Summer hols...

Our first break after an intensive 3 months of Japanese study. Whew...the things I used two years to study in Malaysia, here I only use three months to finish it all. The speed was so fast, it was kinda stressful. After the summer break, which will end in two weeks, there will be intensive revision of exam papers, in preparation for the entrance exam we have to pass in November in order to get into Japanese universities. I foresee a very stressful three months ahead of me =="

Summer holidays been boring. Transportation is so expensive, I did not travel. There are loads of home work given to us, 5 new books which we have to finish. Until now I am still doing them. But I do enjoy studying at my own pace, without needing a lecturer or somebody to bug me to improve. Looking forward to next week when I will follow one of my Japanese dorm leader back to her hometown in Gunma for the weekend. Although it will be a short stay (there is nothing much in Gunma anyway), but I look forward to travel out of Tokyo. Staying in Tokyo is like staying right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Stressful @.@

Fell sick nowadays. Coughing my lungs out. Been to the university clinic twice to get my supply of medication...basically there isn't any lung or throat infection, just don't know why I keep coughing. And my heart rate is faster than normal, and even the doctor is surprised. Well, Mr Doctor, if you don't know why my heart rate is fast, tak kan lah I will know right? You are the Doctor le.... But anyway, I am getting better...

Now autumn is going to arrive in Japan. I can't wait!!! When I arrive here it is late spring. The weather is cool like Genting Highlands, sometimes colder, but since it is already May there isn't a chance to look at Sakura. Now that autumn is here, I am looking forward to those lovely orange red leaves =) It should be great!

Summer in Japan is unbelievably hot. People in Japan actually die from heat stroke. More than 35,000 people had been hospitalised for heat stroke, and I have no idea how many thousand had died from it. This is kinda unheard of in Malaysia. The temperature is about the same, 33-35 degree Celcius, sometimes going up to 36 degree Celcius (in my area...some areas reached 40 degree Celcius). But somehow I felt the sun is much hotter in Japan. In Malaysia, wherever I go, I use car. In Japan, wherever I go, I use bike, or I walk. Even to the nearest place to do grocery shopping, I have to bike under the hot sun, scaling a few slopes, for 30-40 minutes. Which, to me, is really a big fat exercise. And I thought I, as a Malaysian, is used to such summer heat. Boy, was I wrong....

One fine day after teaching a Japanese girl English lesson, I bike back to the dormitory at 12.30pm under the hot sun of 36 degree Celcius. Frankly at that time I did not know it was that hot. I just know that boy, it was hot! And cycling back is always harder than cycling to, so it took me nearly 45 minutes to get back. When I reached my dorm, I came down with heat exhaustion, which is not as serious as heat stroke, but if not treated properly, WILL turn into a heat stroke. I was sweating and freezing at the same time, and can barely stand straight. Yikes! Luckily for us, the dormitory has a pair of husband and wife staying with us, we call them okaasan (mother) and otoosan (father). Through the extension phone in my room, I dialed the Okaasan and told her of my condition, and she came running with a few packets of ice packs to cool down my body temperature before it gets even higher. Felt better after about 30 minutes or so... Phew! I never overheated in the Malaysian heat...goodness knows why I overheated in Japan!

Take care everybody...

A day trip to Yokohama

Sunday June 12th I went to Yokohama with Yue Min and Tomoko for a visit to my guarantor. Guarantor is a person who is either Japanese, or foreigners residing in Japan, that acts as your representative between you and the university. Most of the universities in Japan requires you to have a guarantor in order to apply. And not many are willing to be guarantors for it is rather troublesome too. I am lucky that under some senior's help, I manage to get a guarantor. His wife came to Narita to pick me up on the day of my arrival, driving nearly 2 hours all the way from Yokohama, and another 4 hours to Hachioji. My guarantor, Mr Ozaki, however, was busy that day so he wasn't able to come. So this time, I travel to Yokohama to pay this family whom I am greatly indebted to for being in Japan, a visit.

We took the Yokohama Line direct from JR Hachioji station straight to Shin-Yokohama. Once we arrived, we went around looking for my guarantor, and one young man with a girl came and approached us. Appears that he is Mr Ozaki, and the girl is his eldest daughter. I was kinda surprised really...I expected somebody older actually haha, he looks like he is in his thirties.

So we got into his car, where his wife and two daughters are around too, and went to Kanagawa Kaikan. We also visited the Toda Peace Memorial Hall and later the park right opposite it, which is next to the Yokohama Harbour. It is a hot day really. But it was fun. I saw lots of dogs around, wearing t-shirts and even sunglasses! Japanese really love their dogs. Later when we walked further there was a man doing a street performance. He was funny, and skillful in juggling fire. We are really entertained hehe..

Time for lunch...for that, we head to the Yokohama Chinatown, which is off walking distance. We had Chinese food there, a type of buffet style where we need to pay a certain amount of money per person, and then you just order from the menu whatever you want. Of course, Mr Ozaki was the one who picked up the tab. Free chinese feast...I miss Chinese food. So I ate quite a lot. I also took the opportunity to eat grape fruits which is unavailable in Malaysia (and fruits are very expensive in Japan) and also had come ice-cream. Oohh...it was a really filling lunch.

Later we head back to Mr Ozaki's home to rest a while, as he himself had a speech to do somewhere. By the way, he is a Komei-to politician. So me, my friends, his wife and his daughters walked to the nearby shopping centre and do some grocery shopping and desert (cake) shopping. Then we head home and prepare some homemade temaki sushi, which is really really nice. First a filling lunch, now a filling dinner. I think I eaten enough for a week!

By the time I am back in my dorm, it was nearly 10pm. I got a headache after that, but it was worth the day...so had an early night sleep. It was a great fun day...

Visit to Soka Elementary School

Last Friday the whole Bekka made a visit to Tokyo Soka Elementary School. It was a really fun but tiring day. We were all (35 Bekka students) separated into 6 different groups to interact with Year 4 and Year 5 students. We depart from Soka University at about 945am.

The day before the trip I was hunting around the web for available scholarships for next year's Masters course. Many of the things I read on the web is disappointing, with not much choices, and usually the scholarship system in Japan does not cover your tuition fee, but only give you a certain amount to spend per month. Which is really weird really, because I find that the main financial problem does not come from monthly expenses, which I can easily earn by working; but the real problem comes from forking out a huge sum of money for the tuition fees and dormitory fees, which could range around RM50k. It was an upsetting search online. And my friends are telling me, hey, you need some chocolates to cheer you up...

So happens that I receive news that Sensei has given us Bekka students a gift commemorating our visit to Soka Elementary School. Lo and behold...it is a bar of chocolates! Swiss chocolates! I was so touched when I found it. Somehow I felt that Sensei understood how I feel and how we, the international students, struggle here in a foreign country.

We arrive at the Soka school at about 11am, have a brief video introduction, some speeches, and off we go to the classes, accompanied by the students. Cute students! Before that, I have to add that we were welcomed into the school compound by Year 1 students, forming two lines and shouting and bowing, 'Ohayou Gozaimasu' or 'Konnichiwa'. They are so so adorable.

Me and my group members were placed into a Year 5 class. In the beginning they sang us the Japanese version of Michael Jackson's We Are The World. Then each of us introduced ourselves. And then we were split into groups...about 6 kids each person. The kids introduced themselves to me, and then started to ask questions...like how is Malaysia?...What do you like to eat?...What is your hobby?...They look genuinely interested, and it is so nice to see their friendly smile.

After that small round of introduction, the kids are in charge of taking me sight-seeing around the school compound. We went to the library, which is really comfortable, the dining hall, one of the exhibition hall (Ikeda Hall) and to the basketball court where they usually play. We ended up playing two games together. One is like the 'kejar-kejar' in Malaysia, the other one is like 'AEIOU' in Malaysia. Phew...I had never ran so much before in my life before this. The kids are so energetic.

Our short time together have to end. After the game they led me back into the room we first arrived and told me that my lunch will be served here, and theirs will be at the dining hall. So we said a short farewell...and I am surprised they actually made an effort to find for simple words in Bahasa Malaysia so that they can greet me in the language itself. I can truly see how proud they are of their school and how excited they are to meet us all.

Lunch was simple...their school lunch...nutritious and very filling indeed. The kids are having their break time and kept hovering around the doorway or the window to sneak a peek at us. We spend some time communicating with them, and I remember at one time this girl asked me from which country do I come from, when I said Malaysia she went like 'Huh?' Then she took me by the hand and dragged me all the way out to a globe positioned in the lobby. Smart indeed. So I pointed out to her where is Japan, and where is Malaysia. Then after a short photo session, we left and went back to the university. All in all we only spend about two hours in the school. Short, but really really memorable indeed...

My first month in Japan has passed

Time really do flies. My first month in Japan has passed. I arrived on a significant day of May 3rd. Suppose to arrive on May 2nd, but well, coincidence maybe? Or fate...I arrive on May 3rd instead hahahah.

Studies are getting tougher day by day as we raced to master the language in a short one year. Expenses are also raising. Especially now that I have a phone. Monthly nearly RM100. Don't know what phone so damn expensive, so I am forced to cut down other type of expenses like food and daily uses. My classmates are all looking forward to eat at a syabu-syabu shop recommended by my teacher, which is cheap in terms of Japanese yen, but very expensive when I convert it to Malaysian RM...about nearly RM100. Aiyo...I eat steamboat at Malaysia also 3 times cheaper than that la. Even buffet cost in hotels or fancy restaurants cost less than RM100. So I decided not to go. I cannot afford RM100 for one single damn meal. That amount of money can support me for at least a week or more.

Next week I am heading to Yokohama (expenses again) to visit my guarantor. Without him and his family I would never even be in Japan. So this visit is definitely necessary. Too bad I don't have any money to buy something for the visit...it is Japanese custom to buy some stuff when you visit a Japanese person's house. But I think they understand foreign students like me have a hard time with money...so they won't expect much I think. I hope the weather will be good, as now is the raining season...and that I will enjoy my time there with some of my friends who will come along with me.

I miss my music...and Malaysian food definitely...even fast food like McDonald's haha. Next time come back must eat!!!

Two weeks into the start of the semester

It's been two weeks since the study started. Things are getting tougher and tougher. The speed of the Japanese study is also very very fast. I wish I could get myself an electronic dictionary but I simply cannot afford one now, which cost nearly RM1000 @.@. So internet has now became my dictionary whenever I need it.

Just bought a phone for use in Japan. It is kinda expensive really, and I am planning to cut down my budget to accommodate the phone fees incurred. Ahdoi...it's really a pain. But at times when earthquakes are quite frequent in Japan, having a phone is safer. So...no choice lo. Save in my meals lo. I already lost 4kg in two weeks. Damn good punya slimming program. Eat lesser and walk everyday uphill to class =="

Tomorrow I will have a dinner with my friend's father, who is teaching in Soka University, and whom I stayed with during my trip to Japan last year. My friend will not be around though, as she is in Okinawa, so it means I will be having dinner with only her parents. Hmm, that's gona be weird. But it doesn't matter...its good to show him my appreciation for all they have done. So...free sushi for dinner tomorrow!!!

Don't ask me how Japanese food taste like. Besides the few things that I got to eat free, I never buy food at all. I just buy raw things to cook, usually only whatever that's necessary. So I never eat in any restaurants or whatever...I had no inkling of how their food is like. No money le...gota save save save...

Hopefully my future days ahead will be better hahaha.

I'm finally in Japan!

I am finally in Hachioji, Japan!!!!

It's been a long long journey. Six and a half hours by plane, and another four and a half hours by car. Actually the car trip shouldn't have taken so long...but it was Golden Week holiday in Japan, so there was a 75km long jam along Chuo Expressway. Aiyoyo...

Anyway, let's talk about my room. It is a small cosy room with a bed, wardrobe, desk, some shelf, and a balcony to dry your clothes. Foreign female students in Soka University all stay in single room, therefore I have no roommate! I also have my own space in the kitchen cabinet and my own shelf in the refrigerator. Some Malaysian seniors had kindly gathered some 2nd hand stuff for me, like bed sheets, blanket, pot, frying pan, plates, spoon and fork, clock, hangers, thumb tacks (the wall of the room can use thumb tacks to pin stuff), laundry softener and some clothes. Love them really! I need not buy so many things and really saved a lot of money.

Once I arrived in the dormitory, I went through all the things and noted down what to buy, then head out to the city to buy whatever I need. Luckily, my guarantor's wife offered to drive me and some dorm mates there...it is kinda far to walk, and too expensive to use the bus. I bought a bunch of stuff like toiletries and some food. I did not plan to eat out at all in order to save money. The dormitory mates are all very nice. And I hope things will stay that way throughout the year (you know, people change)

It is orientation week now. So been to and fro the university for a few days to get my student ID and fix the internet. One thing surprises me really, when I was in one of the university building, somebody just called out to me and say, "Mareshia no Lim Mei Kei-san desu ka?" (Are you Miss Lim Mei Kei from Malaysia?). I was really wondering how she knew my name. Later I learned that she is one of the staff at the international centre (taking care of foreign students) and the staff members there all memorised each student's face and name. Amazing!

Going to have a test for Japanese placement tomorrow. Have to study now. Keep posted!!

Last band practice....

Today April 28th is my final band practice before I leave Malaysia. Feel a bit 'mm seh dak'. Been here for 6 years plus as an active member. I love my band, I love my instrument, I love my music. Going to miss it very much when I am in Japan, definitely.

I entered FeiYang Symphonic Band on 12 December 2004. It was my Lower Six STPM year. A real struggle. Band somehow gave me my life back. I found a passion besides throwing myself endlessly in just my studies. Music became my life. Not my hobby, mind you...but my passion. I hope when I am in Japan, I will be able to pursue my music and further it. I have something I wanted to learn for a long long time. I hope in Japan I will get the chance.

Talking about Japan, there is a lot I wanted to do and need to do. Explains why I am very much looking forward to it really. Although I do feel sad to leave my country, family and great friends here, but a new life awaits and I have a lot of things I wanted to pursue. I need to get a scholarship next year for my Masters, before that need to get my supervisor Professor to accept me as a student and pass the exam to get into the Master program. Hopefully, doing Global Studies. And I am also eying another university, which is the United Nations University located in Shibuya Tokyo. Hoping to get to study a course there, though I am not sure if my university will accept credits from this course. *cross finger*

A lot of people is asking me whether I will come back or not. Well...it is a difficult question to answer. If my Masters went well, I will take up 3 years in Japan, plus my one year language. In between will I be back for holidays? Well, my parents wanted me to come back for the new year, but I need to make sure I settle everything before I return, as that period of time is the time when I need to settle my applications, payments, visa and such. Most probably will return for short holidays during CNY, and after 3 years...err...depends on what I wanted to do by then. I think those who went overseas to study before will understand my feeling...it is not easy to tell now. Although now I would like to say I will return and do my PhD locally, but I do have some other things which if I wanted to do, Malaysia doesn't offer such opportunity. So, hm, lets leave this question after 3 years ok?

I wonder how will be Band be (back to the topic) without me, and how I will be without the band....