Lab diary

Recently, I joined my school as research student. Now, I am affiliated to reproductive science lab, graduate school of bio-agricultural sciences.

Looking back, learning Japanese language in a span of four months was fun as well as pain in the neck. In fact, a good success story for beginner like me.

Since the program was designed like a crash course it helped accelerate my language learning skills. Many tireless efforts and unwilling sacrifices were put into it to keep up with the daily lightning speed lessons. However, at the end it paid off well. At least it doesn’t make me feel alienated now.

from google

On the contrary, working in the lab for past few days had been a different story. At the very start, getting to know about the laboratory life posed a great challenge as everything was brand new. Let alone other tasks even a simple chore like borrowing books could not be performed on my own. I felt naïve and wondered if it was going to perpetuate.

Deprived of guidance, I kept reading all day long often going oblivious of my own purpose in the lab. On few occasions, a sentence or two would go around. That was it. Like working bees, hardly anyone had time.

Soon things started to fall on right track. I was assigned with my lab tutor.

Because professors have tight schedule almost every day- lab tutors are vested with a responsibility to handle the newbies. From general rules of the lab to conducting student practice, they play the role of professors, and often runs errands.

Interestingly, they can be compeers and not necessarily seniors. In the due time, such mutual relationship gradually eases the confusions and working in the lab becomes so much fun. In other sense, there is no need for excess coaching class once the master course begins in full swing.

As we are all put together in the lab- doctoral, master and few final year students, it creates an ideal place for breeding different ideas. Not only does it foster good learning atmosphere but also presents cross cultural exchange opportunities to better understand the diversity of the world. Furthermore, collaborating in team helps to gather all the pieces together and solve the puzzle.

Working in a group comprised of different levels also translates to learning from anyone- PhD or master or final year candidate.

My first lesson came from a final year student. It was about animal duty- changing of beddings, replenishing food and water for the rats and mice. Additionally, she also briefed on the records that has to be maintained in the animal room, and report any emergencies to the staff.

Championing the art of animal duty is essential, perhaps compulsory, because the entire experiment can fail miserably even if a single animal is let loose. So as a member of reproductive science it is indispensable to master the task, especially the animal handling. Most importantly, getting conversant with the rodents behavior allows for the smooth conduct of the practical.

While I remain as an ardent learner today, I pledge to commit with indefatigable stamina and make the best use of finest minds here. 

 

From Kheng to Japan II

I awoke betimes to the melodic tune of Tequila Sunrise by the Eagles and perfunctorily glanced outside. It was a day unlike any other days, stiflingly hot with mundane affairs taking on its turn gradually. Before long, I made my morning toilette and went to a sumptuous breakfast followed by a brief respite. My three days sojourn had me completely bury the beautiful memories of gorgeous Himalayan air hostesses.

As the clock hands drew close to noon, I readied all my travel documents, baggage, and sundry other items. Just then, my newly met Indian acquaintance sent a message that he was coming to pick me up. I still had luxury of time before he could locate me at the Bhutan embassy. Hence, in gratitude for my host’s generosity, I struck on a conversations and acknowledged him (Drimpon Lobzang) for being a Good Samaritan. After he had primed with his sapient advice and fatherly guidance, I took to my leave assisted by a police officer. We ambled leisurely over to the embassy gate and savored the AC there with some light banter.

No sooner did we close our chitchat then a cab pulled up to the gate. It was my friend. Together they helped me load the bags and before the engine roared to life once again, I waved goodbye.  We drove along the busy and heat laden roads of Delhi and made a halt at serene place where we heartily pitched in to the lunch. An hour’s drive eventually ushered us into the Indra Gandhi International Airport. The temperature soaring, air terminal teeming with lives, we stood waiting restlessly for another one and half hours.

The check in commenced at 5pm. We were put in a long file and the verification went on. Just as my turn came, it took a little longer to authenticate the passport. Shortly, having rejoined some of the queries, the man at the counter handed in the air ticket and let me through the gate. He probably didn’t know on the existence of small Himalayan kingdom, albeit Druk air’s frequent fly to Delhi international airport. It had me vexed for some time and wondered why my lecturer, then in college, asked us which part of India was Bhutan.

Eventually, all the hassles comes to an end. And with a nonchalant gait, I walk to the departure lounge and wait for the take-off.

Few hours into the waiting, the giant Japan Airlines (JAL) loomed within my sight and an elegantly decked crew members showed up before the queue. For a moment, I was lost in their flamboyant parade and kept staring at the hourglass shape -from their neatly kept hair do to the seductively manicured toenails without even batting my eyes.

“Well come to Japan airlines” interrupted a comely stewardess, steering me into the flight. Once inside, I tried riveting all my attention in finding the seat number but only to baffle myself in a sea of heads. My previous knowledge of travelling in Indian jet airways failed miserably. Subsequently, a swift query to the flight attendant helped me settle the search. My embarrassment put to an end, I reclined comfortably at the window seat.

Indian Standard Time 7 pm, all passengers onboard and my journey from Kheng to Japan continued. A little later, with an air of complete confidence, I pulled up the screen from my right flank, plugged in the headphone and observed the flight navigate over the route map until a pacific slumber sent me into a good night.

The following morning, I watched the aircraft fly over South China Sea and had a hunch that we were getting closer. Quite later, an announcement emanated from the cabin gently reminding everyone to remain seated and fasten up the seatbelt. Shortly, the engine ceases.

With a polite sendoff from the flight attendant at the exit point, I hastily disappeared among a concourse towards immigration section- no grooming, nothing.

The clock read almost seven in the morning then. I began to fret because my next flight was just two hours away. Gradually, as more and more people thronged in front of immigration, the tensions mounted further- the likelihood of getting my residence card stamped within a stipulated time looked bleak. Worsened by the circumstances- I moved out of the line, beseeched a lady in-charge and confronted the dire situations. She promptly acted to my urgency and delivered the card. Impressed at the first sight by the lightning speed response, off I went in search of the departure terminal again.

It brings me a good dose of laughter to think of how I nearly exited at Tokyo instead of Chubu airport. Fortunately, a janitor came to the rescue and escorted me lest I go amiss of the track.

After being in flight again for another two hours, ultimately I was alighted at Chubu International Airport. As I had been already informed by my professor that she would be waiting at the exit gate, I rejoiced at a feeling that I have done it after all the struggles. I gathered all my items from the luggage room and followed the exit point. Hardly had I stepped out, I spotted a placard which read “PELDEN NIMA, NAGOYA UNIVERSITY”. It was my professor. As every Japanese would do, I bowed in reverence and thanked her for every support.  

She drove me in her private car until my residence and handed over to the staff for registration. I gave thanks once again for all her troubles and checked in the room utterly exhausted but with hopes and dreams.

The Japanese way.

I am almost 5 months old in Japan. Let me share few of my unique reflections so far.

It is universally acknowledged fact that punctuality is everything here. So I will not shed light on it, for it may appear redundant to many.

It isn’t astounding to see people automatically queue up for anything that could possibly create a mass havoc, be it in a spacious supermarket or rush-hour traffic. Initially, I wondered how such a great feat could be achieved with a swift spontaneity while in some parts of the world even with the draconian measures and directions, people fail to heed and create scenes now and then.

Moreover, it is uncommon to see pedestrians violate the traffic rules here. So far I have not been a witness to any pedestrians crossing the road at a point other than designated areas or traffic signals. Such is the level of mental faculties Japanese people have evolved.

Another trend that calls for attention is their prompt response to works like fixing potholed roads or malfunctioned conduits. It would not be too much to say the road that suffer cracks or potholes at the dawn are fixed by the dusk, if not on the other day. Furthermore, it is assured that the work doesn’t create any conflicts with the usual activities and keeps it going round the clock. And the fashion in which they dispatch the duty is just awe-inspiring- systematic, safe and elegant. Any passerby will involuntarily stop to admire it, sneak a look, and fancy the same in their home countries.

I now conceive why Japan is labelled as one of the safest countries across the globe. Initially, I had no idea how backbreaking it is to fetch a sim card here. Back in Bhutan, getting a sim card done is not a big deal so long as you have the device and someone known Bhutanese. It may scarcely take around twenty minutes to settle upon few procedural works that would ask your personal details. Next, you’re all ready to hit the line.

But Japan works in mysterious ways. Nothing comes in easy  package here.

Weeks back, I was stumped to the brink of quitting the sim card. At one time when I went for a credit card, they inquired on my phone number and on another occasion, credit card when I applied for a phone number. At first, I found it crazy of Japanese to have created such a protracted procedures and incommode customers by asking series of documents. Gradually I took to the credence that similar process had better be introduced in Bhutan too, for what seem like tedium to customers at the outset, the larger purpose at the end of the day is to keep troubles at bay.

A population of near 130 million and a top consumerist on the index, it is surprising one will hardly butt against trashes. Take a stroll along the street or travel in the subway, there is no refusing the roads and underground pavements are well-kept. Talk about cleanliness and it will be difficult even to spot dust on the leaves. It took me at least two months to marginally begrime my white shirt and shoes.

Believe it or not, street dogs are hardly seen around and ass are retained in the zoo for display. Not to mention the warm charisma of sober Japanese, even late night drunkards are well disciplined and intend no harsh feelings for anyone stranger.

A fascinating country where every waking hour is a new soul awakening experiences, I shall keep turning until the last page and remain inspired for the rest of my days. However somewhere deep within, the place I call home is dearly yearned.

A brief excursion to Kyoto