One of my favorite songs till this day is that BeeGees number, 'Words'...
As Lita, a former student of mine, illustrated on 8th May 2007...
Dear Prof. Lrong Lim,
How are you, Sir?
It was my great pleasure to have met you again in Kagawa!
You looked a little bit tired but actually younger than 2yrs ago!
I believe your passion for your job is making you getting brighter as time goes by.
Hereby attaching one picture we took together~
You look nice on the shot.
Pls send yours in your free time!
Looking forward to seeing you again,
B.Wishes,
Lita
And, similarly, her words turned to treasure on 19th August 2007...
Dear Sir,
Well rcvd the photos with many thanks!
How are you these days? How was your job in Hawai??
It's too hot to go out recently! Crazy hot, hot, hot weather!!>_<
Take special care of yourself in this hard season~!
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
B.Rgds,
Lita
Had been weeping since I received the news yesterday afternoon...
Lita had passed away in early November...
She had apparently taken her own life...
Why Lita, I ask...
My door is always opened...
Why Lita, didn't you send me a note...
I would have caressed you with kind words... words that might heal your pains and troubles...
Why Lita... did you give up on life...
For all my young friends who happen to come across this post...
Please, do not give up on life...
Life is too precious...
For it is not only you who is living that life...
The folks around you, the friends around you... they live that 'life' along with you...
Please... don't ever give up...
Meanwhile... my eyes weep...
My heart pains...
My soul bleeds... for Lita...
Gardening, photography, food, fishing, traveling, scuba diving, life in Japan, plus of course, news and views of being away from home...
Greetings Prof.
ReplyDeleteStumbled upon your blog and decided to 'leave a track'.
I'm a penangite (Malaysia) and currently residing in KL. I've applied for the Monbusho scholarship. Got through the first round. Called for the English exam and sat for it on the 9th of May 2010 and now I'm waiting for the result. Really hope I could get through to the interview and through till the end.
Guess what. If I got the green light, my family (my husband and 2 children) and I will be heading to Kagawa University! I'll be there(with god's will) and doing a research under the supervission of Prof. Dr. Hirotoshi Tamura (a professor of Applied Bioresourse Science, Faculty of Agriculture). I've e-mailed him and now waiting for the ultimate green light.
Please pray for me sir so that'll I'll get through.
Any advice? Would like to meet you there sir next year.
Yes indeed...life is too precious to be aborted.
Some would say that life isn't fair...but it's definitely worth to give it a shot.
Wish we could really 'LIVE our LIVES'
Love your garden and regards to your lovely wife.
Good morning... good to hear that you are progressing well with your Monbusho application...
ReplyDeleteProf. Tamura is a friend of mine, in fact, just concluded a meeting with him a few minutes ago.
I have a feeling that you have a pretty good chance of being accepted. Reason is, we need more Malaysians here at Kagawa Univ.
Thanks for your comments about the garden and your wishes for my missus.
I shall pray for your success in the application...
Good to hear from you again sir. Thank you for this limited yet fruitful 'conversation'. Really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI was excited to hear that you know Prof. Tamura well.
If I may ask sir, in which faculty are you in now? And another, I've added your blog in my blog list's (this morning). Hope you do not mind and I appologize for not informing you ealier.
By the way, I found my way here (your blog sir) through syanashwa's. Feels good reading her one year experience in Japan.
Thank you for your prayer and I must need more of it. Looks like this blog is going to be my one-stop often.
You are most welcomed. Yes, I have known Prof. Tamura for several years now. We coordinate with each other in some projects in the univ. I am originally in Management but since I took up the appointment years ago at the International Student Center, I have been very occupied with administration. Research-wise, I am veering away from management and more into international student issues. No problem in adding me to your blog... it is an honor, in fact... I should be doing likewise to some of the folks out there (including you) who have kindly put me on their blog links...
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your consent sir. Really enjoy reading your blog...you've always have a flair in writing I guess.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up sir!
Hi sir, back here again replying...
ReplyDeleteI've been a bit busy...taking the kids for a holiday plus both my parents came to our house from Penang. They went back yerterday...huhu...miss them dearly. They came for only 4 days...it's still not enough for their only child (me).
Just two days before they came, I received a letter from Japan Information Service (JIS)...informing that my quest for the Monbusho Scholarship ends here.
I didn't get through...I was trying to hide this from them and tried to put up a happy face. I burst up in tears at the bus station while waiting with them. they were very sad to learn about this. My mom cried as she knows how much I've gone through while they were here...to sacrifice so that they'll be happy.
I've ask for 10 scholarships. 5 end up rejected and no news came from the other half.
I will not be able to buy some fresh pickings from your potager then sir...but I hope we could still keep in touch. With god's will, I'll definitely visit your blog.
I still have a strong 'ambition' of going there...Kagawa. I do not know why...
Dear Ibunoor... I am very sorry to hear about the result... your parents must have been pretty affected as well... applying for ten scholarships is no easy task... it must have been very tiring... rejections are rejoices are part and parcel of life... yours truly of course have had his fair share of both... rejections are naturally difficult to swallow, especially in the initial phase... but hang on, alternative options/avenues will reveal themselves in due time... be strong, lady...
ReplyDeleteWiping off my tears while I drowned in your consoling words sir...
ReplyDelete"applying for ten scholarships is no easy task...it must have been very tiring..."
-You've conclude it well-
Thank you sir very much...my best prayers are for you, your missus and your family. May your life be blessed.
A very good morning to you Prof.
ReplyDeleteHow have you been lately? May God always bless you and your family :-)
Just to inform you that I had a great time meeting Prof. Hirotoshi Tamura, Prof. Toyohiko Iida and the other 2 Professors (a man and a lady) who came along together from Kagawa University when they came to our university; International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) on Wednesday (3/8/2011).
Prof. Tamura has a 20 years long of history with my Bachelor and currently Masters supervisor; Associate Professor Dr. Irwandi Jaswir (he's from Indonesia). They apparently shared project 'SIFU' while studying. Prof. Tamura's supervisor was also Dr. Irwandi's.
Though Prof. Tamura did not remember my e-mails to him (of previous application for Monbusho, which I didn't get through), we had a nice chat after being introduced by Dr. Irwandi. Prof. Iida even mentioned your name during the introduction announcing to all that Kagawa University has a Deputy Rector of the International Office who is a Malaysian. All our lecturers were impressed and I smiled and knodded... picturing you in my mind :-) I had a nice chat with him too after that.
Also Prof. need many of your prayers for me here as I am scheduled to finish my Masters Degree in Biotechnology Engineering in IIUM by before October next year (2012). I am so determine to persue my PhD after this and by God's grace, I applied for Monbusho scholarship again this year. I passed through the submission, examination and the interview (the first screening) and is now waiting for the 'Acceptance Letter' from Hokkaido University through my future supervisor; Prof. Kazuo Miyashita.
Really hope to get through this time and my future reseach would be on the micronutrient called Fucoxanthin in brown seaweeds like in wakame and all. If everything is fine, then I'll be in Hakodate (Faculty of Fisheries Sciences) next October. I am very fortunate as I met him in person during an international conference here in Malaysia somewhere in May, introduced by Dr. Irwandi also.
p/s: I have not been updating my blog but I still visit yours! Keep on writing.
ibunoor... I trust that things are going on quite well with you... I am happy to hear that my colleagues paid a visit to your university and that you had a chat with them... I work closely with Prof. Iida... you are in a very situation with regards to your scholarship application... if you get the letter of acceptance from Hokudai, chances are high that you will go through the remaining stages... I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor... and also, may I say, 'Happy fasting' in this holy month of Ramadhan...
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Prof. I am pleased that you managed to squeeze some time to reply to my comments here.
ReplyDeleteYes... with God's grace that is, I still have the chance to meet this holy month of Ramadhan again this year. I thank you very much for your concern.
I am hoping the best for Monbusho Scholarship again this time. Actually Prof. this is my third time applying for it; twice for my Masters (attempt is futile) and now for my PhD (may God reserves the best for me).
My best prayer to you and to your 'suweeto haato' in life :-)
ibunoor... this being your third try, if you get through, how sweet the feeling will be...
ReplyDeleteand I believe you will enjoy Hakodate for it is a very scenic place with an interesting history to boot...
Likewise, our heartfelt prayers to you and your family in this season...
Hello again dear Prof.
ReplyDeleteMay this message reach you in the best of health and situation...
I am very pleased to inform you that the Monbusho screening has been well reached nearly to it's final stage by now.
I managed to receive Letter of Acceptance (LOA) through Prof. Kazuo Miyashita from Hokkaido University somewhere towards the end of June and had submitted to the embassy.
Our names were being nominated to Japan by the end of September and the result came back just a few days ago that 21 out of the 24 who had passed the primary screeening got through the nomination. I am on the list Prof.! :-) I could never thank the Almighty and all dear to me enough for their on-going support and trust in me.
The final result will be made known to us in February next year. Hope MEXT could allocate a place for me in Hokkaido University.
If everything is well, I would be arriving in Hakodate in October 2012 as I am now doing my Masters project still, and had opted to go there in October (through the application).
May the Almighty reserve this opportunity and eventually make my dream come true.
ibunoor... good evening to you... sorry for the late response as I was traveling... in fact, I am now in Penang, attending a conference organized by USM... it is indeed very good news that you are in the list of 21 lucky individuals... with the acceptance letter in hand, chances are very high that your application will go through...I am very happy for you... meanwhile, keep going with the current momentum on your master thesis... :)
ReplyDeleteWah…!!! You’re in my ‘kampung’ now Prof. In this case, you had better tanned yourself a bit and take along the sunshine too for your missus in Kagawa :-)
ReplyDeleteBoth my parents reached here (KL) from Penang 2 days ago. They will be with us for about a week. I didn’t tell them yet about my third attempt applying for the Monbusho Scholarship this time around. I hope to deliver the final result later to them when everything is confirmed… With this, I shall be ready to accept whatever it is in stored for me with an open and a humble heart.
I know I have done everything ‘humanly’ possible on my part. I could never thank the Almighty enough for every experience in life.
I appreciate your support dear Prof.
ibunoor... hope you enjoyed the time spent with your parents... it is good to keep the news about the scholarship until they become official... then, it will indeed be a sweet feeling when you announce it to your parents...
ReplyDeleteour stay in Penang was wonderful... seems like I am beginning to re-discover the wonders of Penang... am really appreciating her beauty now...
Dear Prof. Lrong Lim,
ReplyDeleteI could never thank the Almighty enough for reallizing my dreams... especially this particular one.
I am pleased to inform you that I have received the most awaited news in the middle of February... I am finally awarded with the(Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship 2012. I am so humbled by this... after 3 consequtive years applying, wishing and hoping...
My parents; they are ecstatic! For they have always wished for all my dreams to come true. A wish upon wishes...
I will be leaving for Japan; to Hokkaido University in this October. I am now finishing my Masters research by HIS grace.
I would also like to thank you for all the on-going motivation and support you've offered. Please send my best regards to your suweeto haato.
Good evening ibunoor... I was just wondering about your case as a few students have been reporting to me about their results... my heartiest congratulations to you for the success in obtaining this scholarship! I can imagine how happy your parents must be to hear the news...
DeleteYour never-give-up spirit is highly commendable... In the meantime, good luck with your Master thesis...
Kon nichi wa...
ReplyDeleteLrong sensei,
Praise be to the Almighty that my family and I are now in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. We arrived here on the 2nd of October and has been given a warm welcome by my Miyashita sensei and all my lab mates even since.
My lab mates have been excellently helpful, respectful and patient helping my family and I settle down. The community here are mostly the 'experienced' citizens... They are very friendly, accommodating and shy too... They love my 'baju kurung' with the matching light coloured ‘hijab’...
Thank you for having faith in me... I really appreciate it. I managed to e-mail Iida sensei and Tamura sensei and they told me that they were on a study mission to Vietnam. Hope to visit Kagawa one fine day...
Konnichiwa to you Ibunoor... I am very delighted to hear that you are settling down quite well at Hakodate... with your professor and lab-mates being helpful and understanding, your research will probably be smooth going... do keep me posted with your progress once in a while.... I hear Hakodate is a beautiful city... enjoy the life there with your family...
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