The semester is officially over

Today was the end of a very long and busy semester.
I finished my Rinko presentation on 17th, finally submitted all the required 6 reports yesterday and attended the looooong poster presentation sessions (9:00AM~5:20PM) today, in which 2nd year master students present their progress in research.
This means I finished my first year of the master course.. It's time to switch my brain to the power-save mode and relaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaxxxxxx.
お疲れ様自分！お疲れ様Ａ田研の皆さん！

K-chan on the summit of Fuji san

So here comes the long waited post!
What do you do after finishing a killing semester?
Ofcourse, GO ON A BIG ADVENTURE!!

Finally I had the honor to stand on the top of my beloved Fuji san, 3776m of elevation, the ultimate highest point in Japan!
Fujisan on Wikipedia

Nice shot taken from the bus

Sunday July 19th 7:45 am -> Assembly at Shinjuku station
Then move by bus to the Fuji san 5th station (富士山五合目) .. around 4 to 5 hours (?). Highways were crowded that day so it took a long time to arrive.
So reaching the 5th station, what are you waiting for? LET'S GO!!!

Participants : It's easy to find me, the most Japan enthusiastic even among Japanese! The girls are from OCHA NO MIZU women's university, the man to the left in the background is their professor (a TOP athelete! and was a student of my professor some years ago), the guy in the front is from the same lab as mine. There were also other participants from a 3rd university and an OB from our lab..so total around 17 people 80%of which are girls.

It is said that you can experience the 4 seasons while you are climbing Fujisan. And that was totally true! .. The more you climb, the more clothes you start putting on. The weather on the top was officially winter! many layers of sweaters, 3 pairs of trousers, gloves, scarf and a warm hat...all of this and I was trembling in cold.

After the 6th station by around 1 hour

I didn't realise how much was hidden in the clouds at that time.. Still near the 6th station!
Toooo many people made moving forward a slow process.. It was dangerously crowded at steep places..I was imagining if only one person slips down, he will take hundreds with him!


The amazing sunrays from whithn the clouds..about to reach the 7th sation

The climbing process was divided into 2 parts:
First day we keep moving until sunset time.. reaching around the 7th station and rest for about 4 hours in one of the mountain huts (..which looked to me rather like a war shelter! ).
Then at around 11PM the night of that same day we move again to reach the top by sunrise.

View from the front of the mountain hut at sunset

When we were about to reach the 7th station (when we started entering that big cloud above), it started to rain. Oops, I didn't prepare myself for rain! If you get wet, you will freeze before reaching the top and it was already getting chilly!
..But luckily, it took less than an hour to reach the mountain hut. And when we moved again that night, rain had stopped, no more clouds at that elevation, but instead very very strong wind was blowing!
The night view of the surrounding cities was amazing.
What's more amazing was the starry sky view! I've never seen stars as clear and as DENSE as that day. I was also lucky to see 2 shooting stars.

Hard times ~ SURVIVAL

I could not sleep well in the mountain hut..I think it was the same for everyone, so when we moved again I started to feel REALLY sleepy..which was REALLY dangerous..

Also as you move up, oxygen level gets low so it becomes hard to breath and you get tired and dizzy easily..luckily many members brought oxygen spray cans.. I think no body would have been able to go on without them. Personally I needed it tens of times.
We were literaly on a survival trip..
You really get dead tired.. so you stop by and relax there on the freezing ground in the raging wind..then you start to chill so you know you need to move to get warm eventhough you are dead tired...and so on..

Wind was getting stronger and stronger, and in each blow you get stinged in the face by the volcanic ashes it carries.
We also had to pass by many narrow and steep areas where one mistake would cost you your life.
Actually, It was scary to see some people condition getting bad along the way.. After we left the hut, I looked back at the distance we moved so far and looked up at the enormous remaining distance, I realised there was NO GO BACK.. You just have to move forward.
I was praying all the time to stay healthy at least until we reach the top since I was reaching my limits!

Amazing Reward ご来光

Thank God, everybody reached the top with no serious illness!
We were rewarded by the most beautiful scene I've ever seen in my life.
The view of the rising sun from the top of Fuji san in the country of the rising sun （T▽T）

People still arriving all with sleepy and tired faces
This is not the actual summit. There was still around 200 meters to the top, but this was a good point to stop and enjoy the rising sun.


Pro photographers getting ready!


Alright everyone, sit down and get ready!

Here it comes!! The very first "Piece" of sun

Thinking of this, weren't we the first people on the planet to see the sun of July 20th? (^_^)

On the way DOWN ~ REVIVAL

Everybody started to get better and got revived after the sun rise .. I really felt very good as we went down, eventhough it was really tough to walk the ash covered path down the mountain...but still easier than the way up.
I was really looking forward to feel the summer heat again!

The path down the mountain

Trying different angles

Going back to the cloud level. An interesting hole in the clouds

The after math

With all the hardships, risks and tough times we went through, I don't regret going in this trip for a second. I'm glad I decided to go and more glad that I came back safe to enjoy summer again! To tell the truth I was never such happy to hear the sounds of cicada again!
I SURVIVED and I am a much stronger person now!!(≧▽≦)

This post is brought to you by : K-chan(c)
All rights reserved!

See you next post! And don't forget to COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming soon!!

The ultimate adventure

Kanji_chan stands on the ultimate TOP point in Japan!

Look forward for the coming post!

終わったところ

成果輪講の発表無事に終わりー
お疲れ様自分！

任務完了ですぅぅぅ

明後日の輪講資料作り終わり！！
ようやく８枚！！　

８枚にするためにいろいろと苦労が...
っていうかいろいろ省略する必要があったのーーー
ご覧の通りちょうど８枚ｗ

よし、これで発表の練習しか残ってない！
最後の輪講なので（まだ２回目だけどｗ）、頑張ります！
あ！輪講２日後、大冒険が待ってるョ～
それから今月下旬が〆切でレポート６個も書かないとな！＞＜
あと帰省の準備もなんとかしないと！～（　▽　；）～
うわぁぁっ　頭ごちゃまぜ！
それじゃ！

あれからもう２年！

天日初来日（←自分で作った言葉）のことですね。
そう！今日は天日の初来日２周年記念日だぞ！
２００７年７月１１日は一生忘れない特別な日だった。あれからもう２年も経ってるんだーとしみじみと思った。
時間は正にあっという間なんだよね～

超ハッピーな私


太鼓の達人？ｗ

詳しくは
http://nippon86.blogspot.com/2007/08/dreams-do-come-true-1.html
http://nippon86.blogspot.com/2007/08/dreams-do-come-true-2where-is.html
http://nippon86.blogspot.com/2007/08/dreams-do-come-true-3-final-set.html

をご覧ください！
それでは！

ある晴れた日

太陽さまきたー！！
今日は意外と天気のいい一日でした！
ついに空のきれいな青色がみえました！まぁ、ちょっと暑かったけど、晴れて何よりでした！
ということで気分転換に研究室を出て１時間ぐらいキャンパスで散歩してきました。
時間はほとんどキャンパスのあの名前の忘れた池で過ごしましたけど本当に気持ちよかった～
こういう自然との触れ合いってやっぱり必要なんだよなーたまには...あ、でもあまりにも触れ合いすぎちゃ怒られちゃうよ！　最後の写真を見れば分かると思います！ｗｗ

k-chan:はい！チーズ！
魚ちゃん：チ...チッ...　　チュウ☆

K-chan: かわいい猫ちゃん！チーズって～！
猫ちゃん：にゃあー▽＃＄〇△！！（怒）　
訳すると、「写真撮られるのいやだっつってんだろうが！！」　となります（汗）

さあ、頑張って日本語でポストを作った私はコメント沢山期待しています。。
間違いがあれば直していただけると幸いです。
それでは、やらなきゃいけないことが山ほどありますので今日はこの辺で失礼します！

ちゃんと生きているよ！

昨日撮った写真です。
梅雨はどう見ても「ベタベタ」なんだよなーｗ

進めー！！
こいつを発見した時、なぜか最近の自分の日本語レベルが一番最初に思い浮かんだ。。
輪講終わったら必ず頑張ってレベルアップします！！！

最近は大変忙しくて、締め切りに追われて、ストレスがたまってきた！
しかも梅雨！　正直いうと梅雨は苦手なんです。憂鬱なんです！落ち込むのです！
今月終わったらブログを昔のように更新するから楽しみにしてください！
で最後に今月中旬大きな輪講の戦いが待ってますのでWish me luck　くださいね！！
（輪講について後で説明します！）
それでは、失礼します！

ある日...

遥か

Greeeenの最新のシングルです。
聞いてすごく感動しました。さすがGreeeenの唄！

愛を込めてお父さんとお母さんに贈ります！
ではでは！

歌詞：
＊＊＊＊

「遥か」

窓から流れる景色　変わらないこの街旅立つ
春風　舞い散る桜　憧ればかり強くなってく
どれだけ寂しくても　自分で決めた道信じて
手紙の最後の行が　あいつらしくて笑える


誰かに嘘をつくような人に　なってくれるな　父の願いと
傷ついたって　笑い飛ばして　傷つけるより　全然いいね（母の愛）


あの空　流れる雲　思い出す　あの頃の僕は
人の痛みに気付かず　情けない弱さを隠していた
気付けば　いつも誰かに支えられ　ここまで歩いた
だから今度は自分が　誰かを支えられるように


まっすぐにやれ　余所見はするな　へたくそでいい　父の笑顔と
信じることは簡単なこと　疑うよりも気持ちがいいね（母の涙）


さよなら　また会える日まで　不安と期待を背負って
必ず夢を叶えて　笑顔で帰るために


本当の強さ　本当の自由　本当の愛と　本当の優しさ
分からないまま　進めないから　自分探すと　心に決めた


春風　想い届けて　涙を優しく包んで
必ず夢を叶えて　笑顔で帰るために


さよなら　叱られることも少なくなってゆくけれど
いつでも傍にいるから　笑顔で帰るから


どれだけ寂しくても　僕らは歩き続ける
必ず帰るから


想いが風に舞う　あなたの誇りになる
いざ行こう

Busy

Busy! ><

swine flu stay away!

I'm sneaking away from my busy life for a couple of minutes to write this very small post.

I read this morning that there have been 21 confirmed cases of swine flu in Japan.

Might be a good idea to start using masks while in train and crowded places.
May everybody stay healthy and sound!

*Update : 178 cases currently. This is really too much in 2 days period!

ヨルダン＠留学生センターHP::Jordan@the Interntional Center webpage

Check this link that has information about countries of international students who studied Japanese language in the International Center of the University of Tokyo.
Look for Jordan and click it please!

東大の留学生センターの「留学生地図」を紹介いたします。
留学生地図とはセンターで日本語を学んだ学生たちの国に関する情報が載っている地図です。
下記のリンクをクリックしてください。　ヨルダンもチェックしてみてください！

http://www.todai-ic-nihongo.com/index_test.html

Summer Memories 4: The countdown before the entrance exams

One more addition to the old summer memories series of posts.
The period before the entrance exams was one of the most stressful times I ever had in my life.
I remember how my life system completely changed in that period..
I was like a prisoner in my room, going out just to buy food, met no human other than people I see on my way to the convenience store, staying awake until 5 or 6pm, then waking up again at 4pm..

Poor redbull can. I released all my stress on it.

It's amazing how "sounds" can store memories. There are a number of songs I used to play all the time while studying. Now when I listen to them, all the memories and the feelings of uncertainty and anxiousness just come back to me.
Not only songs, but also the semi (Cicada) sounds carry many memories of stress and worry.
Will talk about Cicada in the last summer memories post. Hope I will have time to make it..or maybe I will post it during the semi season of this year.

Trying to encourage myself

Makes me wonder what kind of mental state I had at that time

One day before the big battle - Never touched a book that day and had some rest

So here I am! I thank God 10000000 times for making me able to come this far.
I wish all new comers the best of luck!

蘇り＠東大

Renewal!
If you remember, these guys turn dreamy yellow in fall and loose all the leaves at last.
Reduce your tension and enjoy the fresh green!
Taken with ultra nice blue sky(TM) and super fresh green trees(TM)

Til next time~

To all of you applying to the MEXT scholarship

I will take some time to write a couple of notes that might be useful for scholarship applicants.

1) Carefully read and understand the notes, guidelines and the FAQ on the Embassy website.
2) Make sure to submit everything before the deadlines and the way you are required to submit it. (submit 3 copies of XX means THREE copies of XX!)
The embassy kindly provides a check list of the required stuff. Make sure to check it before submission.

*Research student? Entrance exams?
A research student is basically a non-degree student.
Before entering into the degree program,you have to pass the entrance exams of the university you are applying to. That's why the university first accepts you as a RESEARCH STUDENT (non-degree), until you pass the entrance exams.

So basically in the research student period, you prepare for your entrance exams and take Japanese language courses.

Entrance exams are held once a year (March) or twice a year(March and September) depending on your university and department.

To make things clearer, in my case I came here April 2008 as a research student. I took Japanese classes and prepared for the entrance exams during this period.
I took the entrance exams in September 2008 and started master officially in October 2008.

* Application forms : Study field? Study program?

As for the study field, just write about the knowledge you gained in the undergraduate program. I wrote stuff like :
In the OO course we were introduced to XX , YY , and how to ZZ ...
OO course provided me with a background on XX ...

For the study program, write about the things you want to study after you come to Japan and how you want to achieve your goals.
Make sure to make this field elaborative since its very important in the selection process.

For example,
I want to do my master program in the OO field.
I want to study OO from the XX perspective and investigate ways to YY.
Research goals can be achieved through experiments, evaluations to OO ...

Hope this was helpful.
Do your best and your hardwork shall be rewarded!

Sakura Quest Final

Here comes the post of the extremely extraordinary special great nice shots with the extremely nice special blue sky(TM).
Watch on your own responsibility and remember HQ for videos!

Ueno Park 6th of April

Trying to follow the style of our tea master, Ocha dono

Notice the sakura petal snow!
Scroll down to see a video of this.

More than 1000 trees in full bloom

Natural VS Artificial

Tokyo university 8th of April(Today!)

「まるで雪みたい！」というセリフが一番最初に思い浮かんだ。
It reminded me of this :
秒速５センチメートル　５ Centimeters per second

Sakura petals falling down like snow are one of the most beautiful things I saw. They carry this mysterious feeling of beauty mixed with light sadness on very short lasting wonderful moments of life...
When I see aging people stop by and stare at the nice scene, I understand their thoughts and feelings.

I hereby finish my sakura quest posts series!
The new semester started and deadlines started to follow me one after the other~ The more I advance in research the harder tasks become.
Will do my best!