Let's Learn Japanese =)

This year, I decided to take Japanese Ab Initio for my Student Selected Component SSC. So far has been so good, and as usual, am the golden boy of the class =) but for no other reason apart from being the only boy in the class (rather interesting I should say =) ). But thus far, it had cost me 3 Friday prayers. Alhamdulillah, I managed to sort things out with watashi no nihongo no sensee (my Japanese teacher) and insya Allah Friday classes will not meddle with Friday prayers any further. So here goes, Nihongo (Japanese Language) basics in brief - more of a reminder to myself rather than delivering knowledge to others :

Family (kazoku)

• watashi - I/me/my
• otoosan - father
• okaasan - mother
• oniisan - elder brother
• oneesan - elder sister
• imooto - younger sister
• otooto - younger brother

Expressions

• ohayoo - good morning
• konnichiwa - good afternoon
• konbanwa - good evening
• oyasuminasai - good nite
• sayoonara - goodbye (more formal)
• ja mata - see you again (alternative version of goodbye but less formal)
• arigatoo - thanks
• arigatoo gozaimasu - thank you (more formal)
• sumimasen - excuse me/sorry
• Iie - no, not at all - reply for "sumimasen"
• ittekimasu - literally means, "I shall go and come back" - expressed when leaving home
• itterasshai - please go and come back - reply for "ittekimasu"
• tadaima - I'm home
• okaerinasai - welcome home - reply for "tadaima"
• itadakimasu - thank you for the meal (start eating) - no need to explain this one, don;t I? usually hands are put together when saying this
• gochisoosama - thank you for the feast (finish eating) - usually hands are put together when saying this
• hajimemashite - said when meeting for the first time ever i.e. before introducing oneself
• doozo yoroshiku - nice to meet you - reply for "hajimemashite"

Countries

• Amerika - USA
• Igirisu - Britain
• Oosutoraria - Australia
• Kankoku - Korea
• Sueeden - Sweden
• Chuugoku - China
• Mareshia - Malaysia
• Ueeluzu - Wales
• Sukkottolando - Scotland
• Furansu - France
• Doitsu - Germany
• Nihon - Japan
• Italia - Italy
• Supein - Spain
• Oranda - Holland

To write nationalities, for instance Malaysian, just add - jin at the back. E.g. Mareshia-jin, Igirisu-jin, Amerika-jin

Majors (Senmon)

• igaku - medicine
• kagaku - science
• keezai - economics
• kokusaikankee - international relations
• konpyuutaa - computer
• jinruigaku - anthropology
• seeji - politics
• bijinesu - business
• bungaku - literature
• rekishi - history

Occupations (shigoto)

• isha - doctor
• shufu - housewife
• sensee - teacher
• kaishain - office worker
• kookoosee - high school student
• daigakusee - college student
• daigakuinsee - graduate student
• bengoshi - lawyer
• gakusee - student, hence; 'kookoo = high school' and 'daigaku = college/university'

Numbers

• 0 - zero
• 1 - ichi
• 2 - ni
• san
• yon / shi / yo
• go
• roku
• nana / shichi
• hachi
• kyuu
• juu
• 11 - juuichi
• 12 - juuni
• 13 - juusan
• etc etc etc
• 19 - juukyuu
• 20 - nijuu
• 21 - nijuuichi
• 22 - nijuuni
• 23 - nijuusan
• etc etc etc
• 29 - nijuukyuu
• 30 - sanjuu
• 31 - sanjuuichi
• etc etc etc
• 40 - yonjuu
• 50 - gojuu
• 60 - rokujuu
• 70 - nanajuu
• 80 -hachijuu
• 90 - kyuujuu
• 100 - hyaku

Enough for know... am getting tired writing these very basic stuffs for noobies =) hope these help towards the better understanding of anime =p

Sumimasen. Jaa mata...

Small-people mentality

Do you know that the United Kingdom is actually smaller than Malaysia (244,820 sq km and 329,750 sq km respectively - http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/)? Pardon me for being an ignoramus, I sure don’t until recently… and do you know that the United Kingdom has the highest asthma case percentage in the whole world? (Note – asthma is claimed to be a disease in which the sufferers are mainly clean people)

I am not sure about what others think (and I don’t care as well). As far as I’m concern, these facts are merely a small part of the pathetic attempt to maintain the world-power image that this small country have. And they have been working fine so far (I think). Or rather, to maintain the world-power thinking in their people. Why bother to look for facts when ‘facts’ are being served on the table? Ignoramus way of thinking i.e. taklid. I must admit though, I am in this category as well. Not so prone to take the trouble to look for facts. Accept it as it is. If asthma is the disease of the clean, then Singapore must have had the highest asthma case percentage (not asthma count) in the world. I have been to Singapore and damn, she was clean.

Nevertheless, regardless of whether or not the island of 'Great' Britain is purposely made to look proportionately larger than it is on atlas, or whether it is a mistake of my untrained eye, until recently I am unaware of the fact that tiny Malaysia is larger than the UK. Or putting it in a more accurate way, I have always thought that the UK is larger than Malaysia i.e. overestimating the hugeness of UK.

And I have asked around. And as far as those whom I have asked, none were aware of this simple fact. Most were like,"Aik, yeke?" or "Takkan kot?" even "Merepek ah ko."

Obviously, one can never be sure of something. Nonetheless one is entitled to make a hypothesis or theory rather as he pleases, so long that groundings to his argument is legitimate and sensible. And in this case, the theory that I could come out with is that we subconsciously look up to the 'greatness' of UK.

Well, it is a great country, in a sense. I certainly admire the people's classical politeness (most) and as far as the technology in this country is concerned, I think this country is one of the best (although currently lagging quite badly behind US, Japan, Korea, Germany etc). And the people that I work with here (referring to lecturers) are top notch, prestigious award winners, globally recognized people.

BUT, all those things have got nothing to do whatsoever with the literal size of UK. Possibly, the perceived size of UK among Malaysians (might not be true to all, even to most) might have come as a secondary mental effect due to the other literal greatness of UK i.e. tech, award winners, classical behaviour etc. A similar example would be of cor pulmonale happening secondary to pulmonary embolism =) Lung problems bringing about heart problem. Or probably a better example would be in people with heartburns; acid reflux perceived as heart condition due to the fact that it occurs at the same region i.e. inferior anterior middle aspect of the thorax a.k.a the chest.

(Before I blab any further I better finish my main topic of discussion =) )

This post-colonialism, or rather, in the wake of neo-colonialism era mentality must have rooted from the colonial era itself. Malaysians have long perceived UK-graduates as among the best in the market though the truth might not be so. Even during Merdeka Celebration back then earlier in August, TV adverts were showing stuffs about teachers graduating from England (Kirkby if I'm not mistaken). I am not saying that it was not a worthwhile advert, I'm just saying that we have been perceiving UK-graduates as awesome powerhouse ever since back then (which was very possibly true, considering the shortcomings at home in the 60s).

Nevertheless, subconscious thinking that lead to UK being larger than Malaysia do exist amongst us. I am not sure if it is a bad think or not, but as far as my wacky standard goes, it is a worthwhile-mentioning material.

Source - www.cia.gov

Long time no see...

Ermm, it has been quite a long time since I last made an entry. More than a month it seems. But I was all but quiet all this time. I did do quite a lot of things, yet time I was not privileged with to make my entry. It was rather difficult so it seemed, as time went by very quickly and I was either busy studying, or busy wasting my time with something else =) Now that I have got some free time, I feel obligated to fill something into this thing so that nothing will be missing from the tin can that is my mind.


Eid celebration this year was a blast. I and a group of friends went to watch my first ever EPL match between Aston Villa and Liverpool. Though not a fan of Villa, my hatred towards the ever lucky Liverpool made me grunt with disappointment of Villa’s undeserving lost that day. The next day (Sunday), 143 Cromwell Road had it first ever Open-House. Although a bit tiring especially after the long journey from Birmingham, it was really good. Lots of foods and friends. Last Saturday, BrIsoc organized a rather awesome Eid Event, involving famous artists such as Abig Baig, Shaam et al. First time ever in Bristol. All in all, it was a very joyful Eid, despite the sad fact that my family was not here to be with me.

As a matter of fact, the thing I miss most about Eid tis year is them, my family. Food, no worries whatsoever. Friends, (in a sense) replacable =) 'Takbir raya', did miss a bit but still quite ok.. But family, duh... Everyday would be Eid day if they can be here with me. Rather impossible though.

I also started doing my Student Selected Component a month ago. I'm doing Japanese Ab Initio. Yeahh. Japanese Language. Cool huh? Well, it is cool so far. Am going make a list of phrases and words afterwards. And I am also doing another SSC project, a research really, entitled "The role of chondrocyte apoptosis in the degradation of articular cartilage and osteoarthritis development." So much to do, so little time, yet play I still not a sign of regret it seems =)

Clinical week last week was really awesome. I think I getting grip of the things that I need to know, and do, as a doctor. I hope oneday, I shall be able to legibly call myself Mr. Diagnosis =) So far, alhamdulillah, I think I'm on the right track. Only a pinch of problem in dealing with history taking. Duh, haywire. But as the golden rule says,

"Management depends on diagnosis,

diagnosis depends on history, examination and special investigations."

Rather tedious...

But, rules are rules...

And 'some' rules are not meant to be broken...

And speaking of rules, this is one rule I broke almost every week. Jumaah prayer, only once the proper way since I came back to UK 2 months ago. A rather intriguing fact. Mendokse...