Assistant Professor → Associate Professor in Japanese University

I got promoted as Associate Professor on April 1. Alhamdulillah!

 

Of course it was hard work, blood, sweat and tears, no shortcut!

Working in a Japanese university is extremely hard. We need to do all the work - literally all - from sweeping and cleaning the lab, making coffee when guests are coming, preparing for a bunch of classes, teaching, evaluating, marking the score, taking care of students, being the person in charge for department, faculty, and university level of something (for example, managing department's SNS, department's marketing, making pamphlet, and so on and so on - the list can go on), being active in academic life outside campus, and lastly, research. Yes, research! Research is the last thing that you can do in the university that I work. 

Let's talk about this later, now not thou.

To get promoted to be Associate Professor in this university, here are the requirements:

1. PhD holder (Currently, job applications for lecturers are only for PhDs, but lecturers from the old days sometimes still have no PhD)
2. Must have experience guiding the thesis of 4th year students (The criteria for each department is different, in my department, more than 20 students) 
3. Write an essay about the targets to be achieved in the new position and career design as a lecturer
4. In the last 5 years must publish at least 3 international journals or 4 local journals as first author
5. Points from teaching experience (criteria for each department are different extremely difficult to explain, so skip! But as a hint there are criteria for the number of classes, the number of students, class evaluation by students)
6. Points from academics (number of journals published, impact factor, number of proceedings, number of presentations at conferences, number of academic awards, number of patents, number of books). Point weight is different for first author and non-first author
7. Points from non-academics (helping association as for example secretary, being chairperson at conference, being an adviser in a student club, being an adviser in company)
8. Points from research grants (where have you gotten research grants, how many are principal investigators, how many are research members)
9. Points from being in charge of department activities (being in charge of any role in department, faculty and university activities) 
10. Print all the documents (at least 4 copy), explain and evaluated by your supervisor (lab boss), department chair, dean and for university. Then after passing through, the documents will be checked again and again by campus' Human Resources Committee (mostly Professors) to be recommended to the university boss (Rector and Chairman of the Board of Directors of a school foundation)

In Japan, you don't have to get approval from the Ministry of Education and Culture or the Japanese Higher Education (I heard in several countries you must get approval from the ministry...). All of this is regulated within the university/foundation, so it is the university/foundation that determines whether you become a professor. The university only have to report to the Ministry of Education and Culture and attach all the documents.

yodogawa fireworks!

Yodogawa fireworks is the biggest fireworks event in Osaka, I am glad that we came there because that was one of the best firework event I have ever came to visit. But, to be honest the smoke was a bit disturbing as you can see in the picture, sigh!

なにわ淀川花火大会は大阪で最大の花火イベントです。嫁と二人で行ってきましたが、非常によかったです。日本歴９年間の中でベストスリーの花火大会に入るぐらいの迫力だと思います。ただ、煙が邪魔でいい写真を撮るのは難しかったです。



Our place was there (near minamikata station), we arrived there at 18:00 but we can still found a good spot easily. Although a bit far from the main spot, yet, quite a view. Next year, we want to try to find a spot at Yodogawa athletic park so we can get a good close spot.

ところで撮影スポットは以下の通りで、南方駅から近いです。場所的には１８時についてもまだ余裕で座れるし、屋台も多くてにぎやかなスポットだし、写真もよかったです。次回行くときには打ち上げ場所にもっと近づいて淀川河川公園から撮影してみたいです。

花火の季節が来た～ァ！
the hanabi season has arrived!

test switching to japanese driving ilcense, tes ganti ke sim jepang, 外面切替試験 part 2

技能試験
driving test

courses in fuchu driving license center, i got b course on february 9

tips and tricks for your driving test

1. before driving

1. put your belonging on the back seat, check back and front of your car (include under the car), check the road situation behind the car, open the door, say "onegaishimasu" to the instructor, go inside, close the door
2. lock the door, set your seat position, wear seat belt, set the position of upper mirror, check the transmission lever (hold it and make sure it is in N or P position) and parking brake, step on the brake pedal and hold it, say "junbi dekimashita"
3. turn the engine on while holding the brake, unlock the parking brake, set transmission into D, say "ikumasu", right blinker, check right mirror, right side of your car and check the road condition through right back window of the car, drive slowly to the right, and there you go

2. while driving

1. use left side lane, in a straight road, step the accelerator pedal to maximum speed that are allowed there (usually 40kmph), pull the pedal, brake slowly until before the curve. note: you are not allowed to step on the brake pedal while in the curve
2. when you see "something annoying" on the way, you have to turn right blinker (about 30m before the "thing"), check right mirror, check through right back of the car, go to the right side, when you about to pass the "thing", turn your blinker to the left, check left mirror, check through left back window, go to the left side, continue to drive
3. when you want to turn left you must turn your blinker to the left, check left mirror, check through left back window, go to the left so bike cannot pass through, in intersection or fork you must see right, left and right again (move your neck), then check your left back through left back window, when it is clear you can go to the left
4. it is the same when you want to turn right
5. when you see stop sign (tomare or 止まれ), you must stop (0kmph), check your right, left and right again, then go
6. crank road and S road? you must practice! just place your right foot on the brake pedal, and move slowly
7. when your test is about to finish turn the left blinker, check left mirror, check through left back window, go to the left so bike cannot pass through, make sure that the car is in align with the side walk, then stop
8. set your seat position so you can go out easily, unlock the safety belt, lock the parking brake, set the transmission lever into P, turn the engine off, check right mirror, right side of your car and check the road condition through right back window of the car, say "arigatou gozaimashita", check behind you again, go out
9. take your bag from the back seat, go to the instructor, take your exam result, say again "arigatou gozaimashita"

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技能試験

tes praktek menyetir

Tips dan trik tes praktek menyetir

1. sebelum ngejalanin mobil

1. masukin tas di kursi belakang, cek belakang mobil (bawah juga), depan mobil (bawah juga), cek belakang lagi, buka pintu,bilang onegaishimasu, masuk, tutup pintu
2. kunci pintu, atur seat, pake sabuk pengaman, atur cermin diatas, cek gigi, rem tangan, injek rem, bilang "junbi dekimashita"
3. sambil injek rem nyalain mesin, unlock rem tgn, masukin ke gigi D, blg "ikimasu", sen kanan, cek cermin kanan,cek belakang kanan (tengok kanan belakang via jendela belakang kanan), ambil kanan sedikit, jalan lah

2. pas udah jalan

1. jalan di jalur kiri, pas jalan lurus injek gas, sampe batas maksimum kecepatan (biasanya 40kmph), terus lepas gas, rem pelan pelan sampe mau belokan, tapi pas belokan ngga boleh ngerem, ngeremnya harus sebelum belokan
2. pas ada barang di kiri, harus dihindari, dari jauh (sekitar 30m) sein kanan, liat spion kanan, liat kaca belakang kanan, ambil kanan, lewatin, pas sejajar sama benda yang dilewatin sein kiri, liat spion kiri, liat kaca belakang kiri, ambil kiri, lurus lagi
3. kalau mau belok kiri dari jauh jauh harus sein kiri, liat spion kiri, liat kaca belakang kiri, ambil kiri supaya nutup jalan motor/sepeda, pas perempatan atau pertigaan, liat kanan, kiri, kanan (gerakin leher), setelah itu liat kaca belakang kiri (cek barang kali ada orang), kalo ngga ada jalan
4. sama untuk kalau mau belok ke kanan
5. jangan lupa kalau ada tanda tomare (止まれ) harus berenti dulu (0kmph), liat kanan, kiri, kanan, baru jalan
6. kalo tips crank road atau S road, latian! sambil injek rem aja, terus jalanya pelan
7. pas mau parkir setelah tes, sein kiri, liat spion kiri, liat kaca belakang kiri, ambil kiri, stop dipinggir, lurusin sejajar trotoar 
8. atur seat supaya gampang keluar, lepas sabuk pengaman, rem tangan, pindahin gigi ke P, matiin mesin, kiat cermin kanan, liat belakang kanan, bilang "arigatou gozaimashita", keluar mobil, cek lagi belakang kanan
9. ambil tas di kursi belakang, samperin instruktur, dapet kertas lulus atau ngga, bilang lagi "arigatou gozaimashita"

test switching to japanese driving ilcense, tes ganti ke sim jepang, 外面切替試験 part 1

外面切替
switching to japanese driving ilcense

学科試験
written test

I went to fuchu driving license center to switch my indonesian driving license to the japanese one on january 26. on that day i did the administration and also the written test.

what you need to bring:
1. driving license in your home country
2. passport
3. residence card (在留カード)
4. residence status (住民票) from ward office (区役所)
5. picture 　3 x 2.4cm
6. japanese translated driving license from JAF
7. driving status (if any) from police office/station

note:
you have to be in your home country more than 90 days since you got your driving license!


here are the questions of written test.

right or wrong question

1. you cannot pass the road when there is this sign (right)

2. this sign shows you not to enter (wrong)

3. suppose that there is a 30kmph sign, nobody is on the road, then you may drive more than 30kmph (wrong)

4. you can drive as fast as you can when there is nobody there (wrong)

5. you are very tired, but you still drive a car (wrong)

6. suppose that you are at an intersection, you want to turn right, but the re is also a car across you wanting to go to the left, you need to let the car across you to go first (right)

7. when you drive on the road and there are sign like this, it means you are free to change the direction as you want (wrong)

source: shutterstock
8. you want to park your car but cannot find the empty parking lot, then you park your car on the left side because there are no car passing by (wrong)

9. you can drive on the bus lane (wrong)

10. you can change your lane after passing this yellow line (right)

source: geocities

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外面切替
ganti ke sim jepang

学科試験
ujian pengetahuan

saya ke fuchu untuk bikin sim jepang, nge ganti dari sim indonesia tanggal 26, nah disitu saya daftar sekaligus tes ujian pengetahuan.

yang harus dibawa:

1. sim negara asal

2. passport

3. residence card (在留カード)

4. residence status (住民票) dari kantor kecamatan (区役所)

5. foto 3 x 2.4cm

6. sim yang udah ditranslate dari JAF

7. status mengemudi kita (kalau ada) dari kantor polisi tempat kita buat sim dulu

note:

kita boleh ganti kalo udah lebih dari 90 hari ada di negara tempat kita buat sim!

ini soal ujian pengetahuannya.

benar atau salah

1. tanda ini adalah tanda dilarang masuk/lewat (benar)

2. tanda ini adalah tanda dilarang masuk/lewat (salah)

3. kalau ada tanda 30km speed limit, boleh melaju lebih dari itu karena jalan kosong (salah)

4. kalau jalanan kosong boleh melaju dengan sangat cepat (salah)

5. anda capek dan tidak yakin bisa menyetir, tapi anda tetap menyetir (salah)

6. anda ada di perempatan, lalu mau belok ke kanan, di sebrang anda ada mobil yang mau belok kiri, anda harus mempersilahkan mobil yang belok ke kiri duluan (benar)

7. ketika anda menyetir dan di jalan ada tanda seperti ini anda bebas berpindah jalur (salah)

8. anda tidak menemukan tempat parkir, lalu anda parkir di sisi kiri jalan karena sedikit mobil yang lewat (salah)

9. anda boleh masuk kedalam jalur bus karena sepi (salah)

10. anda boleh berpindah jalur (untuk nyalib/belok) setelah melewati garis kuning di sisi jalan (benar)

sakura tunnel

i still remember the detail feeling eight years ago when i passed this beautiful sakura tunnel...
time flies like an arrow

8年前にこの桜トンネルを通った感じと意志がまだ頭に残っている…
光陰矢のごとし

2007/4/2~2015/4/2

illumination

a very beautiful illumination in shinjuku, although it's been kind of late, happy new year!

新宿におけるとても奇麗なイルミネーション、遅いですが、良いお年を！

available here

solar eclipse ring of fire

solar eclipse ring of fire, a photo by ramadhonasaville on Flickr.

非常に美しい金環日食
a very beautiful solar eclipse ring of fire

graduation

graduation, a photo by ramadhonasaville on Flickr.

Nodai graduation 2012
Congratulation and celebration

lunar eclipse

 

a very beautiful lunar eclipse i took on the rooftop of my dorm
this is the first time i saw the lunar eclipse, and i was like..woooow!
it was a peaceful night

とても美しい月食で、寮の屋上で撮影したものです。
実は月食を始めてみたのです。感動しました！
静かな夜でした。

takao red leaves

 

beautiful red leaves on the top of mt.takao

高尾山の頂上にあった綺麗な紅葉

ice skating last winter

 

ice skating last winter at midtown, roppongi. It was great even though i fell down several times, haha *well, the result is i don't really like ice skating ;p

去年の東京ミッドタウンでのスケート。良かったが、何度も落ちたからスケートあまり好きにならなかった。;p

the art of firework

 

 

a very beautiful art on the unlimited canvas

無限キャンバスに描かれている非常に美しい芸術

green day in action

 

green day on january 24 in saitama super arena. i have no word for the live concert but cool!

1月24日に行ったグリーンデイのライブ、埼玉スーオアアリーナで。クールなライブだった!

they used mine

 

this photo was taken during the coming of age day (or 成人式in japanese)on january 11. coming of age day is held to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached 20. then i sent this photo to metropolis magazine, and they used my photo on the first page!lucky!

この写真は1月11日、成人の日、に撮った写真だ。成人式は"おとな"になったことを自覚し、みずから生き抜こうとする青年を祝いはげる。その後メトロポリスという雑誌に送信した。で、俺の写真が最初のページに載せられた!ラッキー！

red leaves

a very beautiful red leaves, taken on Mt.Jinba during the momiji

美しい紅葉で、もみじのときの陣馬山で撮った写真だ

setagaya matsuri

some pictures from setagaya matsuri 2009, young energetic and talented traditional dancer.
they do maintain a tradition..what 'bout us???

2009年の世田谷祭りからの写真で、才能のある若い舞踊家だ。
その人たちは伝統を守る。。俺たちは伝統を守るのかな？？？

kyodo matsuri*festival

the 36th kyodo summer festival

第36回経堂祭り

tanabata matsuri

tanabata matsuri,a japanese star summer festival hold around july 7, or august 7...i dont have any idea why they celebrate on different day,why do you think???
and some paper strips with the wihses...

七夕祭り、日本の星の夏祭りで、7月7日か8月7日かに行われる。。。なぜ違う日に行われるんだろうな、なぜと思う？？？
短冊もかけてある

solar eclipse

solar eclipse,taken in tokyo,from the rooftop of my dorm on july 22,2009.
actually that was my first time seeing solar eclipse.

日食だよ。寮の屋上で撮った写真で、平成21年7月22日だった。
実は、日食を始めて見たんだ。