Please be informed that there will be an upcoming dpcs course bonding event after MST which falls on the 3^rd of June @ somewhere around SPMoberly. There will be BBQ and bonding games such as the running man games~!!! Sounds exciting yea?! If there is any changes, we will keep you inform about it! Hope to see you all there~!!! ;D

Ohaiyo!Err'body! Welcome to Part 2 of OITP @ Chiba Institute of Science!

During the weekends, we visited various different places. Some were touristy, some weren't. Many a times, we (Wilson and I) found ourselves wandering around cemeteries. Yes, you saw that right. Cemeteries. Our intention was to visit a proper shrine but somehow, we landed at the wrong place. (sigh)

Luckily enough for us, our lab members were extremely kind and helpful and brought us to a famous tourist spot: Asakusa Temple.




We tried our luck with this fortune thing and unfortunately for me, I got a bad fortune and according to customs, you're supposed to tie the bad fortune on this rack to rid the negative fortune. Wilson scored a really good fortune! Lucky him.

During our course of stay, we enjoyed various delicious street food and home cooked meals. Now, you may feast your eyes upon the fraction of foods we tried here.

Bon Appetit :)








We also visited the famous Tokyo Skytree (p/s: you can buy really adorable and delicious TOKYO BANANA HERE. And by cute I mean they HAVE IT IN LEOPARD SPOTS!!!!)




That's Hitomi-san (model student) and Yousuke-san (Master's student)

I love this course, don't you? :')

The japanese students love hosting mini dinner parties and one of which was a TAKOYAKI PARTY. Can we all just pause for a minute here and appreciate just HOW FREAKING AWESOME THAT IDEA WAS?!

I mean, a TAKOYAKI party?! Best. Party. Ever!

We cooked our own Takoyakis and as if it was already superbly yummy enough, the joy and laughter as we all ate together made it extra special!




Of course, the highlight of that day was successfully surprising Wilson, the birthday boy.



Now, what is traveling/living in Japan if one does not visit TOKYO DISNEYSEA/DISNEYLAND?!!?!?

I love that place, it was so magical. I wanna go back there!!!!!!!!








After 1 month of intensive Thin-Layer Chromatography, we were allowed to conduct other experiments. We looked at skin cells and hair follicles. The above picture is a photograph of skin cells.


We got to visit the FANCL factory and had a tour around it. We were introduced to how the factory operated and to top it off, we got freebies (that's always a plus, right?)









We attended their graduation ceremony as well and it was such an inspiring event. Seeing the 2 PhD holders getting their well-earned degrees definitely served as an inspiration and motivation for me to work harder and achieve better.


That is Mama-chan, along with her daughter hiding at the back. THEY ARE THE NICEST, MOST HEAR-WARMING, WELCOMING AND KIND PEOPLE I HAVE EVER EVER EVER MET IN MY LIFE.

Mama-chan displayed incredible hospitality towards us for the 6 weeks. We were so touched and couldn't bear to leave the place on the last day that we cried. Yes, we. Both Wilson and myself cried so much because Mama-chan said "We'll miss you"

I really miss her. She was like a second mother to us.

Oh if i hadn't mention, our accomodation was at Daishin Inn. Our meals (breakfast & dinner) and well taken care of by Mama-chan and her daughter. Lucky for us, we need not fret over meals as we were very well fed, day and night. Not to mention, the food provided was beyond expectations. Home-cooked Japanese meal, and I enjoyed every.single.one.


Professor Sakamoto! This is our main professor but being the busy man he is, we hardly spent a lot of time around him. It was such a honor for Wilson to harmonize with him, and a honor for me to witness his overflowing charms as he played the viola.


Can you spot Wilson? He did one of the most insane things ever, and he will definitely remember that for sure.

Basically we were at Shibuya, and it is well known for its scramble crossing. As such, Wilson and I came up with a crazy idea for him to stand in the junction and snap a picture.

It was wild. And embarrassing, but hey, how many times in your life do you get to do something like that? :B

Lab members, us & Professor Yamashita. Thanks for making the 6 weeks such a memorable one <3 This was definitely one the best experiences in my life.

Thank you teachers, thank you SP.

Amanda
Year 3