My dream takes flight...

1st April 2009, this will be the day I embark on my new journey to a new life (literally), and towards a goal that is so far but seemingly reachable...

Farewell, yesterday. Welcome, tomorrow~

I have gotten this scholarship with purpose, and I will continue to move on forward with purpose. Some people think that my dream is to "study music in Japan"...but... that's not exactly right, lol.

My dream, is reachable by "studying music in Japan". I have not fulfilled my dream, yet. My wish has not come true, yet. However, I am slowly and steadily building a path towards my target...it will be achievable, by studying what i want in Japan. I hope.

Tomorrow night, my flight to Tokyo.
Tomorrow night, my dream takes flight.

I got 3000 ang pow money!!!

3000yen...sounds like a lot? Go check the exchange rate if you want. woo~!
HAHA! Ok, it's the thought that counts...went to Jack's Place (West Coast Recreation Centre) for dinner with Rena, Jin Ling and Marie yesterday and ate so much till I was unpleasantly bloated.




Rena and Co. gave me a 3000-yen worth of ang pow money (in tha red envelope). Rena also wrote me a nice letter on Japanese calligraphy paper, and folded it nicely into card size, makes it easy for me to bring it over to Japan with me. lol.



And one disgusting thing!! MARIE ZHENG GAVE ME MR HAPPY!!! @_@ OK! This Mr Happy was forced on Rena's journey to New Zealand, and god knows what Marie did to Mr Happy before it even went to New Zealand... eeeeew! Ok. This Mr Happy would have travelled to New Zealand and Japan in time to come. But, heyz, i'm not returning Mr Happy to you any time soon, Marie! It'll have to bear rain or shine with me in Japan for at least 3 years. Accompanying Mr Happy is also a letter written by Marie (on yellow paper). Since the letter also fits into the "ang pow", i guess i'll just bring it along with me to Japan.

Thanks girls!! Love ya all! And will miss ya all! xxoxoxoxoxx

(I'm looking at the pile of soft toys i'll be bringing over to Japan with me......)

17kg and increasing...

I finally got to start packing my luggage seriously yesterday...
the initial weight is 17kg.

I haven't put in my books.
I haven't put in Cadbury Moo Moo.
I haven't put in the bags i need to bring over.
I haven't put in my shoes.

Whoa...Even if i don't surpass the baggage weight limit, how am i supposed to be able to carry that thing??

I also intend to carry a bag on my back. That bag will consist of my game consoles, my laptop, portable hard disks, important documents, my valuables and jacket.

hmmm......i need to put some stuff in my dad's or uncle's luggage, so as to distribute the weight.

つかれてます

つかれてる。。。この一週間は息をつく暇がない。毎日も友だちに誘われて、毎日も出かける。正直に、私はどこにも行きたくない。ただ、静かに、ゆっくりで、家で家族とこの一週間を過ごしたい。だって、私にとして、最終までに一番大切なのは家族です。でも、友だちは私が日本に行く前にどうでも私に会いたいって、失望させたくないから、断る勇気がなくなった。どこにも行きたくないの。本当に。家でいなかったら、つかれちゃう。もうつかれてます。ホームシックか。。。短い時間で家にいなくても、ホームシックになる。（しまった。。。日本でどうやって生けるの。。。）

April Fools' Day draws closer...

It's funny how i get the same response everytime i tell people my flight is on 1st April. "Ha? Really ah? You not bluffing me right? Wait i go airport see you off, you not there how??" hahaha~ Thanks alot? But i'm not lying... I'm really flying off to Tokyo on 1 April.

And i realize just how forgetful i am...whenever people ask me for my flight details, i have to recheck my itinerary...@_@
Can i just put down my flight details here so that i can remind myself of the time i need to fly? lol

1 Apr 09 / SIN-NARITA / 22:40hrs – 06:35hrs (2 Apr)

hmm...this should be convenient.

At first, only my dad would want to come along with me. Then my uncle said he could help, so these two old men will take the same flight as me to Tokyo. THEN! It has been decided that my cousin would also be coming along!

So...this became more than just "helping me settle down in Tokyo". It is now something like "7-Day Tokyo Tour!". hehex. I'd probably be really busy during my first 2 to 3 days, so i can't have fun with them touring Tokyo and such, i hope i'll be able to at least go to Disneyland or something with them once things have calmed down a little for me. =D

I used to be really dreading this day...because i know i'll have to leave my family behind. But now...at least, there's something i can look forward to.

Farewell, my friends~ As I go on my journey towards my dream...

Here's a mass tag to all whom I think i should inform about my departure...

I'll be leaving on April 1st (no, this is not an April Fools' Day joke), two weeks from now, to the Land of the Rising Sun. I'll be studying in institutions at Tokyo, Japan.

I am under a scholarship provided by the Japanese government (Monbukagakushou) for a period of 3 years between 2009 to 2012. I'll be spending my first year in Bunka Institute of Language, majoring in the Japanese Language, then the next two years in Nippon Engineering College of Hachioji, majoring as a "Music Artist".

As I embark on my dream journey in music composition and performance, I will never forget all who has supported me in so many ways. I remember friends from school who'd just listen to my new compositions, or listen to me playing the piano during breaks, and friends who'd try to fill in the lyrics for music i've written.

Friends who'd also criticise my style and my performance skills...yes, thank you, sorry for making your ears hurt at that time. lol

I will take this once in a lifetime opportunity to polish my skills, train myself to finally be an accomplished professional musician, so that i can one day, show my gratitude to everyone who has given me their overwhelming support all these years.

For years, I dream of a moment where i can stand on a stage, and shout to the whole world, how much i love my family (especially, my parents), my mentors and my friends.

This dream journey did not come by easy, and will not be easy from here onwards either. I am not going to let another chance slip by. I will take everything in my stride and move on forward. No looking back now. I will succeed.

Goodbye for now, my dear family and friends!

oh, if any of you ever happen to swing by Tokyo when I'm there, do drop me a mail or something, so that we can have some fun. Cheers!

シンガポールの大学生、教授を刺した後に自殺

シンガポールの大学生、教授を刺した後に自殺
3月3日14時35分配信 ロイター

　［シンガポール　２日　ロイター］　シンガポールの南洋工科大学でエンジニア専攻の最終学年生が２日、教授を刺した後、ビルから飛び降りて自殺するという事件があった。大学側が明らかにした。

　地元警察のスポークスマンによると、現地時間１０時４７分に警察が現場に到着したところ、インドネシア人の学生はすでに死亡。教授は手当てを受けるために病院に搬送された。

　大学は声明で「事件に大きな衝撃を受け、悲しんでいる。徹底した調査を行う」と述べた。

　シンガポールでは学校や大学での暴力事件はまれで、近隣諸国の親たちは、安全に学べる場所としてシンガポールに子どもたちを送り出している。

----------------------------------

皆は学生が何故教授を刺したあと、自殺したの？その学生の暴力行動は納得できないって。。。
まず、何故その学生が教授を殺したかったか調べてないの？！「学生が死んだら、学生自分の所為だよ！だって、彼は人を殺したかったから！」と何で皆はそういえるの？たぶん、その事件で一番大切な問題は「その教授は。。。いったいその学生になにをしてましたか？」教授なら、いい人なはずですか？あやしい。。。ぜったいあやしい

I am going to be a Scholar

I don't think I was ever under any scholarship before... And, so, this is the first time i'm being called a "scholar" back and forth. hahaha!

Even my visa says "Goverment Scholar". O_O woo~!

It feels like a privileged title, one which gives me an edge above everyone else. But yeah, it FEELS like this...whereas, in actual fact, i'm just an average student studying along with everyone else, starting from zero. I may start off a little higher than everyone else, but nobody can tell the winds' directions.

Starting at the top doesn't mean ending off at the top.

And, it is especially so, when I am going to study in the same cluster of institutions where Scholars from all over the world are enrolled in.

It will be a competitive study journey. An extremely competitive one.
I must work hard, so as to be worthy of the "scholar" title.

Rena, Thank you!! Mai,Arigatou!!

MooooOoOOOOoooo~ Rena Chan bought me a Cadbury Cow from New Zealand!!
(although i dreamt she gave me a chicken instead...dunno why...but...)
I'm now wondering whether i should bring Mini Totoro to Japan, or should i bring Cadbury Moo Moo to Japan...Rena also gave me some chocolate~ But since it's in the fridge now, i won't take a picture, lest they melt.



I wanted to see moo moo cows in NZ!! Rena took a few pictures, only two show dots....... because the cows were to far away. LOL! But, her camera happens to be pretty good~ Can zoom in like 300% and can still be in viewable resolution. Really cool~ Thanks Rena! For the cow, and the wonderful pictures you've shared along your trip.


(I am not blind right...Rena is really taller than Mai lor! She still claims she's super tall...ugh~)

Operation Christchuch was a success!! Rena managed to meet Mai at her motel. Mai rang me up at (GOD forbid) 3am...just to tell me that. And boy, was I glad Mai and Rena was able to meet up. =D

As such, Rena was able to pass me whatever Mai had prepared for me. a GIGANTIC "Thank You" card (filled with words...), Hello Kitty and two postcards from Christchurch. Gigantic card consists of a looooooooong excerpt by Mai, with seriously hard-to-read handwriting, not her fault, but it's because i haven't read handwritten Japanese in real-life before. seriously.

Another short excerpt by Taro-niisan...fully in honorific Japanese. GOD! THEY KNEW I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HONORIFIC JAPANESE!! Brother Taro said it'll aid in my Japanese study... geez~ Thanks?



Rena: Thank you very muchfor your sincerity and going to all the trouble. Love ya lots! You always listen and remember what people says. You know what I would really like (the cow). Am eternally grateful to have such a good friend with such a good listening ear.

まい：わざわざ友達のモーテルに足を運んでて、プレゼントを送ってくれてありがとう。本当に、素敵だよ。どうもありがとうございます。まいに感動させられた。（泣）hehe

"What is so hard about being punctual?!"

"What is so hard about being punctual?! We have been taught at school since young, haven't we? That's something we Japanese can never understand about foreigners. It is such an obvious and reasonable thing, being punctual, that is."

「当たり前じゃないの？遅刻なっとくできないっていうこと。だって、子供から学校でもそういうんじゃない？それだけ、日本人はまったくわからない。」

Quoted from a conversation I had with a fine Japanese young man...

Somehow, there was no way i could argue with him. I don't intend to, anyway. =)
Although I don't usually end up late for dates, it's still not for sure that I will end up punctual either.

The Japanese holds their principles of life tight to their mind and soul. They would be expected to follow every single virtue which reflects good personality. For example, keeping promises, not lying, and...being punctual.

One of my Japanese friends can be totally mindless about certain things, totally reckless when doing things, and have totally crazy habits that one can never imagine. But she......is punctual. Once she say she'll do something, she WILL do it.
Once she starts doing something, she WILL continue doing it.

There is this invisible hand. A hand that guides the Japanese's way of life. A hand which holds rules that the Japanese MUST follow. I think this is something we outsiders can never understand.

Say...but I am impressed. More amazed than impressed, i think. There is no other people that is more "unique" than Japanese people.

Kanagawa to Tokyo: 2.5hrs wasted per day

I'll be literally spending 80 minutes on each single trip, including about 30 minutes of walking time and 40 mins on the train, from school and to school. However, this really balances out the high rental fee for the International Student House「国際学生会館」(what you call hostel, or dormitory).

Tokyo「東京」...is a very... VERY expensive place to live in. Especially if anyone wants to stay in or around the "circle of Yamanote「山手線」". My school just happens to be right in the centre of it, Shinjuku「新宿」. I was planning to stay at Hatsudai「初台」, which is just one-stop away by train. If i really stayed there, i'll end up spending literally close to SG$1000 solely on accomodation.

I know... I'm on scholarship, and the Japanese goverment also gives me monthly living allowance. But...THAT is definitely still too expensive, even for an average Japanese family. In comparison, I'll only be spending about SG$670 on accomodation in Kanagawa, compared to Tokyo's SG$980.

And so, I'm just a little glad I got posted to stay at the International Student House at Kanagawa Prefecture「神奈川」 (Sagamiono「相模大野」). Although Kanagawa is still like the 3rd largest city of Japan, after Tokyo and Osaka「大阪」, living cost there is relatively lower than really staying in Tokyo itself.

Kanagawa is NOT in Tokyo, for your information. It's going to be like travelling between two different areas, imagine Singapore to Johor Bahru. But thank goodness the train network in Japan is so wonderful (messy and complicated at the same time)it literally connects everywhere in Tokyo, so i'll still just be taking one line straight to and from school everyday, it'll take 40 mins on train though.

I just have to imagine Japanese rush-hour trains and I'll want to vomit...and yes, i'll have to deal with that.

Odakyuu-sen 「小田急線」is HELL in morning rush-hour, and so my Japanese friend tells me. I just hope I can get to SIT throughout my 40-min journey straight to Tokyo Met. Shinjuku.

Mai stayed at Kanagawa for the exact same reason, maybe it's pure coincidence, or maybe it's just THAT obvious...that nobody would want to stay in Tokyo, and so looks for cheaper options in Kanagawa (or Saitama).

今気づいた

去年の１２月に、私はある友達に「私はいつも応援するよ！」って言いました。そして、電話したり、チャットしたり、いろいろに相談したり。。。今までずっと。これからきっと。
なんか。。。日本に行きたいけど、行きたくない。めちゃめちゃです。
彼女そのときの気持ち、今の私は完全にわかってきた。

家はずっと家ですね。家族はずっと。。。家族ですね。
最近もだんだん、親や親戚たちの気持ちをわかってきた。

友達に急に呼び出されて、御飯食べに行ったり、買い物したり、喫茶店で雑談したり。。。
みんなは「親友だよ！絶対に私のことを忘れないでね！」って言った。うれしい。

私はみんなにとして、こんなに重要だとぜんぜん思わなかった。

今気づきました。

私は。。。幸せです。

どこにいても、どんなに寂しくても、私はきっと一人じゃない。それだけをわかったら、私は何でもできるときがします。

みんなのために、自分のために。。。
私は強くなりたい。私は成長したい。
諦めません。

ごめん！

寝れなかった。でも、はなしてから、なんとなく寝れました。ありがとう。

午後、まいに「今から話せるよ！」って携帯にテキストを送って、まいがオンラインのとき、私はぜんぜん気づかなかった。

ごめん！！

話したかったよ。でも。。。やっぱり、ずいぶん疲れたから。。。ぐっすり寝ていた。Sorries!!　@_@　

(All posts will now be published in Beth's World, regardless of it being in Japanese, Chinese or English in order to facilitate RSS Feed feature to Facebook Notes.)

Tokyo: April 2009 - 2012

April 2009 - March 2010 :
文化外国語専門学校
Bunka Institute of Language

April 2010 - March 2012 :
日本工学院八王子専門学校
Nihon Kougakuin College of Hachioji


The first year will be spent at the centre of Tokyo. Big city, tall buildings, typical urban area, Shinjuku. The busiest area in Tokyo Met.

The 2nd and 3rd years will be spent nearer to the outskirts of Tokyo, at Hachioji. Well, not really rural...just that it's basically near the mountainous border of Tokyo-to and it's basically not as city-like. (I hope I would get at least a little chance to take some fresh country air.)

First year will basically be the study of the Japanese Language, and maybe Japanese Affairs, i don't really know my curriculum yet, but it's like what MEXT says, it's going to be a one-year INTENSIVE course.

Japanese people take years to get into a Japanese university...and i'm going to be expected to master the language that should be used in Japanese colleges in one year... woo~ I hope I can make it.

I'll be majoring in some course as a "Music Artist" at Nihon Kougakuin. The specialty course I think I would take should either be Music Composition/Arrangment or... Game Music. I don't know yet...i don't even know it myself.

Anyhow, I still don't know when my flight will be...