~Last week~

It has been a week when I finally have the time to blog.Just want to blog about events last week.


Last Friday



We had the annual Foreign Students party.This year Kamarull was in charge of the Malaysian food and he made a good job teaching the canteen people how to make 'mee hun soup', it tasted really good.Really remind me of Malaysia.Haibi introduced 'Bastera' from Morocco,it didn't taste bad but it was really hard to bite.Made me wonder how the real thing would be..


Tang Yii and Saikhanna

Fareeza and Najwa




Wakebe,me and Rie




Soran of Suzuka

Last Saturday


Tang Yii and I went to Tokyo with Kawaguchi sensei and 5 Chinese teachers(1woman and 4men) who were guest to our college.Tang Yii and my job was to be translators when Kawaguchi sensei take them around in Japan.But boy,we were not only translators but mostly 'caretakers' I would say.We took the Shinkansen to Tokyo and went to take pictures around Nagoya before that.Tried our first 'eki-ben' or 'Japanese take-away' for lunch.Once we reach Tokyo we visited Ginza.It was my first time walking at the streets of Ginza in broad daylight.I didn't know there was a pedestrian street for shopping at Ginza.It was there where the horror begin.The lady teacher (a professor somemore)was really persistent in everything and kept on asking me and TY to ask for discounts and asked a million times if the cosmetics could have the tax exempted when we and the sales girls told her another million times that there are no discounts in Ginza.Gosh,she even asked us to go ask people the way to Akihabara saying that the sensei doesn't know his way just because he was reading a map(ask is a softer word,she actually grabbed my hand and push me to a Japanese young couple asking me to ask them for directions)GAHH!!We're at GINZA not AKIHABARA lar!!!!!Akihabara is the next stop ler...You never read the itinerary Kawaguchi Sensei prepared so hard mer!!!!!!!!!



Ahem,and so,finding the stuff at Ginza was way too expensive,they quickly insisted that we go Akihabara.So once we reached Akihabara,we went to Yodobashi where they done their shopping with their hearts content.So much so that we said to finish shopping in one hours time,they ended up with 2 and a half..Kept on asking about discounts by showing their passports and whether there's warranty for each item they buy,whether there's gift along with what they bought etc..The male teachers were still alright as they weren't so fussy,but the lady..OMG!!Can vomit blood ar...Even Tang Yii,who was ever so patient trying to explain and translate for her,finally gave up at the end of the day..






Next was Asakusa and finally Roppongi for nightview.Then we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant which was pretty good.The gyoza or dumplings were very crispy and juicy.We took the Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka and call it a day at Chisun Hotel.


Last Sunday


We had buffet breakfast at the hotel and then head for Kyoto.The 'aunty'(as TY and I now call the lady professor) tried all the food available and each coffee available on the coffee machine,and then left lots of food on the tray..Gosh..First stop in Kyoto was Kiyomizudera.Next was buffet lunch near Kinkakuji.The buffet was realllly good.After Kinkakuji was Nijyojyo before we head to Osaka for shopping.This is where I showed them the shops where they want to buy non-made-in-china goods,cosmetics and bags etc.It was a different plan from Kawaguchi sensei's plan but knowing the 'aunty' by now,who prefer to buy cheaper things then go to big department stores like Hankyu,I gained permission from Sensei to take them around Namba.



From there,I took the guys to buy cosmetics for their wives and bags for extra luggage while poor TY somehow was dragged by the 'aunty' to buy discounted cosmetics.At the cashier,the aunty,realising she bought more than she could afford told the guy at the cashier that she wouldn't want to buy the 2 lotions out of the 7cosmetics she chose.And then kept on asking us to double check the price,see whether they have been discounted or not,and when the price was shown to her,she even asked the cashier could have more discount or not!!Gosh,even the Japanese,well-known for their politeness rolled their eyes in front of her and asked her to move along after she has paid because there was a long line behind her....TY nearly fainted because this 'aunty' was really 'interesting'..


After shopping we had another buffet dinner at the hotel(yes,3 buffets in one day!!) and we were served with their best Chinese alcohol which was really strong..Only had a few sips but didn't really like it.They told us this alcohol is very expensive and is used to serve only important people like the Prime Minister etc..(Pic:the alcohol mentioned白酒)



Monday

Sent them off at Kansai airport and then head back to Suzuka tired out..And interesting trip but not really enjoyable,truth to be said.The only thing I really enjoyed was the food and seeing how impressive Kawaguchi Sensei was in making sure everything was well done,in terms of getting everyone on and off the right train,running ahead of us to get the train tickets,changing the itinerary every now and then when the Chinese guests have places they want to go,trying to explain everything in the best possible English he could although he fail to realise in the end TY and I still have to explain to them in Chinese because only one out of the 5 could understand little English.He was really enthusiastic in making sure that the guests were comfortable.Respect him..It was because of him,I tried my best to keep my patience around 'aunty' and tried my best to make conversations with the Chinese teachers.A good lesson,I would say,to learn how to face and tackle different types of people..



This week,I've been working on my research til 9 or 9.30pm everyday starting at 1pm.Have to work harder cuz I need to have better results on my research else it would be hard for me to give a complete thesis..I need to graduate!

~Kosen Sai~

Its finally over.The annual Kosen sai(college festival)..After 2days of standing for more than 8 hours,we finally manage to call it a day.All went suprisingly well,with usual small hiccups,but overall it went well..The first major hiccup was the Morocco foreign student said he doesn't want to take part at all.Man,he has the nerves,and he is only 3rd year student..sigh..

The festival was on for 2days.As the foreign students of this college,we were to belt out some cuisine from our country(Its something like a tradition for foreign students).So on Saturday our menu was Cheh(a sweet bean paste dessert,delicious)and Ageharumaki(Fried popiah)from Vietnam and Cucur (I made it with Anuar's help) for Malaysia.Day 2 was Cheh,Cucur and Roti Canai (Ben sempai made it) which sold better than Cheh and cucur all together..All the gals helped on the Ageharumaki on the first day for there was lots to be done,but I've always enjoyed helping out in the kitchen,for it's the kitchen where everyone bonds and have fun.Cheh was made early every morning whereby Ling starts boiling the beans at 6am,mine was done with the help of Anuar,who cuts everything(the ingredients) the day before and then I,waking up at 6am each day was in charge of mixing the ingredients (got teary eyes for 2days,each time when I have to peel and cut the onions)and make the cucur..

My tutor,classmate and who-else...

The festival was pretty interesting but less than what I had expected on the first day.I expected it to be more of a hustel bustel,busy yet exciting atmosphere,yet everything seemed so tonned down the first day.The first day of the festival seem pretty cool and less exciting.Today however,everything seemed different as in,it was more hyper...Even more exciting was when it was at 12pm=lunch time,we sold pretty much more than what we sold for 3hours in the morning.Within that one hour,whew...4of us was busy as a group of ants.The other 4was busy somewhere so...Anyway,I like it that way,busy and tiring,true..but it was fun in a way..

Little corner of Asia..

It was fun to see how the Jap react when they tasted the spicy curry with the roti canai,even if we made it very very plain and not spicy at all,they still cried out for water..My goodness,they can't even take a little hotness.Sheessh.

It was fun hearing people compliment your food was great,
It was dismaying to see yours can't sell as much as the others do,
It was experating waiting for customers,
It was frustrating when no one helps,

It was tiring after a long day and an early wake,
It was nice to help each other as a team..

And it was wonderful...to gain such experience.(I don't care if there's lot of work,I wanna do it again next year!!!)The end..

~My summer so far~

After Taiwan,I had been to quite some other places..Including one fireworks display,better know as Hanabi Taikai in Kuwana,a place near the place I'm studying,homestay and another Hanabi Taikai in Hisai,also a place nearby..

My first Hanabi taikai,I went with Soo Sing to her tutor's place where we stayed for the night.I wore the yukata I bought and enjoyed myself at the event.Still,it wasn't completely fun as we went there a bit late and because we chose to look around the stalls,we didn't really watched the fireworks..Some of the nice ones Fireworks,and more fireworks

The fireworks display yesterday though,was more splendid.We stroll around(me,Soo Sing and another tutor of hers) for food first then we found a spot on the huge field and sat down to enjoy the display.It was much better and I got toreally experience the amazing feeling of watching array of fireworks..Its was simply marvellous..

AS for the homestay,it was pretty fun too.Everyday,I had to go to bed by 9.30pm,wake up at 6.20am to help with the chores.AFter breakfast the Ojisan(grandfather) will take me out to visit various places.I love helping out in the kitchen,and found that amazingly,the daughter-in-law have marvellous cookery skills.The Japanese actually take the effort to decorate every dish nicely,garnish,put with equal amount etc.Well,of course the outings with the grandfather was great too,aside from taking me to various places,explaining patiently each places significance, he also treat me to expensive meals,took good care of me when I was feeling a little unwell...(and vomitted,dirtied my clothes..He even paid for the new shirt I picked up when we were at a department store,getting medicine for me)Paiseh..

Overall,I can say I had a great time at my homestay.I enjoyed helping out in the kitchen and watering the plants in the garden.It has been long since I had a garden to water plants with.Helping out at the kitchen was fun too..And the places I've visited was quite educational,although half of the time I was having trouble understanding certain words the Grandfather was telling me,but I tried my best to do so.And in return,I taught him how to use the internet.haha.Anyway,had fun..This is the link for the photos of my homestay..(the grandfather was more eager to take the pics than I do,telling me someday,ages and ages hence,I'll remember that I've once visited these places...)Homestay in Suzuka

So back to reality,its time for me to start my homework.This is before I head to Hokkaido for my homestay..Sheesh,the nagging feeling I have for not starting my homework is really bothering me already.Gotta start.Bassyhhaaa!!Fighting!!(too much Korean drama..sigh,addicted)

~11th April 2006~

It has been exactly a week since I arrived at Suzuka Technical College. To tell you guys the truth, up til now I don’t really feel anything amazing about coming to Japan at all. The people here are just humans and I’m just trying my best to fit in. It doesn’t take much effort really (or maybe it’s because I’ve been doing it everyday that it really doesn’t feel like I’m even trying), sure I get occasional benefits of being a foreigner but really there was not much fuss around me.

Well, since I’ve not mention how things work around here before my previous blog, let me just briefly describe the current world I’m living in. There’s not much exactly, I’ve got a tutor as of the other two “aliens” like me. A tutor is actually a Japanese classmate who is paid to guide us around. In my case, my tutor who is quite a cute petite girl, will accompany me for breakfast and would walk with me to class everyday, tell me which books to use for each lessons and occasionally help me out with studies which I’m clueless in (unless its English where I’ve suddenly gain a “goddess” status for being able to just SPEAK English). Anuar has a run of bad luck for being in a bad class (it seems that mechanical students have a horrible attitude in class,errmm,the Japanese I mean) and a bad tutor who doesn’t even bother to intro himself to Anuar on the first day of Anuars’ arrival. In fact Anuar didn’t know who his tutor was at the first day of his lessons. But being the nice guy he was, Anuar doesn’t bother t go complain and see how things will turn out. The Morocco guy seems to have fun though, having learned a year of Japanese in Tokyo, everything seemed like a breeze to him.

We have pre-order food in the canteen here so no worries about breakfast, lunch or dinner. In fact the food was serve in such big portion that I decided not to have lunch as breakfast will be more than enough for me, after all if I don’t take lunch I don’t have to pay as much. So biscuits and tea will be my lunch everyday. Believe me, besides bread and a huge variety of drinks, there was rice and miso soup everyday, so I guess its more than enough for anyone.
I have a huge room all to myself. It is actually a bedroom for two but for foreign students like us we can have it all to ourselves, we have a kitchen and a shower room of our own too. Besides that every student will be given a laptop for homework all throughout the three years we are here. As for my studies well, it’s just the first week where actual lessons begins so I can’t really say much but some are easy whereas some are really killing as I can barely understand what the lecturer is saying what more to take down notes? These are some pictures of my current room, a bit untidy but actually I have too much space to put very little things so I’ve tried my best. The weather here is still killingly cold even if its spring, because it has been raining non stop for the past few days and according to Anuar who checked the weather report, this kinda weather will last until Friday with the minimum degree drop to 5°C if not mistaken. So from the 3 pieces clothing I used to put on, now has been added to the maximum 5. I really can’t help it, it’s too cold.
For the time being, I’ve spent my money on food mainly food for my lunch, my trip to Osaka where I got hold of a camera, a electrical dictionary, some necessities and a bicycle. But due to the limited cash-in-hand and with my “alien card” not ready(=Malaysia’s I/C), I can’t get my handphone or my bank account started, so all the travelers cheque is not really handy right now, gotta learn to save a bit. But with a shopping mall just behind my college, everything is conveniently bought which also meant fast cash flow.

Talking about my lessons, it amazes me that the one with striking red hair guy, who is always late and pays the least attention can actually answers the lecturers question in a quick think. My class consists of 44 students but one guy NEVER turns up since day 1 and lucky me, he is my lab mate. My group consists of 3 people though, so I hope the other gal can help me out. Otherwise, the lessons are alright as even if I cannot understand fully I can still take some notes down and do some self study, if only I can have the motivation to do so. Right now, I’m still taking everything easy but of course I’m not slacking and doing nothing at all, just that, like now when in the room alone, it’s hard for me to actually prepare lessons for tomorrow when I can actually understand them in class tomorrow. Thus the bloggin starts again. Next week onwards though, every subject has a small test every week, so I won’t be able to blog that much anymore. I wonder when can I pick up my “studying pace” again?

Note to self: Still no sign of any homesickness…Just moving on, what’s there to homesick about????*guilty

Picture of Anuar and I on the second day we arrive here at Suzuka Technical College. Nice picture of the cherry blossom.(sakura)