A rainy afternoon

I was contemplating between a swim or get started on a book.
I settled on the latter.
Kenzaburo Oe's An Echo of Heaven.
Just when the book reached an emotional climax, the sky started pouring.
Realized it's almost 3p.m and decided to break and check out Jing's results online.



<--- My bro took this picture without my knowledge

疲れた！

昨日ウエーターのバイトに入って初めた。間違いをいっぱいした。（Ｔ_Ｔ）
でも、大丈夫かな。どんなことでも最初というものがあるだろうね。
失敗から学ぶことがあるから、頑張ります。
ちなみに、バイトの所は沖縄風の居酒屋だ。
めっちゃめっちゃおいしそうで、お客様は８０％は日本人だ。
日本語をしゃべれるバイトなので、日本語の勉強に役に立つ。
ウエブサイト：「ニライ・カナイ」。

あ、よい知らせがあるよ。先日、日本人会が行っている日本語スピーチコンテストに出た。予選を通った！これも頑張ります。

また、いつもの同じ。一旦試験が終ってから、母のお店で手伝っている。あまり好きじゃないけど、しおがないなぁ。

Envy or Haughty?

As I was walking back from a morning jog at the reservoir yesterday, I passed by a birds shop and I took a peep inside. There was this little sparrow standing alone in the direction of the cages of birds on display. I was thinking...was it standing haughtily, mocking the trapped birds or was it in awe, envious of the attention bestowed on them? What do you think?

昨日、ジョギングをしてから、帰りに鳥屋の前を通り過ぎた。あるスズメは鳥屋の間中に立って、じろじろ見回した。羨ましかったかどうか？かごの鳥を嘲笑していたかどうか？あのスズメは何を考えていたか、当ててみてね。

Everything has a time

Exams are over!
やっと試験が終った。　★☆★☆！！！

I rejected the Akita program. It would have been great if could go. But money is an issue. It didn't help that after chatting with a Japanese friend online, he assured me that the picturesque, postcard-pretty pictures I saw online of Akita is indeed reality. Woohoo. Snow Country. But well, I believe when one door closes, another will open.
秋田の留学プログラムを断った。お金の問題だ。でも、大丈夫。まだチャンスがある。

Here are some pictures taken recently.

Went to the Japanese Association. The interior is designed in celebration of Japan's Children's Day which is on 5 May. シンガポールの日本人会へ行った。こどもの日を祝うためにきれいに飾っているようだ。

the trademark koi fish kites。鯉のぼり：

Although I have 2 more years to go before graduation, I decided to try out the gown. あと２年間だけど、卒業ガウンをちょっと着てみた。

Sent Thom off at the airport yesterday with Meiqi. Spent our time waiting at Pacific Cafe. The tiramisu is not bad. きのう見送りに空港へ行った。待っていたとき、ティラミスとコーヒーでくつろいだ。

Where will life take me?

received a call from my professor.
a exchange program I had expressed interest before is now open for applications.
dateline to decide: tomorrow!

Akita International University. 国際教養大学.
Akita almost looks like paradise to me...

雪国だ。。。自然の中に生きたいな。。申し込んだ文部科学省の結果はまだ知らないけど、

先生がその秋田国際教養大学のプログラムを薦めてくださった。うーん、明日までに決めなくちゃ。

The problem is the results of Monbukagakusho are not out yet...probably in July or August. For this Akita program, the results will be out in 2, 3 weeks from now. If I apply, most probably will be able to go there for one semester (fall semester). However, the department has already allocated the one and only slot for funding to a year one student. Money$$$... The thing is he/she might not be interested for this program and then the slot will be available. Of course, the Monbusho is ultimately the most sought after, but it is far and away from me. I don't stand a high chance.