Hey guys!!

HERE COMES MY TIPS OF THE DAY!!

I was just cleaning my house and noticed that I had lots of electronics in my hse and most of it (yup most of it!) I got it handed down to me from my seniors who were leaving for good! Lyke...my fridge, television, Rice cooker, Portable gas cooker, printer, blender etc etc All I got for free from my seniors...Not only that, anything i can get la from Cups and bowls to toiletries or whatever they want to give me la all I sapu jer owh Food as well!

Ok obviously I still had to buy some things on my own...so when that time comes...I know where to find them cheap! Some dirt cheap I mean for Japan standard la kan...Check out these websites I always surf :~

1)http://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/
(Yahoo Auction...There are lots of things with the starting price of 1yen and you bid till u get the price u want! i love this website...as the matter of fact i purchased a lot from here. Its in Japanese and you have to read through carefully before bidding to avoid misunderstandings...for eg. the starting price might be 1yen but the postal charge might be 2000yen ker so gotta be careful)

2)http://www.rakuten.co.jp/
(Rakuten...They have everything here and its considerably cheap! I love this website when I wanted to buy Carpets and other households...got my sofa bed here for only 3000yen including shipping! Cheap la kan for a sofa bed! They have an english website as well for those who can`t read japanese)

3)http://www.gaijinpot.com/
(Gaijinpot! Ok this is a website for u to find out about japanese culture....learn about how to live your life here basically...like how to open up a bank account, how to find a part time job, anything lah that u`re curious about! They always have the answers here! And very detailed too i should say! Best!)

4)about.com
(Ok this website is similar to gaijinpot its just like a search engine but sometimes things that u can`t find in gaijinpot u can find it here...so these two webbies are my favourite ones to browse for help!)

5)http://metropolis.co.jp/
(Metropolis!! Ok if u open this website u`ll see that it is the No.1 english magazine in Japan. As to why I love this website and what makes it a lil special than the rest is that you can get things FOR FREE here!! That`s right! U didn`t misread...In the classified section, under household goods, if u scroll down there u`ll be able to see a subtopic written FOR FREE there...click there and just enjoy urself browsing! Ok sometimes the choices are not that many...but if u check it out in february/march or july/august...they may be more entries coz ppl usually leave for good during those times! Plus, u can find jobs here too. Also under classifieds, the jobs section. I found my first teaching job here hihi)

6)http://www.akibaoo.co.jp/01/main
(Ok this is my senpai`s fav shop akiba O...this is its online shop ...they also have a proper shop in AKIHABARA the best place on EARTH! Ok hehehe sorry..just loves AKIBA! )

For those who just have to see, feel, touch something before buying it, maybe u can get a rough idea from these websites and proceed to the shops to buy them. Like I just love Akiba!! So I always compare prices when I go there wth the prices online...honestly sometimes akiba is better coz they have like these DEALS-OF-THEY-DAY and it can be really really cheap!! I bought my ipod nano 8retail price 13,800yen for only 6000yen last time..brand new...half price...cheap right>!?) Not to mention u don`t have to pay for the shipping! I can just LIVE in AKiba and not go home....OOOOOOO AKIBA!!!!!!

Ok hope these webbies will be useful to u guys! Ifana out!

Hello Jidesu!

At first you`ll feel hectic coz u`re not used to the lifestyle here...unlike malaysia, everything is face-pace here but once u get the flow...u`ll be relax la...like me now..my-pace jer...u`ll just know la when u need to rush and when u can relax...there`s a balance there la...experience will teach u all that...Kene pandai2 sendiri la...Samore u`re used to the lifestyle change...when I go back to Malaysia for summer or spring break...i totally become malaysian again but once i return to japan...I just know how to adjust back here...for example...my walking speed! The moment i stepped my foot in Tokyo my speed becomes japanese speed right away But still I am a malaysian la...the lepak attitude still tak boleh blah la hihi

Ok ok i admit my parents rich ar..I tak marr...u wanna study here also ar?

Farizmon,

here it is --->http://www.abk.or.jp/jls/j/ap-form.html
There are already translations in english there...just to be on the safe side u can let me check after u`ve filled it in!
just click on the japanese words written above 'application form download'. Then download the Sample of application form (English) and Application Procedure (English). These 2 things will help u with filling in the application forms

If u still have problems downloading them..just let me know...I`ll pass them to u by email hihi Good luck!

Yup I think u`ve been hinting quite a lot about lacking_________. hihi But I understand how u feel la...I really feel grateful that I got to study here! But working part time for my own expenses makes me feel better la...or else I would feel bad la coz i`m not working at all for my own selfish request. My parents were understanding enough to let me study here knowing that there`ll be a lot of money involve. Love them..muahxxx

Japanese culture eh...hmm, it has its moments hehe and depends la...like the tea　ceremony...i never wanna do it again...SAKIT KAKI hehe lol

Haha yea lor ur nick is ji-desu! hahaha owh the writing similar to the chinese writing, u mean kanji la right? Hehe yeah I`ll admit its tough but I`m a malay and I had to start from zero, learning from how to even write the kanji, memorizing the way to read it and the meaning...but thanked god...with hardwork I`ve managed to get level 1 for JLPT...Sides, once u`re here there`s no avoiding the language, skejap jer pandai i tell u! Samore if u`re chinese, should`ve no prob with learning how to write it already...Just to be careful not to confuse it with meanings in chinese (most of my chinese friends had this prob). Should be fine la...with enough motivation (maybe if u like the language and really want to be good at it?) u`ll be able to master it Daijoubu!

Haha speaking of disasters ar hmm true...lately everything hits Japan...earthquake and tsunami in March and yesterday TYPHOON...this is something u`ve to put up with la actually...there are some of my friends who quit the university here half way and went back for good coz the parents couldn`t stop worrying.

After graduation eh...I pon x pikir lagi but most probably work here first at least for a few years to gain experience and then ask for a transfer to Malaysia or go back for good...well. we`ll see how la. I leave everything to God..i ikut jer really...But I think Malaysian company also will be very interested in our degree la coz its from a japanese University. Trust me my friends all dapat keje terus. Either they choose to work here or there..same! I`Ve never heard anyone studying here ended up tanam anggur. That's why I said its worth the investment la.. .

Yup kutip sampah mmg kaya!!!!! But ur friend is a girl izzit who`s doing the kutip sampah job??

This post has been edited by ifana: Sep 22 2011, 04:30 PM

Shibuya!!! Ofcourse!!!! The shoes there are all just BEST! But I prefer Harajuku better tho!

Hello there Flash90! Ohayo!

Thanks for liking this thread I`m actually just the extremely relax type...my fav motto is `takpe takpe relek2 lepak jer' hehe some of my friends were like `how can u survive in Tokyo with that attitude weyh?' but I know my limits la...Like i said before...u must know when u gotta rush things a bit and when u can just CHILL

Yup...I myself just learned abt the process for doing postgrad courses here....thanks to those who had done lots of research like Matt85 and the rest! I like it when ppl just join in and help each other I learn something too along the process! When are u going to be done with your degree anyway? Don`t wanna come here for holiday? Air Asia tix now cheap hehe when I bought it last time it was around rm1300 to and fro...best woa!

Whatever it is...I wish u good luck and hope ur dream of coming here to Japan comes true! Try to save rm10 per day in a year u`ll get rm3650 ard there right? Che wah, i`m advising on something i myself didn`t do hihi



This post has been edited by ifana: Sep 23 2011, 07:33 AM

Ok, just woke up and I`m in a good mood!

So here comes tips of the day!

This is some important info for muslim readers!

Ok for us muslims, what is our main worry everytime we travel to a non-muslim country? I guess I dare say more than anything else...FOOD!!!
So countries like Japan and Korea where the people love to eat pork, we gotta be extra careful in buying food here...they have pork and alcohol everywhere and they have them in Unexpected places too like lard in drinks(apparently it helps make them taste more creamy and I guess its true! Coz it was Damn sedap until I found out that it was not Halal huhu) and Sake (japanese alcohol to those who don`t know, i doubt it tho) in Udon and Soba which normally don`t have (normally i eat soba and udon but lately according to the season, gotta be careful of alcohol in it!)

So here i have a list of the things u gotta be careful of when reading the ingredients!

Here goes :~ (Brace yourself! Those who are not used to Kanji, their eyes might start rolling hehe pening sket...)

材料 (Zairyou)ーー＞ingredients
豚肉(buta niku)　－－＞　Pork　meat
鶏肉(tori niku)　－－＞　Chicken meat
牛肉(gyuu niku)　－－＞　Beef
酒 (sake)　－－＞Sake/Alcohol
アルコール (Arukooru)　－－＞　Alcohol
乳化剤 (Nyuugazai)　－－＞　Emulsifier (from animal)
レシチン (Reshichin)　ーー＞　Lecithin (from animal)
マーガリン (maagarin)　－－＞　Margerine
チキンエキス (chikin ekisu)　－－＞　Chicken stock
ショートニング（Shootoninggu) ---> Shortening

There are exceptions tho...these u CAN eat。。

鶏卵 (tori tamago)－－＞　Chicken eggs
乳化剤（大豆を含む）(nyuugazai daizu o fukumu)－－＞　Soy Emulsifier
レシチン（大豆を含む）(reshichin daizu o fukumu)　－－＞　Soy Lecithin

I advice u to read the ingredients a few times to be sure...coz its easy to miss out on the words when u`re not used to it! 90% of the things in the convenient store we can`t eat! I might as well just give u pictures of the things we can eat from the convenient store coz its a small list compared to things u can`T eat

If u go to a restaurant and want to be safe...u can try these phrases when u ask the waiter :~

Just print the Words above and show the waiter while saying ーー＞
Koko ni kaite aru no wa zenbu taberenai node, sou shitara nani ga ii desu ka? osusume kudasai!
(We can`t eat things that are written here, what will be good for us? Can u recommend pls?)

Wow I feel like a Japanese language teacher pulak Che wahh Not a bad idea though!
Anyway, hope this helps! This is all i can remember for now...Will update if i come to remember more! Til then! Ciao!

I`m enjoying myself playing with color and font pulak hehe Ok...Ifana out!

This post has been edited by ifana: Sep 25 2011, 12:41 PM

Matt!

U have no idea how many times I`ve seen malay tourists here ate non-halal food! But who can blame them...Even I didn`t think that they would put lard in the Milk Teas! So yeah I always feel geram every time I accidently ate something non halal just to find out later that it is not halal! So obviously i don`t want this to happen to other muslims...i really feel oblige to enlighten ppl in that sense

Hmmm I`m sure they are scholars, its just that they don`t know this forum haha So far my friends are all either Petronas, Mara or JPA scholars or else those who get from their unis...never met anyone under Monbusho! Tapi mmg tough the exam

Hi hi

Ok let me check for u yah....

Ok U have two options...U can either enter in April next year or October next year. The fees are different for different intakes.

Application fee (for them to process ur forms)-->20,000yen
April intake (1 year) --> Entrance fee : 80,000yen
Tuition fee (1year) : 680,000yen
October intake (1.5years) --> Entrance fee : 80,000yen
Tuition fee (1.5years) : 1020,000yen

The application deadline for this year`s October intake, i checked you barely missed the deadline (was over on september 9th that day ). So I recommend you apply for next year`s April intake the deadline is end of this November. Its cheaper too! Samore the school accepts more students in April! But its up to u...whatever it is...u fill in the forms, let me check and I can help register for u from here...cepat sikit kot hehe

If u want, we can find some time where u and i both free to go through all the forms...this way, i can answer ur questions straight away while u are filling in the forms If u want let me know ok?

This post has been edited by ifana: Sep 24 2011, 12:53 AM

Wow! Monbusho scholars..now that`s!....Genius!
Nice!! REspect betul nih! All of them undergrad students or postgrad studs? Bestnyer!!

Ohayo Matt!

I don`t think they`ll abolish it and the reducing of monthly stipend and scholarship amount might just be temporary only so no need to worry I think

Hey there Farizmon!

No prob! Glad to be of help!! All the best with the forms! When u`Re done, just let me know

Cku87san!

Thank u! u just gave me an idea for my next tips-of-the-day post! Hehe Gonna introduce halal restaurants here in Japan for muslims arigatou!

Ok to answer your question, yes u`re right, we cannot consume any kinds of meat in japanese restaurants because the meat used is not slaughtered the halal way. And u`re correct again, we always ask the waiter to recommend us anything without meat...or lecithin emulsifier etc etc...just tell them u have an allergy to all the above and they`ll normally give u an ingredients chart!

Yup, halal slaughtered chicken or beef or mutton can be bought in the halal shops in Shinokubo. Hehe but yes, Frozen la. As for halal japanese restaurant tu takde but halal restaurants banyak jugak...just not japanese food la. U won`t be able to find Halal certs in Japanese restaurants ufufu well at least I`ve never encountered one la.

There are lots of Malaysian restaurants here that are ofcourse, halal! Used to work at two of the malaysian restaurants here, Jom Makan and Malaychan. Hehe But the price, Walau weyh! One roti canai set is rm40 tau hahaha ur hands will be shaking at the cashier But its quite good la and perfect for muslims who are worried

And then there`s Indian/Pakistani muslim restaurants!! OooH I love these restaurants...they offer all-you-can-eat time! for example from 11am-4pm you pay 1000yen and u can eat as much as u want and drink lassi and Chai as much as u want! OWh Heaven!

I shall gather more info on the restaurants and will post it soon! Ganbarimasu!!!!!

This post has been edited by ifana: Sep 25 2011, 04:41 AM

Yo!!

Yup u gotta bring it to a clinic and do a medical check up!

Don`t forget to read the guide of admission and prepare all the documents needed for example, Spm cert or copy of bank account etc etc.

I just checked(called my school actually lol ) and they said... the completed admission form should be sent in before October 14th so all the best yah!!

Ganbare!!!!!

Hey!! Sorry for the late reply!! Been caught up with school and work etc etc! So how's it going with the forms and everything!?



This post has been edited by ifana: Oct 3 2011, 11:30 AM

Hey hey hey all my beautiful people!! Its been awhile since I last posted:p I've been caught up with school stuff and hanging out with friends after so long!

But I'm here although the replies might be a bit late but I'll try to reply s best as I can o(^▽^)o

To cku87san and the rest who requested for the university-course listing, i gotta apologize coz i havent been to the library not my fav place really hihi but i'll find time for it and let u guys knoe!!

I didn't get the jpa loan ufufu but owh well, maybe there are more deserving people out there! Take care guys! Ganbare!!!

Hi there Wing!

Good morning!!!!! Ohayo!!! On my way to school now, a lil bit hyper(^-^)

Ok so u want to work while travel here for a year, am I right? Ic ic actually I'm not really sure but I think you can try to apply for sone japanese companies here and see....and yeah japanese language is COOL!!!! a lot of my seniors who are doing masters here brought their family along so its no problem i guess

Hey there!

I guess it is expensive to bring the whole family especially if u have a big family. My seniors last time, they came under JPA so they receive cost of living allowance around 175000yen/month...If i`m not mistaken, they had to top it off with their own savings to bring their families here tho