Momoko

Last week was the very first week of the academic year. We (my university) call it Week 0. Week 0 was also called a Freshers' week, which Freshers (new students) have lots of events for the new life. For example, introduction of academic and administrative staff, the courses, how to use the library, societies, etc. There are a few receptions where they can meet other freshers. Oh, and they have to register during this week.

Most of these events except the registration have nothing to do with the returning students like me.

This week is called Week 1 even though it is a second week of the year. From Week 1, the courses (classes) start, and Weeks 1 and 2 are, I call, a trial period. Students go to lectures that they are interested in and decide which 4 lectures they take. If they take the lecture, needless to say, they will have an assignment (usually essay) at the end of the term. So, they need to be careful with deadlines of the assignments. If the deadlines are all before Christmas holiday, that would be a nightmare!

Some of my friends spent their summer holiday in their country. One of them came back from Japan last month and gave me a souvenir! I requested matcha (green tea) chocolate and this (photos) is what she bought for me.






This chocolate is produced by a tea company, so it has a good rich taste. Sooooo tasty! I will not share it with anyone else^^

I miss Japan so much (;_;)

Momoko

Will and Matt have moved out. Their contracts expired at the end of September. I knew this but I was not sure whether they would really move out because I did not see them packing their belongings at all. But finally they left last week.

I did not know when Matt evacuated completely. So we did not say good bye. But Will left a message to Alex and me... which was written on a piece of a cardboard box :-)

I was supposed to move into Will’s room, a girl into my room and another girl into Matt’s room. The landlady was saying that the girl would be moving into my room on the weekend (3rd October), so I was thinking to move my stuff one day before. However, when I was on campus on 31st September, I got a message from the landlady that the girl would be coming on 1st! Too soon!! I hurried back home and started moving.

My old room was a 3.8 tatami-mat room!! 1 tatami mat is about 0.9 x 1.8 m. So, 3.8 tatami mats are 6.156 square metres. The first word of my friend who visited was "Oh, small" (hahaha). Yeah, surprisingly small^^

But my new room is a double room with a double bed, which is equal to 6.7 tatami mats (10.85 square metres). I have more space than last year though there are no shelves and not enough storage. So, I have to place files and books on the floor and some stationeries in a box. It is so funny and weird that each time I move a house, my belongings increase. Usually it should be opposite.

I have been in this room for a week so far... it is nice and cosy.

One thing I feel sorry to other housemates is that all of us pay the same rent price even if the room size is different. The smallest room is even smaller than half the size of my room and is on the ground floor plus facing west.

Sorry about that (><) but you can take my room next year because I will be moving out!

Momoko

I have written before that my flat is a university accredited house (a first part of this story). Hence, a council person comes to check the house regularly. Our landlady was told 2 things by them;


1. Use wireless internet
2. Use fire resistance doors for bedrooms


All of us use wired Internet because the box (?) is broken. Alex and I reported to the provider a few times (other housemates are not helpful), but they have done nothing to this yet. We have been appealing it over half a year, though! Fantastic, isn't it?!

The reason for the wireless Internet is because it is dangerous to lay cables across the stairs and in front of the doors. So we told the landlady about the problem very first time and she is trying to sort it out now. She was thinking that we were using the cable because we could not use the wireless on our computers. This problem will be solved soon.

As with the doors, they have been all replaced now. It was funny that fire alarms went off when the builders started shaving door frames. They were talking,

"It's not a smoke at all :-("
"Yeah but smells a little bit".

Needless to say, I was wearing headphones!

I thought that they just take the old doors out and put the new ones in but I had a second thought. It is not that simple... They have lots of small jobs such as adjusting differences to fit them in and putting lever on.

2 builders came at 9am and left the place at 8pm. 11-hour job!! Yet, they could not get all jobs done! One of them came back next day and did it to a finish. They said that they did not expect it took that long. We did not either!

Now, new doors are a little bit heavy and do not match the interior :-) It is just a wooden door. Might need to be painted.

Momoko

It has been many days since I last updated. Sorry (><) But I am glad if you are still visiting.

I have intensive days these days. I submitted 2 chapters 10 days ago. I am revising other chapter now and intend to resubmit it next Tuesday. I am happy to have productive days :-)

After I submitted chapters, I checked which chapters I have written so far. Then I noticed that 1 chapter is almost blank!! I doubted my eyes and looked every inch of the files on the computer. But, I could not find other bits (><)


What should I do?????


I do not have a time to be disappointed with me. It is too late to regret. I cannot get my time back. So, I emailed my supervisor and asked if this chapter is necessary for the thesis. I thought contents of this chapter can be covered by other chapters. In fact, I have already mentioned in other chapters about what to be discussed in that chapter. To be honest, I was hoping that my supervisor would say "it is not needed" (hahaha. Lazy student).

His response was,


"You may be right that some things are not needed... but can you send me the latest list of chapter headings and subheadings please? and the research questions/hypotheses again... Thanks."


He did not give a definite answer because he needs to think about it carefully.

It has been about a week since he replied, but I have not got his answer yet... I am wondering if he meant I do not need to write the chapter... He might be still thinking... Hmmm... Wait and see.

Momoko

In the UK, a GP system is adopted. GP stands for General Practitioner. People have to register with a local surgery, and they are assigned to a GP. When you have a problem with your health/body, you first go to see your GP. If you need a further examination, the GP introduces you a specialist. So, when making an appointment, you are automatically booked in with your GP.

As I had a cold, I went to see a doctor on Thursday (the first story is Healthcare 1).

This time, I requested a doctor other than my GP because I wanted to ask other doctor a question that I had asked my GP before (I do not know if this is also called a second opinion).

Before the doctor took my blood pressure, she asked me if I had something else. I told her that I would like to take a general health check-up and a breast cancer screening. When I asked my GP about the health check-up (I did not ask about the breast cancer), he said I would need it only when I feel some symptom.

I became speechless when I heard this. If the symptom was a signal of late stage disease, I would definitely regret that I did not take one. The doctor I saw this time also said that I do not have to take it (><) She also added that it is not always reliable and that NHS (free medical service) (note 1) does not provide it, and she gave me a name of a private hospital that I can take it.

Moreover, I was advised to do exercises, not to be obese, not to drink too much alcohol and not to smoke.


Errrrr...


Yes, doctor.


I could not say anything. In Japan, we usually have it checked once a year. Even companies where we work for tell us to do so.

Now, I kinda looked forward to what she would say about the breast cancer check-up. She said,

"The breast cancer screening is offered to women over 50 years old because usually those women have it"

She did not disappoint me! Over 50! In my country, women over 30 years old are recommended to have it. I told her that my cousin suffered from it in her 40's and so I am a bit worried (I remembered now that my cousin was in the 30's at that time). The doctor said,

"It is sad about your cousin. How about other female families? Your mother, grandmother, sisters? If no-one else had it, you shouldn't worry too much because people who suffer from it have families who also have it. So, check with your hands regularly"

I felt an essential notion is different between us.

After I left the health centre, I checked the price check-ups.

Complete Health Check-up with mammography costs


£578
(= ¥83,100)


I took a double look! It is unbelievably expensive! Ripping off??? I checked whether there was a lower-cost service.


Female Health Check-up (maybe with mammography) costs


£299
(= ¥43,000)


Hmmm... I have absolutely no idea if those are acceptable rates. Better keep looking.

Since I got surprised with this different awareness about the healthcare, I could not help emailing my friend, Tim. I wrote about him once before (here)... he is the one who always phones me at midnight and who talked about dogs for 30 minutes on the night before I had to submit my dissertation.

As he is a doctor, he is the best person whom I expressed my surprise. He emailed me back, saying,

"Phone me about cancer screening! I can explain things better that way"

So, I did... of course at midnight. He picked up the phone and said,

"What time is it now? Sorry, it's too late"

"?????"


He was asleep. I thought it was the best hour for him!

So, what I have written is the best description about it that I can do at the moment :-)


= Note =
NHS stands for National Health Service.

Momoko

I went to see a doctor today. As I wrote last time (Tuesday), I caught a cold (thanks to all who worried about me!). When I woke up on Wednesday, I felt it got worse. So as soon as I got to campus, I went to a health centre to make an appointment. The appointment was, then, made for today (Thursday).

But, I feel much much better than yesterday now and I thought I did not need to see the doctor... but I meant to ask a prescription so that I can keep the medicine for next time I catch a cold.

I was called my name and went into a consulting room. I told the doctor about my symptoms – runny nose, coughs and a bit of a strange feeling in my throat. She asked me if I have a fever, phlegm, chest pain, etc. I said no to all. Then, she said,


"When you have a fever or a chest pain, or when you have phlegm or see blood in it, you should see your doctor. Everyone catches a cold this time of year in the UK. If you have only runny nose, coughs and sore throat, you can recover by yourself"


In a nutshell, she was saying,


"Believe your gutsy spirit!"


So, she did not prescribe me. She took my blood pressure in the end of the consultation (because my last record was a bit high) and let me go back.

Good, I was not diagnosed with flu.


Momoko

When I was changing pyjamas this morning, I felt, "Oh, I may have lost some weight!". I weighed, then.

Err...
:
:
:
:
:
Gained 2kg!


WWWWWHAT!!!


I tried several times, but the scale did not show a "genuine" weight. Maybe broken? But I am not worried about that because I will lose some kilos this week because I have a cold now.

Yes, I had a cold the day before yesterday. Since I came to England, I hardly catch a cold. It is a mystery... When I was in Japan, I used to have it 2 or 3 times per year. But now, I have it once every 2 years or so. Probably English climate is better to me?

However, on Sunday night, I forgot to close the windows when I went to bed, and when I woke up next morning, I had a sore throat...

Today, I do not have a sore throat but found the symptom got worse. I have a runny nose, coughs started, I feel feverish and often get miles away, etc. I thought I had a fever, but not.

As I do not like to take medicines, I always cure it with my gutsy spirit^^ My friend told me from her experience that English medicine is more effective for the English cold than Japanese medicine. That is interesting. As I am easy to be influenced :-), I may go to see a doctor and have a prescription this time! Yes, experiment on myself^^

I still feel feverish, but my body temperature is the same as usual. Are you not thrilled when feeling feverish? I am! So, when I found I do not have a fever, I get disappointed (though it is good).

Please, everyone, take care of yourself.


Momoko

I am not good at numbers in English. When I counted, I had been using Japanese until quite recent. I can count and calculate in English now (progressed!). But I am still not good at big figures such as billion and trillion. When I was watching TV, a TV presenter in a quiz show was saying, "This means a British billion. So one billion means a million million" (note 1). When I heard it, it rang the bell!

"Bi" in "billion" means "2" as in "bicycle", "binocular" and "bilingual". So, "billion = a million x a million" is so logical. In the same manner, since "tri" means "3" as in "tricycle", "triangle" and "trilingual", a trillion means a million x a million x a million.

I have not thought about the figures this way. I just tried to remember "billion = 1,000,000,000,000". Too late to notice^^


<< Note >>
American billion is a thousand million (1,000,000,000).

Momoko

* Not good to read while eating *

Someone does not pick up hair from a bathtub and a sink after use. From a length and a colour, it must be Alex or Matt. I wonder this person was not told by their parents that he should clean after use. I do not clean it for him. If it continues, I may put a notice on a door of the bathroom.

When I was living in a university accommodation, I was sharing with some Chinese people. Some of them did not flush the toilet whatever the hour was. So, I put a notice – "Please flush the toilet after use!"

Some British people also do not flush it when using it at midnight. One reason is a bad soundproofing. When flushing, it makes a big noise and could wake up a whole house. So, basically it is different from Chinese people not flushing. Although I am accustomed to it, I still do not feel good when using the toilet in the morning. I found this...

If it's yellow, let it mellow
If it's brown, flush it down
(bad joke)

So, hair in the bathtub and the sink... I will see how it goes for a while.

Momoko

Those who live in the UK should be familiar with this symbol. It is quite recent that showing this symbol became obligation. I think it was around 2005 or 2006.


This is a so-called dolphin-friendly symbol and is only used for canned tunas. What do you think this symbol means? It means that dolphins do not get severely injured or killed in tuna fishing. That is good if fishers are careful with their way of fishing and more dolphins are in safe. However, this is an argument.


What about other marine animals? Turtles? Sharks?


The answer is they are still in danger. They still get injured or killed during the tuna fishing. As the design of the symbol shows, this considers only dolphins. I do not know the reason for this but I guess the number of dolphins is going down faster than that of other marine animals.

Hmmm... is there any good solution for a "marine-animal-friendly symbol"? Difficult. If you want to get something, you have to give up something else... but always? Hmmm... difficult.

Momoko