PS (probably) going to Japan

Found out today that PS has been offered an internship at Hiroshima. It’s a 3 week internship and there’s less than ten vacancies. Before knowing that she’s offered the internship, she said Japanese Studies majors are given priority and it was quite late when she applied.

What a pleasant surprise, even though we’re going at different periods. But it’s great to know that someone else gets to go to Japan too.

Baby crying contest

Interesting festival

Took a break from updating yesterday. It’s my birthday after all

Yesterday in Tokyo’s Sensoji, they had their annual baby crying contest. Parents bring their babies to the temple. Sumo students would carry the babies and try to make them (the babies) cry. The louder you cry, the healthier you are.

I read that the tradition started waay back when babies didn’t survive that easily. Weak babies didn’t cry that much while healthy babies kicked and screamed. So it’s good to give your kid a scare so that it’ll grow up healthy.

Good series to prepare for Japan

<Eibun Nihon etoki jiten> publisher: Japan Travel Bureau

The series of book above are illustrated books about Japan. There are available in Sabah libraries and I found them in the school library last week.

They are easy to read and the illustrations help with the reading. They are very informative.

If you want to know more about Japan, this series is a good start!

adding to Must Do in Japan:
Visit Shinto shrine

Ten Nights of Dreams

Weird coincidences led me to 2006 movie Ten Nights of Dreams
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0899224/

The original story is by Natsume Soseki. I first read the translations of Ten Nights of Dream in year 1 when I took Introduction to Japanese Studies. It comprises of ten different stories, all of them bizarre and I have yet to solve them.

Ok, the reason I’m watching the movie is because of Kenichi Matsuyama. I was watching another drama and found him very cute! (I have a limited vocabulary when it comes to describing guys) Then I found out he’s L from the Death Note movies. Wow, such a long time since I’ve been catching up with my J-entertainment news.

Anyway, the library has a recording of Ten Nights of Dreams. I might borrow it one day to brush up my Japanese.

Currently in Japanese drama mood.

Update on summer programme

Mom suggested that I join a tour group to Tokyo. Then I join the group for seven days of fun and when they leave for Singapore, I leave for Fukuoka.

It’s a lot cheaper than backpacking in Tokyo if I do this. The plane tix are already exp and the accommodation cost is very high too.

Plus, I can go to Disneyland if I join the tour group. Will consider it.

I’ve faxed my passport details to Kyushu’s person in charge. Quickly get the visa and everything will be confirmed.

Met with U today at D’s. Learned something about the Japanese from her. I will be a brave traveler!

Must-dos in JP

Must Do List for future references:

Watch sumo
Watch kabuki
Eat train station bento
Wear (buy?!) yukata [mem: check out UNIQLO]
Relax in hot spring
Ride shinkansen
Write end-of-summer postcard back

Get back to work!

No module mapping for me

Oi! We need to pay special term school fees for module mapping.

That means an extra S$350. Hmph, I can use that as my travelling fees. Why does NUS want to make money on every single occasion they have? (To pay the librarians to blog?)

So one problem solved!

Not in room day

Today was a day of break from studies, for official reasons.

Went to SCWO to take photos of the place and bought two non-study-non-travel book.

Then went to Bras Basah to see if they have cheap travel guides. Japan isn’t the most popular destination for these second hand book sellers. I found three and all of them are at least 10 years old. Hmm… And they cost at least S$15. SCWO’s thrift shop has spoiled me, second hand books should cost only $5 max!! and that’s hardcover.

You know what I got from Bras Basah in the end? Harry Potter. Ha, the french children’s version. $5.

These are worth the money because you never know when you can find one.

Received email from Kyudai to fax my passport to them. That’s going to cost money. sigh sigh

also disappointed that NUS wants to charge me for summer programme module mapping .Shame on you!

Must stop compulsive travel site reading

Can’t help but check out travel sites every half hour. Must stop

Catch-22

I just went to STA Travel at science co-op to ask about plane tickets. The summer programme is too long to buy a one month return ticket, so I have to settle for 60 days or 45 days (if there are any)

Air tix are expensive, even from my own online research. Vietnam Airlines flies to Tokyo for $860 (without tax) but I need to be in Fukuoka. Train from Tokyo to Fukuoka is 21210yen (about RM700) My plane back to Sabah is waay cheaper than that, in fact it’s only RM110!

STA lady said I can get Japan Airlines tix at $860 if I have a student visa, and I can get open jaw tix at extra $150, subject to approval. Very good price!

But here’s Catch-22, I need plane reservations to get the visa. And I need the visa to get cheaper plane tix. What can I do???!!!

-I’ve requested for storage at Raffles Hall for the holidays! Yipee. Did that last minute last semester and I didn’t get the storage space.

But thanks to D and M, I have space at their place.