良薬口に苦し Ryouyaku kuchi ni nigashi

ひどい風邪をひいている。。。I've catch cold...and it is the worst one among several series of influenza I've had before in my life...Seems like my body is still in the stage of adapting to the winter condition..cold and dry...I still managed to attend my everyday routine to the kenkyuushitsu but with less experimental activity and more to surfing and reading journals..

My bad influenza starts with only a few cough but it get worst day by day..By recommendation from a lab friend, I bought Benzablock, self-remedy lozenges (24　in a box) for cough and flu with natural herbs costing 900Yen at the Coop's pharmacy. They even bought me some kairo カイロ, sticky patches like koyok in Malaysia but you stick it outside your inner (not directly on skin) and it will transmit heat to your body so that you will feel pleasant in the cold winter. A few attempts seems promising but nevertheless, I still have running nose and dry cough (It was real bad when I'm accidentally awaken in the middle of the night just due to coughing and don't really aware when did it ends and continue sleeping). Despite of the never ending cold, I thanked my lab mates a lot for their approaches in trying to make me better. Japanese, although advance in technology and standard of living, still possess the uniqueness of Asian culture in morality and good conduct. This treatment makes me really feel that I'm not that far from home.

Another unique character about Japanese is that they will try their best to prevent themselves from being a vector in spreading the virus to other person. This could be done (in case of influenza) by wearing a mask. During winter and rainy season in Japan, you could find almost everyone with influenza or running nose will cover themselves with masks. In spring however, the mask is used to prevent from inhaling pollens, a common phenomenon where thousands were warded due to allergic reaction and this has become a common reason to escape school and work. There is even a USB-attached mask on sale (please refer this catchy advertisement).

Thanks to God that I rarely fell sick but when I got hit once, it will be a heavy one.I personally feel that this fight with influenza and dry cough will never ends without an antibiotic as it keeps on haunting me for two weeks. So one day, I and Asmadi (another Malaysian friend in Energy Science doing phd trying to cure his frequently nose bleeding) seek consultation at the Kyoto University Student's Clinic (same with Klinik Mahasiswa in UM but with better service). After filling the all-Nihongo form (luckily I practised writing my faculty address and home address a lot earlier) and helping Madi explaining to the cute nurse about his condition, I got my consultation from a young physician and a friendly nurse asking friendly questions after realizing that I could understand Japanese.

As a result, I end up with several medication prescribed by the physician and being charged 390Yen. So affordable for students like me!! (please refer pics). I went back to the kenkyuushitsu and straight consuming the prescribed drug. One of them which comes in a form of white powder in a small packet is sooooooooooooooooooooo bitter!!!!Never had anything like this before!!! As I complained about it, a friend next to my desk Matsuda-san said that there is an old Japanese proverb 良薬口に苦し　Ryouyaku kuchi ni nigashi which means Good medicine tastes bitter. I automatically remembered about a perumpamaan Melayu 'pahit seperti hempedu' and later spend some time explaining it to them. May I have a speedy recovery so that everyone in the kenkyuushitsu will be safe from the virus. Hehehe..till then, I need to sleep...seems like the flu pills I consumed earlier has started to react...

Just merely a ranting...

The year has yet come to an end again. But this year, I'll probably celebrate it differently as I'm far from home. Normal new year celebration (Gregorian) for me for the past 4 years is by spending time with Shikin at any countdown party to watch fireworks together. KlCC is a favourite site of ours because it normally held the biggest fireworks show every year. Then, the long night out will be continued with a BBQ party cum poker nite at Alan's place with other budak koleq (Alan's place is a permanent venue every year although Alan have been moving from condo to condo for three times up to this year coz his place always come with a perfect site for pool-side BBQ plus a aplendid nice view too) New year morning for me will start with a breakfast with my mom at any stall as it is not good to ask your mom to cook breakfast on New Year's Day (my principle. ..hehehe). How will I celebrate it this year? Still have no clues about it and I think it will be not much than a visit to Kaiten sushi, bowling, or just stay home in front of the laptop, writing new year resolutions and online.

JLPT-2 was very tough. I don't think I could pass it the way I passed JLPT-3 last year. Last year, I took the exam while starving at the test site in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as all the cafeterias were closed due to semester break. So last Sunday, I have brought 3 chocolate bun and a bottle of mineral water to satisfy my hunger during the short break between papers. I have also happens to meet two Panasonic scholars possesing contradict personalities at the test site, Bo Eng (who worries a lot but usually excel in the exam later on-Malaysia ) and Mervyn (who will always say everything is great but later bochi bochi-Phillipines). As special as their character are, I believe that they must also an excellent student in academic or else they might not be here representing their country. After the exam, I took a chance cycling along the river to Sanjo. There, I grabbed a hot small-sized Creme Brulee at Starbucks and spend some time at Teramachi's Random Walk, a bookshop to ease my mind before heading home.

Back in Malaysia, I get to know from streaming online news that the nation is currently suffering due to big flood. Johor in the south, northern areas covering Perlis, Kedah and Pulau Pinang and Pahang in the east are several states affected with thousands of people fleeing home for safety in temporary refugee center set up in schools and community center. Lucky for us Malaysians that flood-related diseases has been successfully wiped off decades ago and therefore, casualties are rare. So far, no relatives or family member involved directly as a flood victim but some of them volunteers in collecting food and supplies from their co-workers and neighbors before sending it directly to the families affected. It is something we should be proud of as they did this without any political affiliations, just plain volunteer without excessively large mock cheque of taxpayer's money and big smile on newspaper front page. Thanks to them and only God could repay their kind deeds .

Flood situation in Kampung Laut, Skudai, Johor. (pics fr sirloinskipper)

To all flood victims in Malaysia, please take care and I will always pray for your best recovery in the aftermath.