33rd JAL Scholarship

Thanks to Yati for this info. Couldn't find it in the JAL's Malaysian website. Found it in HK's and NZ's instead.

For those of you who don't know what this is, this is an essay writing competition for university students. JAL is giving away free scholarships for about 2 weeks (in August) for the winners to be in Japan where they would participate in programs, which would mainly be about globalization.

The theme: WHAT MAKES A TRULY PROSPEROUS SOCIETY?

Some of the key-points for the essay:

• What 'globally-minded citizen' means to you
• How can you contribute to society and region
• Must care about environmental issues
• Have keen interest in Japan
• How to co-exist and cooperate for future of Asia and Oceania
• Necessary elements for achieving truly prosperous society
• How can you contribute towards achieving this
• Written in English, around 3 A4 pages (or Japanese if you prefer, 1200 characters)

Me and Lutfi tried our lucks last year, but to no avail. I read that this time around, they would give souvenirs for the participants. There was a poster in the U, but it was missing after a day or two.

To think of it, I'm not even sure if the scholarship is offered for Malaysian since that it's not mentioned in any local websites yet. I'll email 'em and let all you guys know.

Let's all try our luck this time! I think the closing date is on 19th April 2006 (according to Yati).

My World is Changing...

I sensed a few differences, something will not ever be the same again...

I learned a few lessons, some of which I had known all along but I just never see..

I found a new things, some are very much surprising but some others I had expected long before...

All in all,

I just glad, from all of these I discovered true friends.

And most importantly,

I found myself back.

All the best to all of you for the final exams, this is my last post for this semester. :)

P/S;
Arshana, semester depan kita jumpa lagi dalam satu kelas yang sama! - Your loyal disciple.

Women - The Animal Instinct

A friend said to me one day,

"You know, women are just like female animals - they move in packs, and protect each other's group no matter what the reasons are."

I think it's somehow true...

Biotechnologist-to-Be Corporation: Special Edition

I got a missed call from my father the other day.

Now, that was just plain unusual. My father is the kind of man who talks only when it is needed. Most of the time, the conversation on the phone with my family involves my mom and me. If it is my dad or my brothers, there has to be something really important - really important, I mean.

So I called back, and Dad just gave me homework.

Yes, you bet you read that right. I have to dig information on biodiesel, and to forward the details to him as soon as possible. The specifications are on jatropha species, a type of plant my dad mentioned quite widespread here in Malaysia. My dad wants the detail on the species and the related technologies, because he needs it for his proposal to be presented to Kerajaan Negeri.

Actually, it’s my dad and my uncle. My uncle right now is running a farm on buah I-forgot-its-name at Kota Tinggi, Johor. From what I understand, it’s quite big and has already gone international i.e. exported. Even my 3rd bro just started his work there as farm supervisor. The basis my dad and uncle want to forego with jatropha is as replacement crop for tobacco which I think has been exterminated its development there in Kelantan and use the plant (jatropha) as supplies for the government new plan of developing and commercializing biodiesel.

Well, that's basically it. I shall conclude the specifications to be searched in details below;

Nak tahu Jatropha;
* Berbuah sepanjang tahun/bermusim
* Satu ekar jatropha mengeluarkan buah/biji berapa kilogram / sebulan.. setahun
* Kadar conversion 1 tan biji jatropha boleh mengeluarkan biodiesel
berapa liter.. by-product lain juga spt glycerin.. berapa liter…
* Berapa lama setelah di tanam mula mengeluarkan buah/biji….
* Berapa lama productive life pokok jatropha
* Jenis tanah spt mana yang paling sesuai jatropha
* Minima luas tanaman yang ekonomik/padan dgn kos membina
teknologi pengeluaran ( pilot processing plant)

If you guys happen to find yourself at the convenience of having a free time and wondering what to do at the moment, you might as well help me and search for the details. The simplest thing to do is to just leave the related links in the comment section and I'll proceed from there. Thank you.

On a personal note, actually it just strucked me right after the conversation with my dad; "Now, I'm of use to him!". To begin with, I've been living with engineering minds of my father and my brothers since forever - the only conversation that goes lively enough in the house is about their obsession on technicalities, machineries, computer games (excluding my dad of course) and whatsoever. Not that I'm complaining, but being the minority females in the house is indeed sometimes devastating! Adding to the fact that I'm never actually into those stuffs though I spend a lifetime living around them. So, the other day I just smiled mischieviously. Maybe it was right after all, I remembered mom insisting me taking medicine when I was very adamant on changing to Biological Science. Then, actually mom was kind of hoping me to get into Food Biotechnology in order for me to learn the technology relating to food processing but I just proceed with my gut taking Environmental Biotechnology. Hopefully, just maybe - it's right after all. In sya Allah.

Girls, remember our proposed project on Ladang Betik? Maybe we can proceed with it after all, with the knowledge and experiences of my uncle etc. I'm dreaming; we started with Biotechnologist-to-be and we shall end up with Biotechnologist-Already Corporation Sdn. Bhd. Yummy.

Update! Update!

We're done with Biodiversity class, which beginning to mark the end of this semester. Final exam, here we come!

I'm planning to write about something scientific (as Lutfi puts it); but it's already an hour and I'm hungry and I need to get back to my room because it's nearly 7 pm which means it's getting late and I have to get a bath and prepare for Maghrib prayer.

Wow, talk about Christopher style of writing.

Quando, quando, quando........

I can't wait a moment more,
Tell me quando quando quando............

-Michael Buble feat. Nelly Furtado-

I believe that my feelings now are transient,
For I cannot afford them to be permanent, or else,
I'll be in a loss beyond compare........