

Whether I win or not, its not your problem anyway...

#2 I may even win becoming the sole customer of the restaurant

I and Happiest Moment

2009-10-14T12:45:00.003+09:00

山本研に内定した学生さんへ

内定おめでとうございます．

皆さんの作文を読んでやる気が伝わってきました．こちらも皆さんの期待に応えられるよう頑張りますので，よろしくお願いします．

（―省略―）

皆さんの元気な顔をみればこちらも元気になれるというものです．空いている時間があれば遠慮なく研究室を訪ねて下さい．

加柴○○
山本○○

(I edited the infos inside the mail to protect the privacy`s of the individual and organization involved)

#1 The mail I received today

I got my place.

It is probably my happiest day of my life when I received it in my mailbox. For those who are trying to understand the mail I received above, it is mainly congratulating our entrance into the lab. This lab I desired to enter is mainly researching on Anti-aging and Free Radicals. Its one of the famous lab in our school and I was happy that I was accepted into the lab.

Questionnaire
↓
Interview
↓
Examination
↓
Turn in an essay

#2 Road to lab (differs by lab)

akatsukiotoko, Otsukaresama and well done.

Before I enter University in Japan, I was worried after listening to rumours that Science stream courses will be much more busier than Art Stream courses. True, if I were to compare the busyness of these 3 years.

(4th year)>2nd Year>1st Year >3rd Year

#3 The busiest years in a Science Stream Uni in Japan

2nd Year is much more busier due to some reasons. Experiment reports has escalated to 5 per week. By the 2nd year, you got into your desired specialism course. Sufficient compulsory credits must be taken into account at the same time. Dropping credits will not be tolerated. Our school system will be arranged as the followings.

1st Year Bio-electronics/Bio-sensors/ Bio-machinery/ Biology and Environment Studies
↓
2nd Year Biochemical experiments
↓　
3rd Year Biotechnology/Food & Cosmetics/Environment/Clinical Medicine/Robotic and Electronics
(choosing only one kind of course)
↓
4th Year Thesis

#4 Experiment System from 1st year to 4th year

After you got into 3rd year by the Autumn season, it was probably the most crucial period where you decide your future.

First, you have to decide your desired lab. Secondly, it is the starting of your job hunting. You need to get into a lab to make your thesis to graduate. I will elaborate these stuffs some time later since I am starting my job hunting by next week.

OK, decided. Now I am going to show my happy face to my lab and get my lovely table and chair next to the windows!

I and Nomikai

2009-10-11T23:32:00.005+09:00

#1 Before getting drunk...

A reason to make a nomikai?

"You`ve made a girlfriend? Let`s celebrate!!!"

"You`ve just broke up with her/him? Forget about her/him! We`re drinking!"

"You dropped (a) credit(s)? Dun mind! Forget about it! Let`s celebrate!!!"

Lately the gang has been getting weirder. Most probably we are getting more stress in our job hunting. As usual, we have been thinking almost every second. Sometimes, I thought that joining a nomikai makes me forget about those things and enjoy myself with the gang. We chat and we joke. At least somebody is listening.

The frequent drinks that I ordered could be beer or cocktails. But I prefer to take the beer so that I could eat more. I tried getting shochu (Japanese wine) but their alcoholic level is too high for me. Cocktails made by isakaya`s are so perfect that it is so irresistible. You could have ordered another one before start your meal.

During the nomikai, we just kept on drinking and enjoy our chat. Of course, some fun.

#2 Dun worry, we`re not suffocating him.

A senpai of mine advised me that it is better to train yourself in nomikais before you enter the real nomikais in your future working company. Yes, true. At least it is a training before become one of the society.

I and Typhoon

2009-10-10T23:59:00.000+09:00

#1 The strong rain on Wednesday midnight (so strong the rain hit my windows!!!)

Most of you knew (I asuume) that a typhoon just swept across the island of Japan.

The name of the typhoon is known as Melor. But the Japanese dun call it Melor. They call it by numbers. The bigger the number the stronger the typhoon is. For your information, Typhoon Melor is known as typhoon no.18 (台風18号). You see how strong is the typhoon now.

What I know all these years staying in Japan is that there is rarely a typhoon which hits Tokyo directly. I was supposed to have a morning class from 9am on Thursday but we got a school notice from our cellphones that the school will be closed in Thursday.

It was probably the right decision. The densha network in Tokyo was put on halt for 2 hours in the early morning from 7am. If the school was not closed I guess I will be stuck with the crowd waiting for the densha to recover their operation.

But I heard from friends from better Universities that their school was not closed but the class continued as usual. Wow. That was surprising and I will loved to know how many made it to attend the Thursday class.

I have no rights to judge the schools but there are schools who understand their students and made the right decisions for the students. But there were some who will continue with it. I do not blame them because to try to find a day to replace that date is somehow troublesome.

I was supposed to post this on Thursday but laziness win me over. OK, enough of the nonsense.

I lose two shirts to the typhoon which I forgotten to keep it back and I could not find it back in the next afternoon. I looked around the neighborhood but just could not find them.

Bad news. Typhoon no.19 is coming. Lets hope it turn a big U-turn.

#2 Typhoon no. 19 (Nepartak;台風19号) coming near

By the way, a typhoon brings a very hot weather after it swept through the island.

I and Body Clock

2009-10-09T13:32:00.002+09:00

#1 The time where the day and night started has changed

I got a trouble now.

Lately, my body clock has malfunctioned.

The day before yesterday, I slept immediately after I came home. I had two morning classes. I had to admit that the class was so boring that I felt asleep. I do not have work in the evening. I took my time lying on my futon and eventually felt asleep. That was 2pm.

I looked outside after I woke up.

It was still very dark. I could not differentiate whether is it the day or night.

I looked into my watch.

`6.30`

Its an analog watch. No am or pm shown.

I thought, "Day or Night?"

I cooled down for 10 seconds.

I looked into my another digital clock.

The pm is there. It is 6.30pm. Not 6.30am.

The day and night has came earlier that it will take some time for me to adjust my body clock. In the last summer break, I had to overcome my sleeping habits where I could only sleep in the day while stay awake in the night. I knew I worked too hard and overlooked my health management. In order to fix my body clock, I go for running and tried my best to renew my timetable everyday. But now, I had to renew it again because of my school and work timetable has clashed.

Yes, I think my sleeping hours is reduced to 5 now. I know, its about laziness.

I and Coffee

2009-10-08T01:59:00.000+09:00

#1 2 Favorite Coffee(s) in a day

In a day, I will consume at least 2 cans of coffee. That is a must.

Without these, I will...

Case #1

Fall asleep in the class
↓
Could not concentrate in the lectures
↓
In the end of the class we were given a small report
↓
What should I write?

Case #2

Slept in the class
↓
Name being called out
↓
but felt asleep
↓
Became a laughing subject

Case#3
In order to Concentrate in work, unwilling to lose to the sleeping desire inside me. If I felt asleep, my manager will be looking at me with his scary eyes. He does not understand how a working student live.

Since I got into 3rd Year, my day is divided into two. In the morning I will be studying at school. In the evening I will be working till midnight. Basically the first can is for the morning dose while the second can is for the evening dose. Also, my sleeping hours is reduced to 5 hours per day. I will normally sleep for the whole day in my off days. That is why you could not see any travelogue posts in my blog this year.

I could get a 110yen for each can in my campus while it was sold for 120yen outside the campus. There were times the convenient stores sell them for 100yen during the campaign. I will loved to buy a box of coffee but with the wide variety of coffee sold in the market online. I decided not to.

You do not have to go to Starbucks for expensive ice blended coffees in Japan. There are cheaper and great coffee sold in cans. I loved the Cafe au Lait sold by the Suntory. It is my #2 favorite coffee. The sweetness and coffee beans used were perfect. Fresh Creamer from Hokkaido is used in the coffee and gave it a easy to drink beverage feeling.

There were also many coffee shops around the city of Tokyo with a great atmosphere and environment perfect for a student to study and relax. The coffee served are their best and charged in a affordable price. I often spend my evening studying in these coffee shops in my off days.

The pic #1 shown on is my favorite #1 coffee by Georgia, Emerald Mountain coffee beans are used in this coffee. The thick caffeine is so strong that you are able to live on without sleeping for half a day. But I need 2 for a day. The sweetness and creamer used are also in a perfect balance.

Nescafe should send somebody to learn from the Japanese beverage companies.

I and Spring 3rd Year Results

2009-10-07T15:12:00.001+09:00

My 3^rd year was crucial as we began to enter our desired courses. At last I got to do what I loved to do the most by getting my skills of my desired course.

I got my results yesterday. Trust me. I was nervous when my roommate handed me the green envelope.

ドキドキしている～

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh----------------------（泣）

Table #1 Subject and Grades in 3^rd Year 1^st Semester

科目	Subject	評価 (Grade)
科学論	Philosophy of Science	B
生命倫理	Bioethics	A
雇用環境学	Studies on Environmental Employment	B
バイオテクノロジー実験Ⅰ	Biotechnology Experiment Ⅰ	S
有機化学	Organic Chemistry	B
環境バイオテクノロジー	Environment Biotechnology	C
遺伝子工学	Genetic Engineering	B
応用酵素学	Studies on Enzyme Application	B
生体材料	Biomaterial	B
食品科学	Food Science	A
バイオエレクトロニクス	Bioelectronics	C
英語インテンシブⅢ	English Intensive Ⅲ	X

S:100-90 A:89-80 B:79-70 C:69-60 D:59- X: Insufficient attendancy, Absent on Examination Site

To be honest, I had to admit I am not some elite. Compared to the last semester, I think I worked really hard to improve my grades. Well, no complaints, I really worked hard for it. Getting things prepared 2 months before the D-day was the right move!

As I had explained in my earlier posts (though I do not remember which post was it), Biotech Experiments requires long hours of working time like PCR (where you multiply the number of genes). If you are not careful with your work, you would ruin your experiment and have a hard time doing a report where you need to find reasons to the failure of the experiment. My success rate is 68% but we failed one experiment which our group had to find a good and reasonable reason to convince our professors. Imagine the 3 of us searching through the library database while trying to get hints by hunting down the professors. It was great. I just could not wait to get the other 2 to talk about this after the school reopen.

Update: Bad News. I am the only guy who got the S.

I guess somebody will ask this question. “Why no A?” I am looking for an excuse now.

OOhhhh I am so shy and shame to explain the X grade for English Intensive Ⅲ. It is not that I failed the paper but it happened that I had insufficient attendance.

I could not wake up in the Monday morning. I did attend the class but I was always late. No Joke. I worked late in Sunday. Being late for 3 days will mark me an absent. I was late for 11 times which brings me an end to the limit of 3 absents. No complains. I was thinking of talking to this nice teacher of mine but he is such a fair guy that I dun want to give him a hard time. He was doing his job. If some other people knew that he gave me the credit despite the insufficient attendance, who knows what would happen next? I do not want to spoil our friendship for such a matter that I made.

The funny thing is that my friends do not believed that he actually gave me an X. They thought that I got an S this time since I got S`s for the previous 4 English classes. When I told them the reason, they scolded me. 「出ろよ！」It was obvious. Scold me now.

Thanks for reading this post which I am boasting around while the others are getting better results than me.

I and Second Hand Furniture Hunting

2009-10-06T21:03:00.000+09:00

#1 This. Guess how much does it costs?

It costs around 1800yen (RM75) if you bought it from the MUJI store. In Japan, they have lots of furniture shops that sells great furniture. Compared to IKEA, it is cheaper and lighter. Now I understand why IKEA could not win the Japanese consumers heart. It is because their designs and furniture match the Japanese lifestyle very much. Yes, who needs European culture when you are happy with your own culture.

But, I got it for 400yen (RM14.40). The shop placed it for 500yen (RM18). But I talked with the saleswoman and I got 100yen (RM3.60)discount. I should have tried to get it lower to 200yen (RM7.20) since I heard that the the trader will only buy from the sellers in dirt cheap price. The reason is that the traders take the the chance that the sellers are so eager to sell their old stuffs in all costs.

Ok, gotta pack my summer clothes and get my winter clothing out now.

I and Late for work

2009-10-02T15:03:00.001+09:00

#1 Yabe!

Being late for work in Japan is something one should avoid. In short, one will not be easily forgiven for being late.

If you are late, it is a compulsory matter that it is a manner that you apologize to every colleague. You can do that too. There is much a easier way. Make a big apologize in the middle of the office. Easier. But it will be a trouble to those who are concentrating in a certain work. MC? Put on your mask and come to work. We will isolate you away from the office giving you a smooth work.

I was late for ONLY TWICE in my 3 years working in the same place. Worst, if I know I will be late I need to make a call as soon as possible. According to the manual, the call to inform that he/she will be late must be made within 30 mins. Be lucky if your colleague pick up your phone and curse your manager if he picked up the phone. I think you would not make it there in time trying to listen to your manager`s scoldings.

Since I am only a part-timer, so the labour costs control is very tight. If you are unable to come, you could not get a leave. You could only find somebody to take your place. If you could not get here, then you have to come then.

Worst, my colleagues made a stupid rule that the one who was late for work has to pay a sum of money into a piggy bank set there. By the end of the year, we will use the money to make a year end party.

I am still wondering whether can I consider this place as a "black company"?

I and the Sparrow

2009-09-30T05:28:00.001+09:00

#1 DAMN U!!!

I thought, "Am I dreaming?"

A tsubame just shit on me.

A Swallow just shit on MEEEEE!!!!!

Its shit just fell on my hair!!!!

Arghhhhhhhh!!!!

I am so going to make my revenge....

But the summer ended quick...

Instead of destroying the swallow`s nest, most Japanese prefer to leave it alone till the little one grow up. The #1 is taken outside the platform in the nearby densha station although its gone now.

Good luck.

I and Konbini Bento

2009-09-26T02:07:00.004+09:00

#1 Eat while work

Konbini Bentos is probably the cheapest food you could get without having any trouble doing any cooking. The only few meals I could make is a perfect American Breakfast (will make one in the future and post about it) and instant ramens.

Konbini Bentos can be bought for a price of 389-500yen (RM15-20). That is the most affordable price for anybody living in Tokyo. Sometimes if you are lucky you will be able to get a 50% discount in a certain time sale from the supermarket nearby but its freshness cannot be assured.

I should have learn to cook under my family sifu (Mum) before coming to Japan. But it never worked anyway. The last time I went back there, I was sleeping for the whole day. I was never a winner against the sleepy fairy. In the end I was always テキトウ being vague on my meals. Though my colleagues and friends often gave me advices on my food management. It was shocking that they are so good on it. Thanks to their advice that the 110kg (Form 5) me has got down to 89kg though my BMI (27.2) is still above average.

The key after 4 years? Run, run, run.

#2 Miyazaki Tartar Chicken Don ￥420 (RM16) (Family Mart)

Konbini Bentos are mostly prepared under the microwave ovens depending on the types of ovens (500-700W) you use. But it will be better to take meals that were cooked under the fire especially before the winter comes. I do not remember where I got the source but I remembered somebody telling me that it is better to take meals made under the fire in the autumn so that you would be able to survive the next season.

If the konbini does not exist, I dun think I could live...

Yup, no Konbini no Life. That`s my line.

I and Pizza

2009-09-24T21:01:00.002+09:00

#1 Pizza Delivery in Japan

Something I will have for my meal once in months. Lately I have been busy assisting my senpais translating thesis for them. All for the sake of 1 week Canteen Food for each senpai I assisted. It was such a rush that I could not go out and get a good lunch that I ordered Pizza online.

In Japan, you would not be able to find any good Pizza restaurant in an affordable price unless its Italian and expensive. It will be the same that you could not even find a good Malaysian or Thai (only one as far as I know) restaurant here too. Even the big chain outlet of Pizza companies only keep a low profile by making Pizza deliveries. Thanks to Domino by making the 30min right to your doorstep happen.

Enough of the nonsense. I could try to order through the phone but its better through the net anyway. Easy. No nonsense.

#2 Autumn Double Roll Set

#3 Ahhh!!! Delicious!

But only once in months...

There goes my 2700yen (RM103)...

Sorry for this boring post...