My 11th Month in Japan

Ok here we go again, my monthly report of being a MEXT scholar.

I was told last year that February will be the coldest month. But, nope. Not as cold as I expected, or maybe because I have adapted in the last 3 months counting from the end of fall.

Last month I went to Arashiyama again for project promotion shooting together with my senior, Yoshino-sensei, and Suzuki-sensei. It didn't last too long since we were just acting as user model while using the application. It was a nice day to be there, not so much if you are a tourist because not so many shops were open since it was still winter holiday. I went there together with Suzuki-sensei and went back with Yoshino-sensei. Also in the end of the day I talked with Yoshino-sensei about consideration of taking PhD after finishing master degree.

I am not really sure for now, but if everything goes well I might continue to PhD. The next week I treated Sashi as she was helping me registering for my phone number last year. We went together with my Vietnamese senior to a chicken-ramen restaurant in Aeon foodcourt. Not bad for the price.

I also found a cereal, Calbee frugra. I got it kinda cheap in Osaka; 600-ish yen per 800gr. Quite a deal. Also I'm quite shocked to see my January electric bill. It was way higher than December. AFAIK, my usage is not that extreme in difference. Fuck!

I also went to a potluck party in the end of Japanese Culture class. I was so lucky to get a leftover snack. An Indonesian friend also brought bakwan and fried tempe to the party. It was nice to have some Indonesian taste again.

Tbh, I don't really know what to do after this. My current research doesn't seem to be interesting after I think about the implementations. In my honest opinion, this topic is bullshit. Why am I doing this again? I want to change my topic after this. I don't want this. Seriously. Why would you want to find how natural a synthesized speech quality using EEG? I mean, assuming that the result is great and whatsoever, then what? Does it help anyone? Could you make a business out of it? No. Then why? I'm not here just for the degree. All my countless hours and effort should be useful at least for people who need the tech. The higher the demand, the better.

Doing something with unclear objective makes my life aimless and worse.

Again, about the party. Every time we got a new intern or graduate, the lab holds a party. It is the lab's party! Why should the students and also teachers pay for that. If you are going to make a party as the lab's occasion, then allocate some budget for that. Don't just make one and ask the students and staffs to pay. Damn! 1000 yen each small party. Interns will come and go at least twice a year. So it is 4000 yen per year. We have graduation party for Spring and Fall students which ranged between 3000 and 5000 yen. Also a year end party which usually maxed out at 5000 yen. Holy****! With that amount of money I'd rather upgrade my bike within a year than attending those. Oh, I haven't mentioned about drinking party and some student-based party. Usually ranged between 500 and 1000 yen. Ugh.

Call me stingy or whatever. But I my case, I don't think there's a point for that. Once a year for year-end party is more than enough for me.