Journey Records in Japan

Posted on by taiyoo

I find out a need to make notes of our life. To keep every remembrance and experience, from what we can recall again it in the future and also to learn how we have lived our life.

This notes is dedicated for every place & event that leave a depth memory for me from 24 September 2010 (start the journey) – December 2010 (end of year, first milestone)

Thanks to my little pocket camera Panasonic DMC FS-62 which had been accompanying me to store all of this memories.

26-28 September 2010

  • Orientation day : Looking around Osaka University, where I will spend my life for about half a year

    01 October 2010

  • Watch wadaiko performance in JICA

    07 October 2010

  • Birthday party from my lab friends, so kind of them, will be unforgettable memory for me
  • Birthday salutations from a lot of friends in Facebook which make me very grateful

    17 October 2010
    Trip to Nanba (難波), main area of south Osaka with friends from church

29 October 2010
Nabe party with lab members

31 October 2010
Trip to Kyoto :

3 November 2010

    Osaka 1 Day Trip:

  1. Shitennō-ji (四天王寺)
  2. Osaka Maritime Museum (なにわの海の時空館)
  3. Santa Maria Cruise
  4. Tsūtenkaku (通天閣)
  5. Tempozan Ferris Wheel
  6. Floating garden / Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル)

    17 November 2010
    Visit Momofuku Ando Instant Noodle Museum (インスタントラーメン発明記念館) with host family

    20 November 2010
    Trip to Shiga prefecture, visiting Enryakuji (延暦寺) with Ibaraki International Citizenship

    02 December 2010
    Having fun together with elementary school in Settsu Elementary School

    04 December 2010
    Trip to Arashiyama (嵐山) in Kyoto with church members.

    09 December 2010
    Enjoying Kobe Luminaire (神戸ルミナリエ)

    11-12 December 2010
    International Christmas Service in Suita Bible Gospel Church

     

    December 2010
    Party for international students and researcher:

    1. With school of engineering science (10 December 2010)
    2. With institute of scientific and industrial research (16 December 2010)
    3. Costume party with international student (17 December 2010)

      30-31 December 2010
      End of year holiday to Amanohashidate (天橋立)

     

    Many others memory, like my first time to taste the real dorayaki, playing tennis table with international members, learn how to juggling with balls and play kendama, fellowship with church members, delivering a simple speech in Japanese, cooking time, and of course time in front of my laptop doing my research topic..

     

    Thanks to God that have given me such a chance,
    Thanks to my family, who have trusted me to travel alone
    Thanks to my friends who have filled my memory with goodness

    Exchange Student Program to Osaka University, Japan

    Posted on by taiyoo

    osaka Well, actually there are many exchange program to university in Japan (Osaka University, Tohoku, etc ) for Indonesian Students, specially for those registered in university that have agreement with university in Japan, for example : ITB, UGM, UI. For sure, you can ask the support office in your university.

    Then, what will we do in the exchange program?

    The answer is that depends. Some universities will offer you a chance to attend classes there (maybe in English –> mostly but there are some in Japanese), and some else will offer you opportunity to join a research group related with your interest.

    In Osaka University (大阪大学), there are 3 programs offered to us (college student) :

    1. OUSSEP
    2. FrontierLab
    3. Regular Exchange Student

      4. Actually, there are many more program from Osaka University, but the most common are the listed above. You should browse Osaka University homepage for international program for looking another program.

    How about the period?

    Basically for undergraduate student, the program offered for 1 (one) semester or 1 (one) year. Regularly the period will be either April – September or October – March.

    But, for graduate student you get the flexibility to decide for how long you want to be in the lab. But, in Osaka University it is suggested that you may stay for more than 3 months.

    Next, how about the fund or money for living there?

    Well, you need to consider money for university fees and living cost which is really expensive in Japan. But, no need to worry, because there are many sponsor for scholarship that can help you. Usually, information about scholarship will be explained also in the information sheet about your application to join exchange program.

    But, one thing to consider is the amount of money that you can receive from the scholarship. The amount range from around 50.000 yen until 250.000 yen each month. Hey, why there is kind of a great gap in the range? Yes, because it depends on your sponsor! And actually, for master and doctoral program, you will get bigger amount of money! But, as an exchange student, we can get cheaper housing. That’s why, in my opinion it would be enough if you can get scholarship for 80.000 yen each month.

    You can also take part time job, but one thing to consider is you have priority in your university and also think if there will be enough time for part time job. In my opinion, don’t plan to get your living expenses from the part time job fees, consider it as additional money only!

    Estimation for living expenses can found here : http://www.gcn-osaka.jp/exchange/pdf/Living%20expenses.pdf

    Finally, who is eligible to join this exchange program?

    Mostly, the requirement will need you to be third year (junior) or forth year (senior) in your home institution. And your academic report must be good too! But, basically it will take part only in the selection from your home institution. Well, if you have extracurricular activities as well, that will be additional point for you!

    I think any other requirements are not so difficult, like letter of recommendation from you lecturer, photos, TOEFL score greater than 550 (oh yeah this is a must! That’s why I write this post in English, so basically one that have reached this point must be quite good in English! but actually I am not really good but still can pass the test :p)

    The next thing if you get approved, you will need to apply for college visa, flight ticket, fiscal (free if you are still under 21 years old or can show NPWP of one in your family), learn a little about Japanese language (that would help you a lot there!), and any others. I hope I can make a post for that later.

    So, if you’re interested to participate in exchange student program and you meet the requirement, I think you should join one! がんばって！

    Churches in Osaka, Japan

    Posted on by taiyoo

    Actually I have already come only to one church in Osaka. That was Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church or sometimes called “Church of the Light”.

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    Addres 4-3-50 Kitagasugaoka Ibaraki Shi
    Phone : 0726-27-0071
    Website http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~nv3n-krkm/
    Architected by  Mr. Tadao Ando at 1989.

     

    P1000936 P1000935 P1000933

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    My first impression with this church is very nice, althought a bit small and some part of the building still in construction. But, this is the nearest Protestant Church from my accomodation in JICA, Ibaraki, Osaka.

    I read a writing from Rev Noboru Karukome about the history behind the church that the process to build this church was not easy. That’s why, after it is finished, Rev Karukome gave us this message :

    We have just given birth to it. I think that it will grow while you are using it.

    Unfortunately, the sermon was given in Japanese (though many foreigner come to this church too), so I didn’t really understand. I hope I can understand more in next time while improving my Japanese Language. But, from the liturgy (26.09.2010), there was one verse touching my heart. Isaiah 41:13 :

    For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you
    (New International Version)

    Another verse from Exodus 3:7-15 and Acts 7:30-43. I read it is about how God had listened to Isreal’s crying and sent Moses to lead Israel went from Egypt.
    When I read that, it’s like the Lord told me, “I listen to the crying of my people in Japan. Do not fear, salvation will come upon this place”

    Yeah, although it was full at the chapel, but it’s only 80-100 people and in a city. I haven’t checked it thoroughly, but if you search google, you only find this church for Ibaraki City. And what made I sad is some of young people fell asleep in the church when the sermon time.

    One thing important more, the service in this church only once in the Sunday morning except you make a reservation first and there was no discipleship as long as I know. I haven’t really known whether they have heared about new born.

    So, let’s pray together : let Father’s will be done on Japan!