Pre-Japan - Opening Ramblings

Gahh! I finally started with this blog. Heh, it's much more complicated and thorough then I expected. Well, I have always dream of doing something like this. I have always preferred doing it by hand and using pretty notebooks but alas, my handwriting really sucks too much for me to enjoy it. It will be a plus if anyone will actually read my entries. Excitement bubbles in my stomach at the thought of other people reading my rambles. But then again, I just want to keep an accurate (or maybe not) account of my days, now dub pre-Japan and the time when I'm in Japan. I want to have something to look back on when I'm so old and gray.

Anyway, to explain to my future self and to my readers, God has finally allowed for me to pass a scholarship called MEXT scholarship for Japan. Basically, it is a Japanese Government scholarship. You can enter in two ways, applying through the local Japan Embassy or straigh to a University that will nominate you for a spot on the MEXT scholarship. The first one, you are up against people from your country while the second one your against the entire world applying to that University.

Well, I tried to apply last year for Tokyo Institute of Technology but I wasn't nominated. I was really sad that I was not able to go. I think that's the reason why I stop watching Animes and reading Mangas. It might be cliche to say but  anything Japanese made me depress at that time. I think it took about 6 months for me to get over my depression (received the email on March, a week before my birthday). It is part of my dream to study in Japan. I really don't understand why but I really want to go to Japan to study and hopefully work in Europe, partically in UK.

My family told me that I should take it as a blessing because if I got accepted, I will be in Japan this October 2011 and with tragedy that happened, they weren't really comfortable. It was a testatment to how I really want to go because I wasn't bothered by the danger of radiation or others, I still wanted to go to Japan. I think my parents thought me mental by then.

Anyway, going out of topic. So, this year, I applied to another University, Hokkaido University. My friend informed me of the e3 program in Hokkaido and what blessing that one of the professor in Japan actually studied in HU. I was just right on time because two days after I talked to him, he went to HU and mentioned me to the coordinator and the Host professor I wanted to be under.

I was so anxious all of the three-four months I was waiting for the HU's nomination. On December 19 2011, HU emailed me that they will be nominating me for a spot!!!! I was so excited and happy that I could hardly keep still in my chair. Of course, people were looking at me like I'm crazy. Which I probably was because I actually squeeling. Heh, now it's another 9 months of waiting till I actually go to Japan.

I have so much to prepar that I don't know where to start. I made a list of the things I need to keep track. Just looking at the list gives me a headache. I also have to start reviewing because HU has expectation for me!! >.<

I'm so nervous! I'm not even there yet but they have expectations for me. My friends are not helping with all their jokes of how I have my schools name riding on my shoulder (I'm the first one from my University to attend HU).

Waaaah!!! So scary. I have to start on Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Environmental, Biology, Biotechnology, Math (Algebra/Trigonometry/Calculus). Such a long list......hopefully, it won't be that hard to review. My brain should have some knowledge stored. Right?!! I mean, I spend 4 and half years in the University studying Chemical Engineering, I should have something.

Well, that'll be all for now. I have many things to write down. The bloopers I had when I was applying. Now that was a memory that makes me winced everytime I remember. Especially the ones with the Dean. She scares me!! I should probabaly write in more detial for the next one.

Ciao! 

~Len~