Kyoto University Foreign Students and Alumni

Katsura Campus: Sterile?

chrmina — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:52:12 +0000

This is my third post (and maybe the last) about Katsura campus. In a previous post I wrote that Katsura campus resembles a “golden cage”, brand new buildings and equipment but no life, no shops, restaurants or shopping areas around. Please allow me to elaborate. First, restaurants. Katsura campus has one cafeteria in cluster B, right in the middle of the campus. There is a small cafeteria (?) and a small bakery in cluster A and a French (!) restaurant in cluster B. The main cafeteria in cluster B basically monopolizes the catering market of the campus. Even local residents can be seen eating there, since there is practically nothing else around. What is wrong with that you might ask? First, with virtually no competition around, meal quality ranges from eatable to mediocre while prices are not fit for a University CO-OP cafeteria IMHO. If I have to rank the meal tastiness among the 5 CO-OP cafeterias (Yoshida main, Yoshida north, Renais, Uji and Katsura) I rank Katsura last.

Getting ready for the lunch rush at Katsura Cafeteria (Photo: Eddie)

There is more to that. Outside of the main cafeteria there is beautiful wooden terrace. On the terrace there are several wooden picnic tables. Unfortunately the tables are not used much. There are no bars, restaurants or cafes around Katsura campus. Friday nights on campus are depressing.

Happy New Year 2010!

chrmina — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:02:14 +0000

Happy New Year to ALL! Hope this year will be full of success and prosperity!

Merry Christmas!

chrmina — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:30:49 +0000

10 days before Christmas! Wishing you all Merry Christmas! Enjoy this clip of “Christmas Light Hero”!

Signs of running out of time!

chrmina — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:50:21 +0000

I wish I could buy time… Evidence: the chat I had with my friend Eddie.

Eddie: 今日ご飯にいかない
me: 行く
何時？
Eddie: 11時55分
me: 了解
時度販売で会う
Eddie: 時度という言葉あるの
me: 時度＝字度販売機？
時度販売機
me: ははは　それもまちがってる
自動　販売　機
me: はははははは
Eddie: automatic selling machine
me: 自動販売機
やっと
Eddie: you wrote “time selling machine”
wow
i wish
me: Cool ain’t it! I want one of this!
Eddie: in the future
year 3001
me: I will post that!
Eddie: pls
this is so cool
haha

Countdown to submission

chrmina — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:55:32 +0000

The deadline for the PhD dissertation submission is around the corner! I would like to wish all of you the best. GANBARIMASHOU!

Jobs around Southest Asia- a promising land to start?

namaya — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:41:07 +0000

Hundreds of our alumnus are from Southeast Asian region, and many of our friends from different parts of the world, desperately hunting for jobs so that we can stay in a better place to build up the ambitions.

Getting a job offer in Japan or other developed countries is priority. But, don’t forget that developing countries like Thailand and Vietnam might offer you much challenging and global jobs.

Please check it out the following links, It might be helpful

http://www.careercenter.ait.ac.th/job-available

Zen Presentation?

eddiekun — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:55:44 +0000

Public presentation is not only about how good you are in talking, it is also about how you capture people attention.

A person with good English command can give a perfect, non-grammatical mistake presentation, yet the audience may still on and off “strayed-away”, and some even manage to sleep with eyes opened.

OK, of course fluency in speech is important, but it is not all. The slides are as important as the speech.

You might want check out “Presentation Zen” on how to make an attractive yet simple slides

And, my friend found a site (Note and Point) which can might be helpful to spark your creativity.

KI-ZU-NA Event: Sake Cellar Visiting and Inari Shrine Tour

chrmina — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:16:58 +0000

Taken from the KI-ZU-NA website:

Student Lounge KI-ZU-NA August 2009 Event
Visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Date/Time:	August 22nd (Sat.), 2009 Meeting at 12:30. End of the tour will be around 4:30p.m.
Meeting Place:	Keihan Railway Fushimi-Inari Stn. Ａt the exit of the train which bounds for Yodoyabashi or Nakanoshima.
Fee:	300 yen, museum’s entrance fee. (To be paid when you apply) ※ Transportation expense 200 yen (one way) from Fushimi Inari Stn. to Chushojima Stn. is not included.
Application:	Apply directly to ‘KI-ZU-NA’ staff.
Eligibility:	Kyoto University students, faculty members, researchers, etc.
Acceptance:	First 15 people ※ We will stop accepting　applications when seats are filled.

International Student Day

chrmina — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:20:07 +0000

International Student Day: Culture Gathering in Kyoto Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle

Kyoto is inviting foreign students at universities and colleges in the city to participate in International Student Day from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17.

The event will give Kyoto’s foreign students an opportunity to enjoy traditional stage performances and tea ceremonies at Nijo Castle in Nakagyo Ward.

Participation is free and 150 students will be invited. Those who wish to participate must enter a drawing by phone or fax or apply online through the city’s Web site by Aug. 15.

To apply, call (075) 661-3755 or send a fax to (075) 661-5855 listing your name, address, telephone number, school name, nationality and e-mail address. To apply online, go to the Web site at www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000012821.html (in Japanese) and fill out the inquiry form.

Those accepted will receive their invitation by early October. The event will be postponed to Oct. 18 in case of rain.

For more information, access www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000065429.html (in Japanese).

Date:	Saturday, October 17, 2009
Time:	10:00am – 2:00pm
Location:	Nijo Castle
Street:	Senbon dori and Oiike
City/Town:	Kyoto, Japan
Map:	GoogleMaps
Cost:	FREE!
Notes:	You have to sign up by calling or filling out an application online. It is limited to 150 people (only international students).

How to Read Figures, Mathematical Expressions and Equations, and Glossary

eddiekun — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:34:20 +0000

Sometimes we do face problem in reading mathematical expressions. Reading it correctly can avoid embarrassment during presentation. I found a good PDF file by Judy Noguchi and Eri Shinoda. Enjoy!