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Yesterday was one of the most joyful days for many of us here.

The reason => it snowed.

Sounds lame? Well, maybe… but it is rare to snow here around Osaka area during winter. Even if it snows, it’d be like just 10 minutes or something.

But yesterday was different…

View from my room

We’re here…!!!

Continuous shot of snow kicking while getting “hammered” from the back… Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

Take 4

Take 5

Snow “baseball” shot 1

Shot 2

Shot 3

Shot 4

AYF circle…

Raymie and I

It was a great day having fun, and luckily it came before our program ends… Well, at least one of my dreams in Japan came true.

When people talks about Hiroshima, everyone will recall the incident during World War II, the bombing of the city that ended the war. A black dot in the history of Japan. Though the city has been rebuilt, the scars of war remained. This time, we got the chance to experience and witness everything by ourselves.

Hiroshima Castle

Okonomiyaki-making class, one of the famous Japanese cuisines

My work

In front of the Atomic-Bomb Dome

This is the only building which is closest to the point-zero of the atomic bomb detonation that remains till today

Tales of a miracle child – Sadako

Atomic-Bomb Monument

Miniature structure of the bombing of Hiroshima

The red ball on top was where the bomb detonated, a 4000 degrees Celsius fireball

300 meter above ground that flattened the whole city…

The rebuilt Hiroshima City

Illumination along the night street

Just like in dreamland…

Photo frame…???

On ferry to Miyajima Island

Itsukushima Shrine, the shrine above the sea

Hands-on learning to make Momiji-Manju, a famous local food

Our group… Oo-san, Nu-san and me

Oysters, another famous local food

The best oyster I’ve ever tried… fresh, juicy and sweet… yum yum…

Hiroshima is the symbol of peace and end of warfare in Japan as it was the first city in the world to suffer the blast of atomic bomb. Back then, people thought that it was impossible to rebuild the city anymore due to the radiation of radioactive wave. But yet on that day, we stood on a city which has the mixture of world class modern facilities and traditional history. People of Hiroshima didn’t gave up on hope to reclaim their land, and endured much to get to where they are now.

Sometimes, things that cannot be done alone, can be done together…

2 weeks ago we had the Fureai Matsuri and Open Day here in the center. It’s an annual event where people outside are invited to the center for cultural exchange program with students from various countries.

My お姉さん in the center

Tagging along with the cafe’s staffs

The forever funny Takuya-san, you won’t believe how old is him…

Among the few programs and performances presented during the day, I joined Iaido, an art of controlling the movement of sword. Though the one we used were not the real samurai sword, it’s still pretty heavy. Took us 4 weeks to practice, and I can still hardly swing the sword correctly. Needless to say, performing the “Kata“’s and forms correctly is even more challenging.

Ok, I know my slippers spoilt the pose…

A little warm up before performance

Guess I’m just too scary for her…

The little kid who wanted to join us in the performance

Very slow hor… haha. I think it is even harder for the one who was holding two cameras while recording this clip and took pictures at the same time. Special thanks to Nu-san for the help.

Til then…

Ok, I just realized I’ve abandoned this blog for a month… so hi guys, I’m back… The past few weeks were fully packed with activities and exams, and without us realizing it, the first semester is over. Let’s update:

Visit to Nara

Nara was once the capital of Japan, even before Kyoto, and the history of this city is way back in time. This year, they are celebrating the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijyo-kyo Capital.

Heijyo Palace

Deer, the symbol of the city

Whoever holding the food, you’ll get a bunch of deers “charging” at you

Celebration and performance in the palace

Kofukuji Temple

Autumn in Nara

ICA Cross Cultural Program

This is one of the cultural program organized by ICA in order for us to interact with the Japanese people and introduce our own country’s culture.

Islam, Mostafiz, me and Mario

Beauties from Vietnam

“Super-Saiya” from Thailand, Ton and Wee

Samba Dancers from Brazil

The Indonesians

The Malaysians

Raymie with his trademark jump

Myo’s Birthday Celebration

The eldest among us, yet one of the funniest…

Present for him, a father-to-be…

Our favorite pass time, Karaoke

Visit to Matsuno Lab Open Day, Kyoto University

If nothing changes, I’ll be joining this lab next year to conduct my master studies. Projects in this lab are way different from what I have back in UTM, so I guess the journey ahead won’t be easy.

Multi-agent collaboration research

Simulation and motion control of a snake robot

Multi-agent motion pattern control

Rescue robotics

SGOG Farewell Party

SGOG is another program for Japanese-learning students around the world. The program’s objective is the same as ours, except the duration of the course is only 6 weeks.

Carolina from Brazil

Hang, me and Van

Next week, new semester will be commencing, with new classmates (well, not all…) and new challenges. 3 months left before my entrance examination into Kyoto University, with most of the subjects I have never learned before. Not sure if I can survive with both the Japanese learning as well as the entrance exam preparations.  Anyway, will try my best.

Til then~~~