Ignorance Expert Level

This post continues from the post at the bottom =)

Alright, so, finally, we have the second culture shock's Final Boss.

Multiracial Malaysia

Picture adapted from http://scorpiocupoftea.blogspot.com/

Now, if you look in Wikipedia, it describes multiracial as "people whose ancestries come from different races". However, in Malaysia, the word 'multiracial' has a different meaning altogether. (Of course, we also have people whose ancestries come from different races. We call them mixed.) For Malaysia, when we say multiracial country, we refer to at least 100 ethnic and sub-ethnic groups which make up the country. Especially in my hometown Sarawak, there are about 40 sub-ethnic groups, mainly the Iban community which make up 30% of the population, not mentioning the various sub-communities/ethnics of the Chinese population.

For a Japanese, this is something absolutely unimaginable. Although there have been an increase in the number of immigrants, creating cities like Oota in Gunma where there are big communities of Brazilians, Koreans... However, most of them cluster in their own groups and do not mix with the Japanese.

Now, this was so in Malaysia too. However, now, the situation has changed so much. Of course, we have our share of conflicts, misunderstandings and prejudices. But at least we are more willing to communicate and share our differences and more free to express our individual thoughts than ever.

In Sarawak, there are more Muslim women who do not cover their heads in public than in Semenanjung. This included one of my friends. When my Japanese friends met with her, they didn't know she was Malay. Until I told them of course.. And they were like "oh, really? hmmm" with a big frown on their face. I think they were thinking, 'well, everybody is malaysian.. what about malay, or chinese?' In a Japanese' mindset, nationality is race. But for a Malaysian, nationality and race are totally different things.

Oh, one more thing. Malay = Muslim. I also forgot to explain this fact to them, which is something everyone knows and doesn't need to be explained in Malaysia. I only found out I forgot to explain it to them (because it's so normal to me I didn't even notice they didn't know) after talking to a Japanese cameraman in Sarawak.

What's worse, in their minds, they had an image that Muslims equal terrorists. Yes, we have our share of Jemaah Islamiah troubles and Muslim cults, but Malaysian Muslims, and many other country's Muslims, including Malaysian Muslims, American Muslims are moderate and irradical.

I think this is one cultural difference that a Japanese will have the hardest time understanding about Malaysia. This is also one of the things I love most about Malaysia. I believe this diversity has changed and made our food culture, language, and mindset so much more different and special than any other nation in the world.

Ignorance

I know I'm kiasu, but more comments please! The world works like this : more demand <-> more production. =) but I guess I'm not in demand.. sighs.. >.<

Sorry.. One paragraph gone somewhere.. ^^;
Now, 2nd Japan-Malaysia Culture Shock : Ignorance. Now, I'm not generalising. Not all Japanese are ignorant. In fact, Japanese people are one of the most literate and learned people in the world, and read the most books and newspapers on average. So what do I mean by ignorance?

Let's start with Level 1: Beginner Yes, coconutWah, this is the first time i see Coconut Milk!

Malaysian: What? Coconut Milk?? HAR? What did you say?
Japanese: Coconut Milk lar.. You donno meh?? the one you put in dessert and it become very sweet 1 lor!
Malaysian: HAR? I know lar Coconut Milk. Where? I don't see any.
Japanese: Neh, Inside lar! You blind arH?
Malaysian: Walau. That is Coconut Juice lar. Adui!

This is how you make Coconut Milk (Santan)

And that's what Coconut Milk (Santan) looks like

Japanese: Walau.. You don't cheat me lar.. Coconut Milk come out from Coconut 1 ler.. and is Liquid 1. I know 1. Don't play play! ^^

Level 2 : Intermediate

Chilli

辛い.."Karai" What does this word mean? In my dictionary, it's translated as 'hot', 'spicy', 'peppery'.. But what does it really mean to a Japanese? Well, i imagine if you asked them, they would say 'curry?' or 'wasabi?'.. But for us, Hot and Spicy means so much more. Why do I prefer Malaysian food over Japanese food? One word : Spice. Give me one example of a Japanese food cooked with more than 5 spices and I'll admit defeat. But it's a fact : Japanese people just don't cook Spicy food.

Okay, that's all for tonight.. almost midnight.. will add Expert tmrw.. hehe

Hooked on it~

I'm tottally hooked on this song now.. Love Chronicle from the anime Full Moon wo Sagashite (it's on my Jukebox if u didn't notice)

Original / Romaji Lyrics
naze darou koi no shikata sae sukkari wasureteta deai wa itsuka kuru wakare no hajimari to itsu no manika kimetsukete ita
yogoreta SUNIIKAA no hodoketa himo musunde kureta hanikamu anata no egao asahi o abite TOKIMEIta kyuu ni
aisareta ikara aishiti wake jyanai massugu aisuru yuuki o kureta ne
kore kara no tabi ni futari ima chikau yo nani ga atte mo kono te hanasanai zutto
fushigi da ne itsumo no keshiki mo tokubetsu ni miete kuru hana ya tori ya umikaze yama amai taiyou subete kagayaki yorisou naka
tokenai JIGUSOU no saigo no PIISU mitsuketa yo ooki na anata no senaka watashi mamorare tsuite yuku eien ni
ima made konna ni mawarimichi shita kedo massugu aisuru jishin o moteta ne
asu kara no yume ni futari ima mukau yo nani ga atte mo hitomi sorasanai
aisareta ikara aishitai wake jyanai massugu aisuru yuuki o kureta ne
asu kara no yume ni futari ima yukau yo nani ga atte mo hitomi sorasanai
aisareta ikara aishitai wake jyanai massugu aisuru yuuki o kureta ne
kore kara no tabi ni futari ima chikau yo nani ga atte mo kono te hanasanai zutto

English Translation

why? I've completely forgotten how to love
meetings will come someday with the beginning of parting
somehow, I have decided upon that idea

you tied my loose shoe laces of my dirty sneakers
your shy smile suddenly shone in the sunlight

it's not that I love for want of love
you gave me the courage to love straight-forward

the two swear to the journey from now
that no matter what occurs, the two hands will never part

it's weird, the everyday landscape begin to seem special
the flowers, birds, and sea the wind, mountains, sweet sun
when everything shines and cuddles together

I found the last piece to the unsolvable jigsaw puzzle
your broad back protects me and I'll continue to follow you
for eternity

until now, I've took the longer way around but
I'm finally able to love straight-forward

the two will head to the dream of tomorrow
no matter what occurs, the gaze won't be shifted

it's not that I love for want of love
you gave me the courage to love straight-forward

the two will head to the dream of tomorrow
no matter what occurs, the gaze won't be shifted

it's not that I love for want of love
you gave me the courage to love straight-forward

the two swear to the journey from now
that no matter what occurs, the two hands will never part

Source: Anime Lyrics dot Com

The music is nice and soothing, and the lyric is just lovely ^^
Well, my exam starts tmrw, and I'm sure a lot of others have their exams starting tmrw too, so, ganbarimashou! ^^

でたらめな春話 Random Spring Tales

はい、はい、いつもブログ放置で（特にカルビちゃんに向けて）すみませんでした。。。
Yes, Yes, I'm sorry (especially to Calbi-chan) for leaving my blog unupdated...

Well, from now on, it will be a rare thing for me to update my blog.. unlike our Super Blogman (you-know-who)

Anyways, for today, we have the Random Strawberry Tale (でたらめなイチゴ話）
Yes, this is me with a (strawberry) vampire fang.. grrrr
Here's my detachable (strawberry) vampire fang.. Yes, i see u noticed those holes on the fangs.. those are actually pores that can suck in the blood on it and use it to immediately generate energy and vampire lore.. yes, it's that crazy =)

hmm.. i'm lazy to reveal any more of my vampire secrets now.. see u maybe during the next full moon

Proficiency? 能力？

Proficiency Test? What is that? Can eat ar?
能力試験？なにそれ？おいしいの？

Please start your ramblings. I have passed the Test with a score of 315/400.
さあ、騒いでおくれ！俺様は試験に　315点　で合格した。

I'm great ain't I? Ohohohoho~
すごいでしょう？（ぎりぎりだけど）すごいでしょう？おっほほほほ～

Lol.. Thanks for those who have been cursing praying for me.. ^^ Well, anyways, it's just a test anyways.. not a big deal.. to those who are taking the test this year, ganbatte~

ええええ～

またみぞれだ。。俺、勉強しなきゃ。。なのに。。バンブーベレードの誘惑が。。たまちゃんたまらないす～
It's falling sleet again. And I have to study, but.. The temptation of Bamboo Blade... Just can't have enough of Tama-chan!

雪ですけど、何か？ Yes, it's snowing!

朝3時にカーテンを閉めたまま寝ました。そして、朝9時ごろに先輩のメールに起こされました。雪が降ってるんだって。カーテンのため外はぜんぜん見えなくて、目もまだ重かった。カーテンをそっと開けて、「うそ！」とおもっちゃいました。
I slept with the curtain pulled over at 3 in the morning, and at 9, I was woken by the sms my senior sent me. He said it was snowing. I couldn't see anything outside because of the curtain, and my eyes were still heavy. I slowly drawed open the curtain and thought "No way!".

この前はあまり積もらなかったけど、今度はこんなに。。。。。　The last time it snowed, it didn't pile up much, but this time........
やっぱり雪は結構素敵ですね。特に最初に積もったときの感触。ふわふわした感触。＾＾　I guess snow is really quite cool. Especially when it just starts to pile up. The snow feels so soft and nice..
久しぶりにこの辺で雪が降っているからと思って、日本人の学生も子供のように外に出て雪合戦とやったりすると思ったけど、驚いたことに誰一人も出なかった。
I was thinking that because it has been quite a while since it snowed in this area (Maebashi n Takasaki), some of the Japanese students would come out like kids throwing snowballs at each other, but surprisingly, nobody came out.
こんなきれいな風景に囲まれているのに。。。まあ、試験もそろそろだから仕方ないか。多分僕ら中国系の留学生にとってはそろそろ旧正月だから、雪が降って嬉しかったのかもしれない。国に帰って祝えないから。何と寂しいお正月だ。しかも、今年試験の一日目が旧正月の一日目だ。
It's such a beautiful scenery, and yet.. Well, I guess I can't blame them because the exam is also coming up soon. Probably for us Chinese foreign students, we were happy it snowed because the Chinese New Year is coming soon too. It's going to be a lonely and homesickly new year.. Not to mention the first day exam will be the first day of CNY too..
留学生と一緒に高専の正門の近くで雪だるまを作った。ちょっと汚かったけど、ないよりはましだ。
Some of the foreign students made a snowman near the big gate of the college. A bit dirty, but better than nothing, huh?
群馬、上毛言われ、
馬見れず、洋服ばかり、
かかあ天下、つよき女、
雷など馬來に勝てず、
空っ風も雪も、
赤城じいは冷たい
田舎の風、都会の発展、
この地、気に入った。

A little poem for Gunma.. I doubt many people would understand though.. hehe.. If you can understand everything, I'll chia u KFC in Malaysia.. haha

炒飯物語 Fried Rice Story

昨日の晩御飯でした。炒飯です。なぜか橙色ばかり。This was last night's dinner. Fried Rice. Somehow it was very orange. ^^

今からジョー特性炒飯の作り方を教えます。I am going to teach you how to make the Jo Special Fried Rice now.

まずは色んな材料を用意します。お米はもちろん、たまごちゃん一個、炒飯の素、コショウが基本。そして、おかずとしては三つぐらいの肉類や野菜。僕の場合はにんじん、きのこ、と鶏肉。基本的には自分が好きなものをいっぱい入れてください。
First of all, prepare all kinds of ingredients.. Of course you'll need rice, an egg, essence of fried rice (^^;), and pepper. And for the side ingredients, have about 3 types of vegetable and meat. For me, I got carrots, mushrooms and chicken meat. Basically, just put in lots of anything it is that you like.
[質問：炒飯の素がなかったらどうする？　自分の素を作る。基本はコショウたっぷり、塩を少し、と砂糖少し水で薄めたしょうゆにいれて、素の代わりに入れます。ふりかけでもいいけど。。
おかずがなかったら？　たまごちゃんの数を増やします。
Question: If I don't have any fried rice essence? Make your own. The basic is lots of pepper, a bit of salt, a titbit of sugar melted in some soy sauce lightened with water.
If I don't have side ingredients? Add more eggs.]

次はご飯を炊きます。（ご飯の炊き方分からないとか言うな）　ご飯が出来上がるまでにおかずを軽く炒めます。油はできるだけ控えめにしてください（僕の場合は油を入れすぎて、それが大失敗）。調味料は特に要りません。おかずのそのままの味でいいです。
Next, cook the rice (Don't tell me you can't cook rice). While waiting for the rice to be done, stir-fry the side ingredients. Try to use as little oil as possible (I put too much oil, and that was my big failure). It is not a must to add any seasonings. It is okay to go with the natural taste of the side ingredients.
[質問：ご飯の炊き方本当に分からなかったら？　冷凍のご飯でも買ってください。
油を入れすぎたり、おかずを炒めすぎたりしたら？　捨てます。大事なおなかを壊すな。
Question: What if I really don't know how to cook rice? Buy some frozen ready-made rice.
If I put too much oil, or overcook the side ingredients? Throw it away. Don't destroy your stomach.]

出来上がったおかずは別のお皿に置いといて、ちょっと多めの油（ご飯がフライパンにくつかないように）をフライパンの上で温めて、中火で溶きたまごを炒める。たまごがちょっと出来上がったら、ご飯を入れて、どんどんかき混ぜる。それから、おかずを入れて、ちょっとかき混ぜたら、炒飯の素とコショウをふりかけます。ご飯に焼き目がついたら、炒めすぎ。うすい茶色の炒飯でいい。
When the side ingredients are done, put it in another plate and pour quite a big size of oil onto the frypan (so that your rice does not stick), heat it up and fry the stirred egg under medium fire. When the egg is half done, put in your rice and stir it hard. After that, put in your side ingredients and after stirring it a bit, pour in the fried rice essence and pepper. If your rice turns dark brown, you have burnt it. A light brown fried rice is good enough.
[質問：　ご飯を置きっぱなしにして、悪くなっちゃたりしたら？　まだ食べれる状態なら、そのまま炒めます。熱を加えると菌はだいたい死にますから。
コショウが嫌だったら？　唐辛子でも何か辛い調味料でいい。
わさびでいいの？　あほか？
辛いものが嫌だったら？　じゃあ、コショウと一緒に塩をいっぱ～い入れてください。塩で味覚が乱れたら辛くなくなります。
Questions: If I left the rice and it turned bad? If it is still edible, fry it as it is. The bacterias will die when you add heat.
If I hate pepper? Red pepper (tongarashi) or anything spicy would be okay.
Will wasabi do? Arse..
If I don't like spicy? Then, along with the pepper, add lo~ts of salt. When your taste buds are spoiled, it won't be spicy anymore. ^^]

さて、召し上がり！いただきます！Let's eat!

White Rain

What do ya know? It has been raining snow since this morning till now. But it's not piling up that much. Not as much as in Nagaoka at least. heh. I didn't look at the weather forecast for today, so when I saw that it was falling white rain, I was a bit surprised.. and it's sooo cold today.. >.<

Blood Donation

I think I joined a blood donation once in Malaysia, but somehow I can't really remember the details.. Probably it just didn't leave any impression on me. Today, I donated my blood for the first time in Japan.

Well, after a long time filling forms (imagine medical terms in Japanese) and checking if Malaysia has any dangerous contagious diseases(such as malaria) and 2 ant bites(on the left for a blood test, and on the right for the donation, 400ml), I came back with these :

On the upper left corner is a red and gold card. I'm sure you recognize the red cross. The Japanese words translate to "Blood Donation Card" and "Japan Red Cross Society". When you get this card, your data will be input into the card and the next time you wish to donate blood, all you have to do is show the card to them. Cool right? And to prevent people with HIV from simply using your card to donate blood, you are also asked to lock it with a 4-number pin. hehe..

On the right is a mechanical pencil with a Hello Kitty Nurse on it. ^^; The Japanese words translate to "Blood donation is a gift of love" and "Gunma Prefecture Red Cross Blood Centre". On the middle left is a Calorie Mate Block, which is commonly sold in Japan. This is the first time I ate this thing. It's supposed to be an easy source of energy and nutrition at any time.

I'm very sure I will never forget this Blood Donation experience in Japan. The people handling the donation were nice and you get some souvenirs and most of all, you get the feeling that your blood will be put to good use. I'll be looking forward to this again next year!

Oh ya, the Japanese words on the plastic file translates to "Let's start the 20 years old(Adult) Blood Donation". Here's a piece of news about it: Daily Sports Online And for those who are interested, the model's name is Eikura Nana （榮倉奈々）.

Fried Chicken

Here's my dinner today.. Fried chicken.. first time fry chicken.. hehe.. looks good right? but actually half success half failure lar. don't have a proper frying pan for deep frying, so the chicken wasn't cooked evenly.. some still have raw flesh.. >.< and blood coming out.. imagine that! heh.. Well, anyways, it was quite nice nevertheless.

And a fried egg as a side dish.. well, actually, it's the egg left over from the fried chicken lar.. hehe.. my first perfectly round fried egg.. but very oily.. lolz..

Ichigo Kiss!

Yes yes! One of the few lovely things you get during winter is...........

As written on the wrapping(for those who can read Japanese), this type of strawberries is called Tochi Otome.

とちおとめ [3]
「とよのか」と「女峰」を交配し、さらに「栃の峰」を掛け合わせ、栃木県農業試験場によって育成された品種。品種登録は1996年。女峰より粒が大きく甘さも強い、日持ちが良い品種。従来の二大勢力であった「とよのか」や「女峰」に代わり、本記事の執筆版現在、日本一の生産量を誇る。

Wikipedia Japan
Tochi Otome
A Strawberry breed raised at the Tochigi Prefecture Agriculture Test Centre by crossbreeding the Toyonoka breed and Nyohou breed, and interbreeding with the Tochi No Mine breed. The breed was first recorded in the year 1996. This good breed has fruits bigger and sweeter than the Nyoho and lasts longer. In place of the two monopolizing breed, Toyonoka and Nyoho in the past, as of this article's writing now, it is now famous as Japan's number one strawberry produce.

The one I bought isn't that sweet, but still quite nice. Well, it isn't the peak season yet anyways. It should be really tasty towards the end of winter and beginning of spring.

And did you know?

甘みがあるため果物として位置づけられることが多いが、草本性の植物であるので正確には野菜に分類される。

Because the strawberry is sweet, it is usually placed as a fruit. However, as a plant having herbal properties, in accurate terms, it is classified as a vegetable.

Chap Cheap!?

This is the "Ali Baba" telephone card I bought from Shinokubo. As you can see, it says "chap cheap". The price written is 3000 yen, but it was sold at 1500 yen.

So, exactly how "chap cheap" is this card? My friend from "Long Hill", Calbi-chan who now has a girlfriend in Malacca told me that Free-Dial from Japan to house phone in Malaysia can call up to 300 minutes. 300 minutes! RM45 for 300 minutes~. That is so cheap, right? However, when I tried yesterday, the operator said "You have.... 110 minutes." Heyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!! That is soooooo much difference. What "chap cheap" lar??

Well, at least it is a bit cheaper than Brastel, I guess.. And for guys wooing gals in Malaysia, it should be quite a bargain. XD

Red Zone

My room has unofficially become the red zone of Gunma. For influenza, that is. ^^ I live between two other foreigners who have contracted the influenza virus during the winter holiday. One guy has gotten better, but another has just been told by the doctor to stay in his room and not have any contact with anybody for 5 days.

It seems that some people do not know the difference between influenza(abbreviated as flu) and a simple cold(風邪) and how dangerous it is. Well, in a simple sentence, in the worst case, influenza might cause pneumonia and the person contracted would eventually cease breathing. The worst case lar.. hehe.. A healthy teenager wouldn't die so easily though. The highest death rate is among the elderly. However, it is absolutely not fun to contract the virus at any costs!

Anyways, to check if you are in the red, please visit Influenza Info. For Japan lar.. Malaysia don't have yet kua...... For those who have checked the map, you would notice that Hokkaido is in the red. Well, commonly, the virus has a long life where it is cold, and Hokkaido also has many forest reserves which allow a lot of bird emmigration. So, to our friends in Hokkaido, please be careful! Remember to wash your hands properly! (no matter how cold the water is.. hehe)

明けおめです！Merry New Year!

Sorry for being 3 days late.. haha.. So lazy to update. heh.. Anyways,....

Another year has passed and the dawn of a new year falls upon us. But exactly what is New Year?
もう一年がたった。そして、新しい年が訪れた。でも、お正月ってそもそもなんだろう？

The New Year is an event that happens when a culture celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of the next year. Cultures that measure yearly calendars all have New Year celebrations.

from Wiki

Well, in Malaysia, our country of diverse cultures, everyone gets to celebrate at least 3 new years in a year. Oh, wait, that sounds weird. How can you have 3 new years in only 1 year? lol. It's really quite astonishing, you get ang pau and super illegal fireworks during Chinese New Year, then tuak and a feast during Gawai, and Rendang and Satay during Hari Raya. Name any country you can think of, but I am sure there is no other country that celebrates as many New Years as Malaysia does.
我々の他民族のマレーシアでは、みんな一年にせいぜい3回ぐらいお正月が楽しめるのだ。ちょっと待って、それじゃおかしいわね。一年に3回お正月？（笑）そう、不思議に思うかもしれないが、旧正月にはお年玉と不法な花火（マレーシアで一番楽しみにしている花火と言っていいだろう）、イバン民族のガワイにツアッ（米で作ったお酒）とごちそう、イスラム教のハリラヤにはレンダン（牛肉）とサテー（焼き鳥）。考えられる国を全部言ってみてください。でも、マレーシア程お正月を祝っている国はないと思う。

Anyways, nowadays, most people go by the Gregorian calendar and accept that the New Year is on the 1st of January.And usually you have countdowns and fireworks on December 31, the New Year's Eve. It has also become a custom to make New Year Resolutions and look back upon the year that has passed..
今日は、多くの人々は西暦に従い1月一日をお正月と認めている。そして、12月31日の夜中にはカウントダウンや花火が行われる。それから、新しい年のための目標を作ったり去った年の反省したりするのが流行している。

For me, I don't really like making resolutions because I usually forget about it after a week. heh.. But just for the record, I would like to be more hardworking, learn more deeply about my majors, and throw away my bad habits, and also visit Kansai and Disneyland/DisneySea and visit East Hokkaido.
僕はあまり目標を作るの好みじゃないな。。すぐ忘れちゃうから。まあ、一応、もっと真面目になりたい、専門をもっと深く学びたい、悪い癖を捨てたい、そして関西やディズニーランド・ディズニーシーや東北海道に行きたい。

As for reflections, I don't really have much to reflect on. Just that really living independently in Japan made me realize how sloppy I really am. So I really gotta change that attitude.. heh.. But anyways, travelling was really fun. And I am happy to say that I've seen the most beautiful sceneries I have ever seen in my life last year.
反省と言えば、僕はあまりたいした反省できる思い出はないけど。ただ独りで日本で暮らすことは自分がどれだけだらしないかが分かってきた。だから、その癖を変えなきゃならない。でも、日本で旅行したことは楽しかった。そして、僕は去年一生一番きれいな風景を見られるととても喜んでる。
And what are those? それがなんだろうか？
1. Lavender Farm (Numata,Gunma) ラベンダー畑（沼田、群馬）
2. Asahiyama Zoo's Animals (Asahikawa, Hokkaido) 旭山動物園の動物達（旭川、北海道）
3. Otaru Canal (Otaru, Hokkaido) 小樽運河（小樽、北海道）
4. Oonuma Sunset (Oonuma, Hokkaido) 大沼の夕焼け（大沼、北海道）
5. The Night View of Hakodate City from Mount Hakodate (Hakodate, Hokkaido) 函館山から眺めた函館の夜景（函館、北海道）
6. Noboribetsu Bear Park (Noboribetsu, Hokkaido) 登別熊牧場（登別、北海道）
7. Hell Valley (Noboribetsu, Hokkaido) 地獄谷（登別、北海道）
8. Fukuroda Waterfall (Daigo City,Ibaraki) 袋田の滝（大子町、茨城）
9. Snow fall while snowboarding (Togari, Nagano) スノーボード中に雪降り（戸狩、長野）
10. Shibuya's busiest intersection. 渋谷の一番混んでる交差点

Okay, that`s all for now. Have a great 2008!

Ski Trip Break

I'm going to the Ski Trip in Nagano today, so I won't be updating this blog for a while. Sorry! and Chiao~

Christmas Eve!

Still quite early, but a very Happy Christmas to everyone! And A Super Merry Birthday to Satomi Ishihara! haha. Yup, Satomi's birthday is on Boxing Day.

Hmm, just now I found out that Satomi has an Internet Log too! Satomi Nikki! However, it's not updated that much. But it's quite nice to be able to see her personal pics. =) Actually, I thought she was absolutely Internet-illiterate before this. Haha. But then again, it's a high probability someone else is helping her to update the Diary. ^^

Okay, I should stop talking about Satomi and putting up more of her pics.. lol.. Anyways, I bought a KFC party bucket kind of thing today and ate it with 2 foreign students from Sri Lanka and Mongolia here. Got about 12 pieces of chicken and salad and a Choco Cake.. Ho ho ho.. A small Christmas party, but quite fun! heh.. Would've been more fun if got more ppl, but.. nvm.. (To tell the truth, I'm a bit disappointed with the thin layer of friendship between us foreign students here..so thin and could break any time.. sighs)

Well, anyways, I was actually planning to send a postcard to the family whose house I went for the homestay in Saitama, but unfortunately the post office was closed.. I think should be open on Boxing Day, but maybe not open because it was the Birthday of the Emperor yesterday(Sunday). sighs.. nvm lar.. a bit late also nvm kua.. heh.

Hmm.. some people must be curious about how Christmas feels and looks like in Japan.. I don't really know coz I'm not going anywhere for countdown tonight.. But this picture up here is a picture of the decorations in Ueno Park which I took 2 weeks ago. Quite pretty..

And these penguins were really cute! heh.. =) Okaylar, that's all tonight..

HAPPY CHRISTMAS everyoneeeee.. and a Merry New Year very soon!

お出かけ

I went out to ka-la-o-kay today with my classmates. Yea, the first time I go ka-la-o-kay with my classmates. The first time I went ka-la-o-kay was with Calvin far off in Aomori. Haha.. so out of place, right? ^^
今日クラスメート達とカラオケ行ってきました。そう、初めてのクラスメートとのカラオケの打ち上げ。初めてカラオケに行ったのはかるびちゃんと一緒で、青森にいたときでした。まあ、それは泊まるとこなかったから。。。

Well, to tell the truth, I'm not good at ka-la-o-kay at all, not o-kay at all. Messed up all the keys and lyrics.. lol. Well, that's mainly because most of the English songs are quite old.. no new ones for me to sing.. sighs.. and the Japanese songs that I know are all a tempo too fast or more.. ^^;;
正直言って、僕カラオケむいてないっすね。。歌詞も音声も全部間違えまくりだった。（笑）　まあ、注文できる英語の歌あんまり新しいのなかったのもあるけど。で、僕が知ってる日本語のうたはほとんどテンポがはやいアニソンだから。。一番よく歌えるの「太陽の歌」かな。。＾＾

Hmm, but it was quite fun, and cheap.. Sang 7 hours for 810 yen. and it's usually 1000 yen per hour in Tokyo. well, just to be prepared for the next time, I'll try to listen to more Japanese songs and practice a bit.. haha..
でも、結構楽しくて、なによりも安かった。7時間で810円。本当はフリータイムで9時間だけど、途中帰った。東京だったら、一時間でも1000円ぐらい。。フリータイムもそんなに長くないと思う。うん、今度のカラオケに備えて、もうちょっと日本語の歌聴いて練習しようかな。（勉強の方もしっかりしてないくせに。。笑）

I left early coz the free time course is actually for 9 hours, and I couldn't possible sing that long. I was looking for somewhere to eat nearby the Karaoke when I saw a book/dvd shop.
僕には9時間はさすがに無理だったんで、先に帰った。その前に、近くに食いもん探して夕飯済まそうと思って。。そして、このつたやのような店を見た。

From the outside, it looked like every other book/dvd shop, something like tsutaya.. So, thinking of burning some time, I went in to see.. And what did I get? A whole archive of... those things that I would rather not announce publicly. ^^; So, those guys who are prepared to make reservations, you're in luck. haha.. kidding.
外からは普通の本屋さん・DVD屋さんみたい（見分けとかあるかもしれないが、僕なんか分からないから）。。時間の余裕もたっぷりあるからと思って、入ったんだけれども、なんとなかにはアレばっかりだった。アレの大きなアーカイブらしく、本当にびっくりした。日本の本屋さんって、ちょっと危険だね。。気をつけないと。。（笑）

Well, after making a round in the shop and getting sick of the air inside, I went back to finding my dinner.. I found a TonKatsu(fried pork) shop nearby and decided to try one of the popular food here. Yes, TonKatsu is Maebashi's specialty.
まあ、そのまま出ちゃうのも変だから、店内一週して、中の空気に苦しまれて（8歳とか9歳のに何する気？こんなのだけは勘弁してくれ）、出ていってまた食いもんを探し改めた。そして、とんかつ屋さんを見かけた。一応前橋の名物で、食べてみようかなって思った。そう、不思議に思う方もいると思うけど、本当です、前橋はとんかつ！（間違いでしたら、せめてくるといい）

It might sound very common, but it's true.. It's the specialty here. Anyways, this was my dinner today, which cost me 990 yen (around RM30) >.< The fried pork was succulent, juicy and sweet. And I'm always amazed how Japanese can fry their food and yet it's unoily. Quite worth it lar.. ^^
とんかつって、一般過ぎると思われるくらいだな。。さすがに名物とは思われないイメージだね。ちなみにこれが僕の夕飯セットだった。990円で日本ではこんな感じかな。まあ、マレーシアのスタンダードと著しい段差があるけど。＞。＜　このとんかつは食感がとってもやわらかく、ジュウシーで、ちょっと甘いかんじ。とにかくうまいっす！それと、日本人がどうやってものを揚げながらも、絶対油濃くならないのが不思議なんだ。

That was all for today.. and this last picture is a picture of the sky which I took yesterday.. notice the cloud which looks like a bird in the blue sky? I love the winter sky in Japan.. heh
今日はこれで終わり。そして、この最後の写真は昨日撮った日本の冬の夕暮れの写真。鳥みたいな雲おっきいの一匹ちっちゃいの一匹見える？日本の冬空って、本当最高！大好き！

Bowling

Today after school, I went bowling with 4 of my classmates. It must have been 5 years since the last time I played bowl. That was the time we went to war with our solar pasturizer in KL(err.. I only went to receive the cert tho, i think..) lol.. and had some fun at Sunway Pyramid. heh.. the good old times, eh..

Well, anyways, my first time playing ball in five years, everyone were just beginners, so it was a bit silly and funny, but still quite fun. heh. I had two strikes(I think I had more at Sunway.. heh) today. After that, we went to eat ramen.. All in all, it was kind of fun. Just that they have been classmates for 3 years, so there are memories and stories that I don't know about.

Tomorrow is Karaoke. Err, I have no confidence at all in singing, but I guess it should be okay, coz there will be so many people there too.. heh. Just sing a few off-tunes and laugh it off. ^^

今日放課後クラスメート4人とボーリング行ってきました。僕ボーリングやったのは5年ぶりだろう。皆初心者みたいで、ちょっとばかばかしところもあったが、楽しかった。僕はストライクが二つ。ほかの3人は五つくらいだったかな。。その後はらめん食べに行った。みんなもう3年間クラスメートだから、当然僕には知らない思い出や話があるが、今日いっぱい話し聴けて皆のこと少し分かってきて良かったと思う。

明日はカラオケか。。うん、僕は歌うのに自身ないけど、人数も多いから、なんとかなるかな。

Merry Christmas

It's still early, but I've received my first Christmas greeting card. ^.^ It's from the homestay's host family. I actually wanted to surprise them with a Christmas card first, but now they surprised me by sending an early card. >.< Well, either way, it's still nice to receive greeting cards. heh