Time for Graduation

I can still remember the day I graduated, it was 8 years ago. Almost to the day. I took it on June 13.

Anyway, today the youngest of us graduated. She's my youngest cousin and to me she's still 5 and has trouble to pronounce my name!

Anyway, we are heading down to the city where my uncle and his family lives in a few hours to celebrate!!

I'm so happy for my cousin!

For all of you who are not familiar to Swedish culture. To graduate High school is a bigger celebration than from University! Both Bachelor and Master.

You wear the cap, see above, and if you are a girl wear a white dress and boys wear a suit! (most ones wear black ones). 

You celebrate from morning to night.

Inside the hat friends and classmates write comments like "Omg, cannot believe we made it, these three years are done", "We are the best"... etc

Many students rent a big truck and party for a few hours on the truck, that's driving around the city or area of your preference (that's legal). Afterwards you head home for a dinner with family and friends, get gifts then head out to party at a location, either rented by you and your friends, or by the school. It depends on you. I celebrated with my school. And the party continues all night long!!!

비즈니스/오피스 한국어

I met with my new teacher last Saturday. So from now on I will study Business Korean.

It will be tough and I'm not sure how much I will learn but I hope to learn new things.

Not that I think I will ever apply for a job in Korea. But I see this as a challenge. ^^

I hope I will learn something.

For you who doesn't know, Business Korean is difficult. Although there are also Business English.

I'd say that business Korean is much more difficult as Koreans use a totally different way to express themselves at work compare to outside the office. I asked my teacher how Koreans learn this, I mean it's not something they use daily or hear at a younger age. She told me that many universities offers classes in business Korean. She also said that some companies are not as strict as others but some will judge you for your words at an interview.

Also, different rank = different words. Yes, in Korea you can easily know your place in life through words!!!

You can also divide the language into Business and Office styled Korean.

An example of Business is job interview, and Office is more words you use inside the office, how you reply and speak to seniors/colleagues.

Give it a go

When I came to the office the other day i found this.

My colleague had borrowed it from the library for me.

I'm gonna give it a go and see what happens.

This is a children's book in Finnish and it comes with a cd, so I can follow the text while listening.

Sooner or later I should be able to be able to at least pick up something... I hope ^^;;

Time to study

One of my supervisors stopped by my office yesterday and gifted me with this book!

She had been out shopping with her daughter and found this and thought of me ^^

It's filled with Finnish words, and English translation.

So now I can study some Finnish.

The illustrations are really cute, I'm so blessed to have so nice colleagues at work!!

I think I will look at the pictures though..haha

My first lesson

I'm gonna try to learn some Finnish, even though I think it's a really ugly language!

My colleague had this at home, so this is how I will start, just like a child XD

I tried to read some of the words out loud but it's really difficult!

I wonder how this is gonna turn out...

Study about Arashi at Meiji univ!!

pic cred @ owner

Meiji University in Tokyo Japan offers a course in "Arashi knowledge".
I have never heard such a thing before, and despite being an Arashi fan, I do think it's kinda absurd in one way, and awesome in another! I know Japan is different but a real uni course!? Also, at Meiji of all universities!! Well if I'd enroll this course I'd probably get an A without studying XD

English translation of the course methodology
1. Introduction - Arashi's Era
2. The Culture of Johnny's Entertainment
3. Before Arashi, focusing on SMAP
4. Changes in Arashi's PVs - Before big break
5. Changes in Arashi's PVs - After big break
6. A comparison of the members of Arashi
7. Arashi members as they appear on variety shows
8. Arashi in dramas
9. Arashi in commercials
10. Arashi in concert
11. Arashi and J-Pop
12. Arashi and K-Pop
13. Johnny's Entertainment post-Arashi
14. Overview on the Era of Arashi
15. Test

Parents, Get a grip! and start acting like parents!

The debate on TV stated that school boys are playing way too much video games instead of studying.
And the opposition blame the government for this, or that's what it seems. Because this issue can of course be blamed to our school system?!
Some also says "Well look at S.Korea, they play a lot of video games but they reach high on the polls of studying and good degrees".

Let me laugh at two things.
It's always greener on the other side right!? But take a look, sometimes it's only the light that fools you!

1. It's not up to the schools to ban video games, get them to go to bed, or to get these boys to study better. It's the parents that needs to due their job, be a parent!!
When I was younger, me and my brother could only be on the computer for a certain amount of time.
Why is it that when people are going through a difficult time, they more or less ALWAYS blame the government. But for somehow, isn't that what being an adult is about, to take care of yourself.
If you have a child, then raise him/her, do not expect others to do it for you!!!
Put a password to the computer, lock it in your bedroom before going to bed?! By doing so the child has no other option that to sleep at night!

2. Well, S.Korea might reach very high on those polls. But I can sure tell you, the video game playing boys who spend countless of hours on the computer are not the ones with the highest degrees.
My friends in S.Korea (and Japan and other Asian countries) spend endless of hours in school, extra curriculum classes at private institutions or even have private tutors coming to their houses. And it's all because the parents pay and watch them over.
I kinda feel sad for some of them because all they do is study - read and remember!

An example of a high school student's life in S.Korea.
6.00 Wake up
6.30-45 leave house and go to school
7.30-8.00 Prepare for class and first class begins
15.00 Classes ends
15.30-22.30/23.00 "Self study" in school or attend private institutions or have a tutor over/do homework by him/herself. Self study is to sit in class and do homework or study other material that can be helpful for the upcoming exams to get into university.
23.30-00.00 Come home and go to bed

Does it sound like a happy life?!
High schoolers in Asia have a tough time. BUT the day they have been able to enter the university their parents want and hopefully themselves too they can relax.
Compare to Sweden it's kinda "easy" to attend uni, but hell to get in.
In Sweden I'd rather say it's the opposite. We can enter uni fairly easy, but to graduate can take time!!

Also our ways of studying is completely different.
In Asia it's all about remembering, but really, what's the knowledge in that?
I'd like to credit Swedish school system for the work of "creating".


___________________________________________________________

So yeah.. Parents out there, GET a grip! and start to control and raise your own child!!
There's a reason why children are children, they don't know better.
For the moment you might be the bad one and get the blame. But what about the future? Isn't a bright future on a long term more important?!

Probably should but...

Today at work I realized I need to learn Finnish.
At work I use Danish, English, Norwegian, and Swedish, however I'm missing Finnish.
The major reason is, the language is totally different and I don't think it's beautiful at all.
However for my work nowadays I really need it. And my co-worker told me to learn it ^^

In a way if I would know Finnish it would open doors to work, I mean, if learning, I'd be able to speak all Nordic languages.

But well... can I?
And when? I guess is the big question!

Not in the mood

I so need to do my prep for upcoming exam and work prep.
But I have no power or strength to do so. It feels like I do not really care.
Well for one of them I do not care, the other one I do but I know it requires lots of thinking and evaluation, so my brain is well... not in the mood (^^;;)

I will try to do my best, maybe not today but in the near future!!

Cheer up ;)

photo cred @ owner

No stress

Yesterday i finally decided, i won't stress or take it too serious. This is so not my thing, i lack interest in it, it won't have anything with my degree or future job, why give so much effort?
It might sound like giving up, but there are things I'm interested in but not the math parts! Which is half the class lol

Anyway happy Friday, soon time for class!

Morning class

I'm in class, all is good until i see all graphs! Lol

Anyway to try to cheer me up i bought coffee.
I also brought my starbucks tumbler, i bought it in 2010 in Tokyo ^^

I still want to hurry home lol

Life is back on track

I have felt complete handicapped without a diary/calendar!
I know it sounds weird but it's difficult to have ones life on post its.
I have a phone but for my schedule i like my old styled calendar!
For my b-day present from my brother and his gf i got a new one.

I designed it myself! ^^
And i finally got it! I'm so happy!
I cannot describe the joy within Haha!

I finally got my life back on track! ^^

I miss Tim

Today i was in desperate need of coffee.
This tiny cup cost CAN$2!
Total joke right ^^;;
Right now i miss Tim Hortons more than ever.
A XL cup of coffee from Tim Hortons would be awesome!
As well as a doughnut or a bagel ^^

Oh well...this is Sweden!

In class

So I'm stuck in class, for SIX hours. It's gonna be the longest day of my life! Lol

Anyway so far the course seems ok, not as bad as i expected-
I hope it will go well. The rain is pouring down outside, that's a relief!

I want lunch~ i wanna eat my salad! Hehe

A year has passed

One year ago, on this day, I spent my first day in Regina, SK.

It feels so weird that one year passed already.

This time last year my year totally changed. I had such a great experience.

New school, dorm life, and new friends.

I think U of R gave one of my best experience in life ever!!! or at least so far!

Study methods

We all know Asians or South East Asians love their scooters.

Also the children study like crazy, so what if we combine the two, what do we get??

I'd never be able to pull that off :P

Stereotypes - let's change

So what do you think of turning around a bit..
By that I'm talking about ads.
Take a look at this and let me know what you think ;)

Since publication on April 3, 2013 this video has had over 1.4 million views!
The students of UofS (Uni. of Saskatchewan) wanted to show how the media portrays gender roles and stereotypes in advertising.
It's kinda funny when you turn it around, the other way looks stupid. I still wonder why it's "okay" one way but not the other, or maybe I have gotten used to it and do not care anymore.
In all, a great topic and it shows how much humans have to learn!!

Almost like heaven

I have told you about my thesis and my thoughts about them.
The hell we have gone through etc.
Today we had a final seminar with other people, where they had read the full version and gave their opinions.
I thought... that they'd rip us apart and say that it sucks!! Yepp, I imagined I'd walk out of their crying my eyes out. A little bit over over exaggerate but~

But... what happened?! Seems like they "liked" us the most of the other groups.
Of course we got things we need to check and fix, but it's not so severe as I had imagined.

So happy days!!
Tonight I will relax and start checking stuff tomorrow!!

Good Thursday :) :)

Hiatus

Because of my thesis my writing will be inconsistent from now on, it really sucks but it cannot be helped!
Anyway I hope i will pass, but as I have said many times, this thesis is really K I L L I N G me!

Study is all I do

While my friends travel the world or enjoy normal life without any major complications, I'm stuck with my thesis.
Right now I just want to get done with them!!
I don't see an end even though it's only a few weeks left. I guess I just have to suck it up... not as easy as it sounds but I try to tell myself that anyway.

My mum and dad have really been helping out a lot, I guess age makes you wise :P

Oh well... I got lots done today, and more is needed to be done tomorrow and so forth~