Matsumoto #3:Nakayama Community Centre

This was during my first week here,was in Sports Medicine and on Thursday,followed Mayuko(Dr.Mayuko now. Ph.D =) ) to Nakayama Community Centre to collect data from the participants of the interval walking training programme,one of Mayuko's research study,supported by Jukunen Taiidagaku,a non-profit organization.

Before I arrived,I expected tons of people at the centre.I was wrong.dead wrong.Instead of having many many elderly,there were not more than 10.I was actually worried not bein able to communicate with them becz of the language barrier. =S Just as Mayuko and I arrived,the participants were chatting away,sipping on hot japanese green tea and munching on titbits.We were invited to join and the usual process of answering questions started.Where are you from?How long in will you be in Japan?What's your name?yadayadayada...Of course it wasn't in english,Mayuko translated for me =) As we were talking,I noticed snacks I've not seen before.A few pickled titbits...I thought after collecting the data and munching,it was done..No,they had a short exercise training after that.I was like "Huh??You're exercising after food???"Oh well...

It was fun too!I noticed the participants are all very very young-at-heart =) And they looked really healthy considering their age..Exercises was done..Laughin was done..Byebye was done..Took pictures..And done.We went back to the department..I'm in the midst of bloggin but now,I gotta run.Thus,the hurry..Sorry guys.. =) Catch up soon!!!

Shake shake shake..Use those muscles!

One of the result from the participants..The smiling girl means their result is good

JD Mate,the device used to measure the interval exercises..intensity and all..

Lovely,aint it?

The young-at-hearts...

SNacks they had..

I cant recall the name..

Carrot and Some japanese vege,its a type of root..

I love this!It's mashed sweet potato with pineapple..all mixed together..

Pickled "Chai Sim"..I think it's called Nobuzawana..smth like dat..Nagano prefecture's famous for this..

View of the building and surrounding it..

Chaoz...gotta run!loves!

Matsumoto #2:Sports Medicine

It's been 13 days since arriving here...Arrived here on Sunday,Jan 17th and my elective programme was gonna start the very next day.My elective programme consists of 4 different department each week.My first week was in the Sports Medicine Department....And I LOVE LOVE LOVE BEING THR!!!Of course,being a stranger in the department led me feeling a lil shy.My programme coordinator,Prof.Maki brought me to the department on Monday,met Prof.Nose(Nose Sensei,I call him) and was introduced to the people in that department.

"Yoroshiku-Onegai-Shimasu" was the first thing I said to Nose Sensei as I gave him a small bag of gifts after being introduced to him.It's a phrase to say when greeting and thanking someone where you are gettin/learning/asking a favour from that person.We then had a short briefin of what's gonna happen that week and I had to introduced myself and tell why I'm interested in that department.Almost every single one of them are active in sports I tell ya!Soccer aka. football,42km marathon,Kendo(Japanese fencing),blablabla...they're reli active ppl!Anyway....I was led to my own office space by Shizue,one of the assistant professors.I shared the same room with her and another assistant professor,YoshiIchiroKamijio,I simply call him Ichiro after a famous baseball player.

My own lil space

My first day there...Shizue explained some of the research and studies they were doing..and still doing..She explained her study,which involves mice,to compare the role of baroreflex control and the central pressor in heart rate.She also explained another study about effects of interval walking programme to the middle-aged and elderly done by Mayuko.Discussed and discussed and asked and asked...Then it was lunch time!=) After that,Shizue brought me to the experiment lab to observe her experiment....

See those boxes thr?There's a mouse in each box.They had their head cut open to insert electrodes to check their cerebral blood flow,and needle underneath their skin to detect bp and so forth.Poor lab rats.

Some of the equipments in the lab.

Last tuesday,I did my own VO2 peak test,a test to measure my maximum oxygen consumption. I was brought into the climate chamber room where they had bicycles,ECG,BP sets,n whole lot of other stuff.The temperature of the room was at 28degrees with a pressure of 718atm.I had to use a mask connected to the spirometer(a device which measures my O2 level) and all these things attached to me,cycled maintaining 60rpm against which increased every 3 minutes. I managed to continue for onli16minutes.The last minute was hell!It felt like my thigh muscles were gonna pull out from my bones!After results were taken,graphs were made and I compared my fitness level with other subjects as well.From the graphs,workload could then be calculated,which in turn means you can calculate your kilocalorie output.It was definitely interesting :)

Shizue puttin on the blood pressure cuff.

My reading as one point.

I felt like a lab rat.lol!

Then on Thursday,I went to Nakayama Community Centre in the morning(But I'll tell about it in the next post..hehe ) and in the afternun,one of the researcher in the department,Shige had to present his paper to lotsa ppl in town and I went as well.Which meant that I could go to town for abit!Shizue and I took the bus after lunch,and she brought me to this bakery-like shop.It sells all sorts of cakes and japanese traditional sweets.Most of them looked to pretty to be eaten,though.

Aint they all look pretty??

Dorayaki!!!Yummy!!They told me these dorayakis from this shop was one of the good ones!Filled with red beans content.YUM!!Look at the price for each...... =.=""

But the main reason Shizue brought me to town was to try the ice cream here.You don't have to do anything.Wait for Mr.Ice Cream Robot to get them for you =) Slot in a coin given by the cashier,pick your size,medium or large..It moves to your command.....

And voila!!!Huge fat-ass ice cream!!Creamy!Rich!Wafer cone was crispy!Halleluyah!Halleluyah! =P
They have different flavour each day too..Mine was strawberry..But it didn't taste like the ones back home.It tasted like it had a mixture of Fro-Yo and fresh strawberry. =)

Then we head on to the presentation.I was sleepy after that though*winks*

I did the same thing on Wednesday and Thurday.Following Ichiro on his experiments about the effect of Sports Drink.It was interesting but the waiting time was a lil bit boring at 1st,since I just observe.After awhile,I got to take urine sample(no big deal,I knw..But still,at least I got to do smth.. =P ) It was great also because I got to refresh my understanding about the circulation system from Ichiro,he asked questions that got me thinking alot.I loved it!

Ichiro(in orange) and the subject on Friday,Takake.A very nice lad too =)

After experiment on Friday,I get to check my own Hematocrit,Hemoglobin and Plasma Protein level.It wasn't as much excitement compared to observing an operation 1st hand,bt still new.At least I know how ppl do it =) Lotsa centrifuger and flame spectrometer and hand refractrometer..blablabla..point is,lotsa expensive equipments.

Shige,checkin the light absorption of the subject's hemoglobin.I did this with my blood too.

Reading my hematocrit level.

Friday finally came and it was my last day in the Sports Medicine Department.I love the people there and how much they're willing to share and teach.Nakajima-san,the secretary of the department was so so so so sweet!She asked Shizue to pass me this lil bear,they call kooma(Not sure of the spelling) when I was not there.I was touched!Like Seriously!

"Kooma"

The amazing ppl in Sports Medicine.I miss being there.
Back row,from left:Dont rmbr his name,Ichiro,Mayuko,Shige
Front row,from left:Shizue,me,Nose Sensei,Genno-san

And as usual,more pics in fb :) This week,I'm posted in Molecular Oncology Deparment.No comment.yet.Till next time!xoxo

I need to get lunch.hungry.

p/s:I'm going skiing this saturday!

Matsumoto #1

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Back and Gone

I was really looking forward to being back home..and last wednesday,I finally was home!

But it's finally friday night,and tomorrow morning,I'm leavin Kuching again..

How time really flies fast..It was in october/november when I first started my application procedures for my elective programme in Japan,which is gonna start next Monday until 12th February.With only 3 months ago I was busy with the preparation..and the time has finally come.It's still so surreal to me that I'm leavin tomorrow to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Will be in Singapore tomorrow morning,then Bangkok tomorrow night and finally Nagoya on Sunday morning.Long long hours..It's gonna be tiring.... :(

And I promise that I'll update with whats happening in Japan here or in Facebook whenever I can..With this,I bid u farewell...

Till the next time I blog,wish me safe journey!! =)


xoxoxoxoxo

p/s: I'm so blessed and grateful to My Father up in heaven for all these blessings...

Pre-Christmas Dinner

A christmas dinner before christmas!5 dys before Christmas,a few juniors from uni invited me and other Christians studying in Udayana for a lil' get-together-christmas-dinner at Baker's Corner,a cafe/bakery,quite well-known if I do say so myself.Though I was a lil bit skeptical of going since we weren't really close,but put that aside,went for it with a positive attitude. =/

With only 10minutes drive from my place,we finally reached.Opened the door and my eyes automatically saw the fake snowman and all I could hear in my mind was "take photo,take photo!!".So I did. =)
And here's some of their collection of cake designs.Seeing them made me felt like I wouldn't even eat them!

Angels and Mermaids (I don't quite get why these angels were hangin out wif the mermaid)

Naked Hunk (This would be good for the single men out there don't ya think?Or maybe if u wanted to hint to the birthday boy that he needs to shower) =P

I love those mini santa claus and pressies in this one!

Instead of the conventional birthday cake,how 'bout birthday cupcakes??Cute eh?

My friends and I were the early ones.We waited,the main "organiser" came.We waited again,2 came.We waited somemore,after almost a lil bit after an hour,everyone was there.FINALLY.Last ones were the youngest juniors,we waited for them before we ordered,but they didnt wanna eat there at all!like wth,right??Anyway.........annoyance aside.....

The menu.
Baker's Corner serves Asian,Western and Italian dishes. They even have Hainanese Chicken Rice!

See that?The roasted tenderloin?That's what I ordered.Rp75k!I was in a "christmassy" mood.I wanted something "chrismassy".More like an excuse to try the tenderloin without being made guilty about the price.

My meal.When it was served,I like the way it looked.The portion wasn't pathetic at all.I wasn't disappointed with the portion size.Mashed potatoes shaped somewhat like a cone then deep fried,added alongside it were steamed mixed vegetables of french beans,carrots and mushrooms.And of course,the tenderloin.Cut into 5 moderately sized pieces,roasted at my choice,medium rare.All these were showered with my choice of black pepper sauce,instead of the mushroom sauce.The Verdict?It wasn't heavenly till I could be on cloud nine,but I didnt hate it too.It wasn't all the way juicy,but it wasn't tough too.The taste was just right.On a scale of 0-5,I rated it an overall 3.5.Appearance:not dissappointing,simple,looked tasty.Taste:Right amount of taste,not too salty,meat was marinated quite well,though I'd prefer the sauce to be a lil bit more spicy.

Elisa ordered this,thin-crust Seafood Pizza. It was good.Amount of topping weren't "stingy" =) I ordered the drink below,I can't quite recall what it was..I think it was a blueberry smoothie?I know it was not a strawberry smoothie.Well,basically,a smoothie.It looked really really thick and yummy.One sip and bleh!Not sweet enough and I couldnt really taste the fruit it was used.That much I remember. After adding sugar syrup,it was much better.

Mei Yee ordered a dish Baker's Corner named Hokkien KuehTiaw,if I'm not mistaken.Served in a big bowl,it was definitely tasty and nice!Don't mind tryin it again if it weren't for the price..hehehe...

A senior a year before my batch,Krystle,she ordered "Grilled Salmon",served with what you can see from the pic above.Three words about the salmon:Fresh,Sweet,Thick. =))

In the midst of dinner,we chatted about classes,which church who goes to,where we're gonna be and do during Christmas,blablabla....I think I chatted wif my senior more than the juniors,well mayb js 2-3 juniors.The youngest batch were quiet,and it was awkward for me to talk with them,honestly I don't know why. =.="" Then we took photos,each had to wear this headband,I bought in a mall.It had reindeer horns on it and a mini bell at the end of the horns.EVeryone had to use it,even the boys.It was cute. =) After all the talkin and eatin,finally it ended.As usual,took pic :)

All who were at the dinner(minus)2 of our youngest juniors.They had to go meet their friends 'cause they had other plans.Go figure =P Anyway.......Nice pic,yea?

Chaoz~ =)