To capture and cultivate students interest in other fields besides burying their heads in books, AAJ annually organizes several contests like the Kanji Contest, Speech Contest and Essay Writing Competition. This year's Kanji Contest was held in the month of November, just around the corner of mid-sem examination. Despite the ultimate tense surrounding RPKJ students, many Kanji enthusiasts were discovered among these students. Out of 156 scorers, only 14 best scorers were selected. Among the tops, ranking from 1st place were Faiz Adi, Yuzairi, Tuty Rahiza, Nurliza and Azreen. Others were hmm..let me see, Rafidah Anum, Sufi Norhany, Annuar and a few more..heheh...pardon me for being absent minded for I suffer from severe memory lapse.

"Minasan, hohoemi to iu kotoba wo shitte imasuka?" as Nurhafiza, the first speaker opened her speech with a picturesque smile. Speech contest was also held in the midst of final-sem examination tension. Astoundingly, 19 outstanding speakers came up respectively with a unique topic and presentation. Regardless the fact that adrenaline rushing through one's body, coursing through one's vein and ending up as fluttering feeling in one's stomach; shooting pains somewhere in the abdomen and body drenched with sweat, the speakers appeared gutsy and had generated interests among the audience. Although 'Kuttsu'(shoes) presented by Azidi didn't reach the tops, it's sarcasm sure had the audience snickering for a while. Yet, another speaker, Adam Hasno had something different to offer on that day. If only anxiety and it's advocates didn't rule for one day, his autobiography-alike speech on 'tabako-san'(Mr. Cigarette) might just have secured a place among the tops. Despite the calamities, it sure had caught Uematsu Sensei's interest in particular. Among others who stood impressive was Bukhari who intelligently came up with a politically inclined speech. His speech, "Moshi watashiha shushou ninattara" had us mesmerized by a few of his hopes and dreams for his people if he ever become the prime minister. Assertively, he spoke as though he was really running for the presidency title. Who knows, someday he might succeed in his dreams to build the LRT from Kelantan to Johor Bahru. Without dreams, hopes will never be fulfilled. 5th and 4th place respectively won by Nazalina and Nurliza. Jali managed to bag 3rd place whereas 2nd place was won by Nurhafiza. Mazalina who spoke on the topic 'nittei imasuga, onaji dewa arimasen' walked away with 1st prize. Kudos to all the speakers!

"Asa gohan mou tabemashtaka?"hahaha.... Believe it or not, that was the exact pick up line I had the nerve to use in breakin the ice at the last kouryuukai dated..heaven knows. Well, considering how dumb the line was, I therefore didn't put too high hopes in getting a friendly response from the Nippons but, I guess luck was on my side when they didn't hesitate to actually talk to me even I felt like I was reading a bad script from the choukai testo...sigh.. Anyway, I didn't just get a magazine with couple of recorded tapes and did I mention that they were all wrapped up beautifully in this obentou napkin? hehehe..but I also learnt that first impressions can sometimes be deceiving. At first sight, I was racking my brain, how could I possibly get 2 hours to last with them when most of my words contained "ano" from a to z. I'm sure SOME of you had felt the same way too. In spite, it turned out well when u just forget the voices of choukai and go with the flow. My Japanese have never been so broken.. but, I enjoyed myself and so did my Nippon friend..I think. Upon visiting AAJ and us as well, we first exchanged a letter and a new year card I'd recall to get to know each other( onna or otoko) and things each other like as hint of what one should buy for another upon meeting later. Well, some of us were clever enough to mention while the rest might have just slipped of the mind. The time allocation was rather brief in my opinion, but satisfying. Things we did? Hmm...took them for a mini tour around UM, brought them back to the respective hostels to play(games), and some even went beyond the wildest imagination---> took a stroll along the University's lake(Ha!). So, yes
we bored them, fed them, entertained them you name it we did it! Then, came the hardest part of all, saying goodbye....in just 2 hours, we came to know each other not thoroughly but to know oneself for future preferences. It was the end alright, but also a beginning of a new chapter that awaits everyone of us in future. Though some didn't meet with their expectations, accept it as part and parcel of life. Just be sure to check yer e-mail box every now and then, you'll never know what future holds.:)

JAPANESE ESSAY COMPETITION

Due to insufficient information on the essay competition, I'm not able to elaborate further on this topic but I do know that the competition was opened to all UM students. There were several themes to choose from and competitors were allowed to refer to their Japanese dictionaries.  Surprisingly, two 1st year AAJ students had came up as tops, beating their senpais and other students whom had been learning Japanese way earlier before them. Nurhafiza received the 4th prize for her entry whereas Faiz Adi came up as champion in the competition. Hmm..Adi seems to have conquered the best places. Next, who's heart will be conquered by Adi, just wait and see..hhheehhe...

Date Sensei: E-san omedetou gozaimasu!

E-san: Eheh...sankyu!(no.2 pun jadilah...sigh)

Speech contestants posing along with the judges.