Possibilities of computer

One of the biggest differences between US and Japan is the prevalence of computer.
In US, people spend much more time with their PC, compared with people in Japan.
They carry their laptop almost everywhere, and they can access to the internet in a lot of places.

Almost half of my friends in Japan did not have internet access environment in their appartment when I left Japan. They used laptops just for writing papers.
Most people couldn't type as fast as Americans do, because they don't spend time with PC.
Moreover, most of my friends didn't have their email address on PC. They sent email only with their cell phones.

I don't say I'm good at using computer.
Honestly, I'm very avarage in that in US.
However, my friends thought I'm very good at computer. They relied on me when they had to use computer, and I often taught them very fandamental knowledge.

Japan is famous for its technology.
Many foreigners misunderstand that we are all good at technology or computers.

Only some people might be very good, but most of us don't know even how to use them.


I'm not pessimistic about that. Rather, I think this is a big business chance for market in Japan.
It is because there are many possibilities that the market can grow.
I estimate people in Japan will spend more time with computers.
As a result, it is possible that something different type of SNS appears and gets popular, such as we show pictures and post comments on them.
People will get to watch video or TV programs on the internet.

Especially, I'm thinking that the use of internet for academic thing will become more popular.
People will search everything on the internet.
They will get news more from the articles on the internet.
Moreover, they don't need to buy electronic dictionary to look up for vocaburalies.

Of course, this senario includes the development of software, hardware and search engines themselves.
We can get lighter laptops with a long-life battery.
The time for starting computers will be shorten.
These things mean that we can use computers anytime without caring about the place and time.


Especially, I've been thinking that translation function will be the biggest matter.
You might know that sentences translated on the internet are too awkward to be read or very hard to read.
There are abandont amounts of resources in the world of internet.
It is obvious that the inovation of internet accelerated the globalization and is still accelerating.
The world is getting smaller. However, we still have a big barrier of "language."
If we invent an effective translation soft, the globalization will be accelerated much faster.

Now, most Japanese access to website which is written in Japanese. So, the information is not always new. In addition, those news are limited because people don't translate every articles to Japanese.
It's enough if they get a reliable translator from English to Japanese and from Japanese to English.
If they have a good translator online, all people in Japan can get a chance to have information as Americans have at the same time.


Now, I'm studying programming by myself.
I'm thinking the skill is necessary for my career.
I don't need professional skill, but I need fandamental one that helps me to write source cords.


Oh, this is a long article.... I was absorbed in writing it, so I didn't notice that I wrote such a long one.

Spring Break is coming!

Spring Break starts on March 7th.
As I wrote before, I'm going to spend all days in Petersburg, VA.
This is a volunteer service trip.

Today, we had a meeting.
I realized the break starts soon.
I'm looking forward to having great time there.


By the way, I've been very relaxed these days.
I had three tests the last week, and I have no test until after spring break.
Of course, I'm studying everyday.
But, I haven't spent so much time for study.

The last night, I was watching a youtube video.
It is a lecture of Computer Science at UC Berkeley.
The lecture is amazing! The professor is the best I've ever known, though it's just youtube video.
And, I ordered a textbook for the class today!!!
Crazy, Ha!?
So, I decided to take the class on youtube. (not officially, just for fun)
Maybe tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I will get the textbook because I ordered by the fast shipping one.
I'm so excited. Actually, I'm so interested in computer science, and I was thinking to take the one before this semester.
Definetely, I will learn computer science after I'm back to Japan.
So, this is the first step though the class is hard.

It's OK!
Now, I start studying..

environmental science

I'm taking an environmental science course this semester.
It focuses on East Asia, and especially China.

It's not exaggerated that environmental issues in Asia almost equals that of China.

People think China produces too much pollutions.
It's true but it's not completely true.

Let me explain this.
On average, a person in China produces pullution only one-ninth of one American.
In addition, this is below of the average in the world.
This is true.

The problem is the sum of it. China has 13 billion people in the country.
Therefore, the total emission of pollution is the largest in the world.

Chinese government argue that today's global warming is not the fault of China, and fault of developed countries.
I understand it.
Still, China should not be necessary blamed because of its population.

However, China needs to improve the situation more. This is also true.
We don't even try to understand the reason while China spend huge amount of coal and have enourmous amounts of inefficient plants.


One more thing, I briefly explain an interesting graph I had in the class today.
We compared major Asian cities with the two measurement below in the class.
1. SO2 concentrations (micro gram/square meters)
2. Sulfate concentrations ( same with above)

First is the comparison of SO2 concentrations in 2000.
Beijing: 44.7
Shanghai: 110.2
Chongqing: 135.1
Seoul: 27.4
Pusan: 63.0
Tokyo: 7.7
Osaka: 6.8

Second is sulfate.
Beijing: 26.5
Shanghai: 46.2
Chongqing: 68.5
Seoul: 12.8
Pusan: 26.3
Tokyo: 3.6
Osaka: 4.1

You can know how much cities in China is pollueted,
and how Tokyo and Osaka are clean!!!
I'm proud of that I'm Japanese.

Surprisingly, cities in Korea are not developed in environmental issues.
Especially, Pusan is as much polluted as Beijing when we measure by square meters.
Pusan is the second biggest cities in South Korea, but it doesn't have as much land as Beijing.
As a result, we feel Beijing is much more polluted.

But, this chart is very interesting.
cleanliness
Tokyo, Osaka >>> Seoul >> Beijing, Pusan > Shanghai >> Chongqing

For volunteer in Jakarta

I bought a ticket from Jakarta to Narita today.
I leave Jakarta on September 20th and get to Narita on 21st in the morning.

By the way, my friends often ask me whether I miss Japan. Somehow, however, I haven't missed Japan.
Sometimes, I think about the life in Japan, especially after I decided to go to Indonesia.
But, it's different from that I miss my country.
Just compared with a developing country, it is obvious that the life in Japan is much more comfortable.

America is also a sophisticated country. So, almost everything is similar to Japan.


Oh, I remember that one of my friends said that I am a free man. haha..
Actually, it's true and it's ok though.
I'm used to being said something like that.
My friends in Japan also said similar thing.


Now, I'm watching a youtube video.
It is a speech of Bill Gates at Carnegie Mellon because He is most respectful person for me.
Obviously, he is the most popular business man in the world.

....go to San Francisco

I wrote before that I'm going to Hong Kong before I get to Jakarta.
But, I abandoned it.
I decided to go to San Francisco, and spend for 4 or 5 days there.

I bought a ticket from San Francisco to Jakarta yesterday.
It was really cheap, just $740 by Singapore Airline.
Especially, it's cheap to go there from San Francisco.
And, I have a friend in Stanford whom I made in Chicago. So, I can meet him there!!

It is good for me to go first to San Francisco by domestic flight.
The ticket is cheap, and I can meet my friend!!


By the way, I really want a video camera now.
Surprisingly, video camera is getting cheaper.
I can buy the one only by $200 or so.
Right now, I looked up on Amazon.

Anyway, I will decide whether I buy after I check how much I spend before I'm back to Japan.
Actually, I don't want to embarass my parents.
I'm trying to spend "their" money for only necessities.
I don't want to spend their money only for my amusement.

test, test...

Today, I had a test.
It would be the worst score I've ever taken.

Moreover, I also have a test tomorrow.
Now, I started studying for the test.
I was so sleepy just before now. But, I'm OK now.
So, I can study hard from now.


Today, I went to a lecture about business.
I just followed my friend.
It was a good lecture. I could know the system in America.


Alright, I study now!!

I'm sick...orz

I'm sick today....
I have a fever and headache.
And I had body pain, but it's getting better.

I slept almost all day today. So, I didn't go to classes...
That's because I wanted to recover as soon as possible.
However, I still have a cold.

I have a test tomorrow. I studied yesterday a little, but it's not enough.
Now, I start studying.
Actually, I have tests from Wednesday to Friday....
This week, it's so hard. Besides, I'm sick now...
I hope I can make it.

3 months

I have ONLY three months to stay in America.
I will leave here maybe on May 15th.
So, today is just the three months before I leave.

Anyway, I am enjoying life here everyday, and am going to enjoy more.
At the same time, I'm learning everyday.
I will do what I can and want to in the rest of three months!!

Atractive Asian Cities

I watched a Korean movie with my friends, though I forgot the title of the movie...
I was frustrated before I met them, because other my friends irritated me.
But, I'm fine now, thanks to them. I drank with them and they are always cheerful.

First, I've been to Korea.
I went there for just 1 week in spring break, 2008. 3 days in Seoul and 4 days in Busan
In the movie, the main place is Seoul.
Seoul is considerably attractive city for me. This might be because it is similar to Tokyo.

Also, women are beautiful! (This is important. hahaha)
I've been in America for 6 months. I might miss Asian girls... haha

Anyway, I have been wanted to work in Asian cities.
Most attractive cities for me are Shanghai and Hong Kong.
I need to make my ability higher to fulfill my career vision.
So, I need to improve English more and study hard!
OK, I'm ready to keep busy the rest 3 months in America.

Going to Hong Kong!!!

I will go to Hong Kong on May (15th) 16th- 20th.
Before I head for Jakarta, I'm thinking to drop by Hong Kong for 4 or 5 days.
But, I was thinking to go back to Japan the same date, until yesterday.

Now, I changed my mind. It is a good opportunity to go to Hong Kong where I want to work in the future.
I need to know how Hong Kong is.

Moreover, I asked my best friend in Japan whether he wants to come to Hong Kong.
He replied "Yes."
Therefore, I might be able to spend with my friend in Hong Kong.

I'm getting so excited to go to Hong Kong!!!

Classes I'm taking

They are hard.
I'm not suffered from a lot of assignments or readings, but I'm suffered from the lecture or discussion itself.
Today, I had two classes Neurobiology and African American History.
Honestly, I don't know how much I understood the class.

I majored in biology in Japan. So, I have fundamental knowledge of biology.
However, I don't know the terms in English.
I learned them in Japanese. Therefore, I need to translate everytime.
In the class, the professor uses lots of biological terms.
It is so hard to catch up with what he is saying.

And, African American History
I learned little about American History itself.
I learned world history in freshman year in high school.
But, that's all. Therefore, it might be the hardest course for me.

BUT, I decided not to make excuse for my English ability and lack of knowledge.
I'm telling to myself that I'm studying in America like other students.
So, I keep doing my best and have to catch up with the classes. In the end, I'm happy if I could get A grades from those classes.

Now, I start studying.

Many works...

I had a high fever the last night. My body temperature was 38.3 degree celsius.....
My body was hurting and I had a headache...
But, I got over the cold and am ok now.

However, I have a lot of tasks today.
I have an exam tomorrow... It's for Environmental Science Course.
Also, a paper....

Moreover, I need to keep Obama Journals, which is for African American History class.
The weight of this task is 20% of grade.
Actually, I need to read newspapers and keep the journal every day.
The last week I just started. So, I'm reading past newspapers....

About the History class;
Today's topic was Abraham Lincoln.
But, I couldn't understand the discussion in the class at all today...
I need to get knowledge of Civil War and slaves more.
So, I should read something book which gives me general knowledge.


And more,
The organization in which I will work volunteer in this summer has already assigned tasks to me. So, I need to work on it.
and, I should check the information of the volunteer.


Anyway, work hard today. I don't know my health is completely ok, though..