This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009: Post Application

Good news - I've been to the embassy this morning for some unrelated business, and was told by the person in charge (our own version of Ms Yin - from reading this thread I gather the Japanese government has a strict personality criteria for choosing embassy personnel) that I am confirmed and that all is well, and that they just had a crazy week and didn't have time to go over the paperwork.

Also, joining the facebook group. Look for me there!
 
Hi all,
I am new to this forum.
I will go to Kyoto University for my Japanese language lesson.
I wonder that we need to locate our accommodation?
 
Iskeki, Welcome.
Your accommodation will most probably be arranged by the International Students Division of your University or JASSO. Have they contacted you?
Or when you say locating you meant finding the way of getting there physically?
With so many students from malaysia going to Kyodai, I'm sure you don't have to worry. You can travel in a relatively big group. I'm sure Mr Kawabanga here will be more than happy to accompany you there.
 
>Nall-Ohki
Glad that you've finally made it.
Your determination and commitment is admirable. Many others would have given up and declare lost. People like you are bound to succeed in life.
All the best, and we shall meet in Hokkaido soon.
 
>Nall-Ohki
Glad that you've finally made it.
Your determination and commitment is admirable. Many others would have given up and declare lost. People like you are bound to succeed in life.
All the best, and we shall meet in Hokkaido soon.

Thank you for the praise... there's something in my eye...

Though there's something to be said for the sometimes quoted definition of Insanity:

"Insanity is that which repeats the same action over and over again, expecting a different result."

Perhaps I'm just insane?
 
There is a difference between "expecting" and actually achieving "different result"s
 
>Malaysians
Is it confirmed that we will be travelling by JAL?

Maximum free luggage would be 20kg. Excess luggage weight will be charged as follows:

Excess baggage charge = Normal economy class fare between boarding points (adult one-way) x 1.5% x excess baggage weight (kg)
(Rounded up to the nearest hundred yen)

We can have another carry-on luggage not exceeding 10kg.

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/bag/
 
>kouki,
It is not confirmed that we will be travelling by JAL. It could be MAS, or SIA or others, depending on flight availability and budget allocated by MEXT.
Baggage allowance is more or less similar.
Check-in baggage allowance for JAL - 23kg. (That is very little!)
Hopefully if a group of us check in together, we can enjoy slightly more baggage allowance.

For bookworms like me who wish to ship some books over to Japan, which can be quite heavy, here are the charges by Pos Malaysia for your reference:
POSLAJU - Air Freight
Maximum 20kg per item/box
First 250g -- RM 41.30
subsequently, every 250g -- RM 5.20
Delivery takes approx 2 weeks

I'm opting for surface delivery, which could be much cheaper
Surface Delivery -- by Ship
up to 1kg -- RM 38.00
up to 3kg -- RM 43.20
up to 5kg -- RM 50.50
up to 10kg -- RM 63.10
up to 15kg -- RM 80.20
up to 20kg (Max) -- RM97.60

The charges are always rounded up to the nearest category. E.g., 4.1kg will be RM50.50, 15.8kg will be RM 97.60 and so on....

Delivery takes approx 1-3months

Pickup charges will apply. Hence it's better to drop it off at the post office.

You can start sending books or stuff that are not urgently needed but can be expensive to buy in japan. By the time it reaches, you would have been there already. You would have to work out the delivery address, for me, I've checked with my dorm office and they say it's ok to send it to them, they will inform me when it arrives.
 
The shipping info seems useful.. i might need the service sometime later.. how about DHL??

still no one going hokudai.. i will be lonely
 
The shipping info seems useful.. i might need the service sometime later.. how about DHL??
still no one going hokudai.. i will be lonely

DHL will easily cost you double or triple.
wHich by then would be more expensive than your content, might as well just buy there =p
 
hmm, I wonder if I will be able carry all my stuff on the plane... I don't really have much stuff, so I think I will be ok.

other news, its amazing how fast you guys can get your visas. I have to be pre-approved before I can sign up for an actual visa.
 
Kouki, Ooilingfan: Many of my friends when they travel overseas (e.g. US, Australia, UK) are able to get more luggage allowances. Basically the catch is that we have to prove that we are students, and when we buy the tickets it needs to be highlighted. I believe they were travelling on MAS and SIA most of the time, but we could perhaps also check with JAL or ANA (Japanese airlines) whether they have this allowance too.

Ooilingfan, comments on freights - i believe that FedEx offer very competitive rates for their shipments - 10kg and 25kg to various destinations. I remembered that last time we used this, the rates were even cheaper than POS laju or the normal POS malaysia parcel service. PLUS they pick up from your house. Again, need to double check this. Not sure abotu DHL though...
 
>kshoo
MAS has the special offer for students going to Australia and other countries, but not Japan...
FedEx from Malaysia to Japan
10kgs package: about RM 232.00
20kgs package: about RM 380.00
arriving in three days for normal items.
 
Last edited:
Hi Kouki,

Yep, that's the rate. Perhaps for books (which we won't need them immediately) we can send by ship or normal parcels. Use these for only really, really emergency stuff.

Just a side note to everyone as well - the 20-23kg is the normal check-in luggage. On top of that, we are all allowed about 7kg on hand-carry luggage. Laptops, handbags are NOT considered to be part of the handcarry. This is the common practice that I've done while working, and across multiple airlines, so i expect this will continue to be practiced.

Of course, try not to tuck too much in the hand carry....
 
Wanna Share some tips from a friend of mine



small rice cooker is alwez helpful. pack some instant noodles just in case u dont know where to get food when u 1st reach there. u can even cook the noodles with the rice cooker

dont waste $$ on getting winter jacket in msia. u know the fashion is better in japan

bring moisturiser and lip bum. a lotion will help cos cold weather often makes ur skin dry and itchy, esp ur arms and legs.

bring a lot of stationery and popular scratch paper. bring one or two microwavable tupperware.

bring some chicken stock cube, ikan bilis, curry powder if u like

make sure ur docs, phone charger, money are all in the same pouch.

a pair of slippers are useful in ur dorm and bathroom.

buy some vitamin supplement and medicine/panadol.

bring ur internet cable just in case u need it.

those popular plastic file are very useful.

plastic cup is light enough to fit in ur luggage.

make sure u got enough cash for at least one-2 weeks coz u might need time to open a bank account.

the above items are all quite light.


I hope these will be useful tips for you.
 
That was a fun post leeming. I'm going to comment on it:
-there should be plenty of convenience stores around
-cooking noodles with a rice cooker... I will have to try that one day
-fashion = expensive
-it seems like malaysians are quite scared of cold weather
-I will be sure to bring some ranch dressing
-phone charger? our phones are useless there(right?)
-slippers are always useful. bring one anyways
-why vitamins?
-2weeks of cash is too little. our stipend wont be given to until after 1.5 month(I think)
 
I would like to comment..

How do u expect us to bring so many things there on flight?

I plan to get a phone there cuz our phone cannot be used there..

I know someone who have lived in Japan for 2 years and she said that its actually cheapeer to get winter clothing in malaysia.. im not sure about it though...
 
Menrui - can't blame us. Our average temperature whole year round is 33-35 Celsius around the main cities. Winter clothing tends to be only for those who are studying or working abroad. Good point on the phones, but a friend of my also brought along his Malayisan phone so that he can still receive SMS from friends back in KL. But of course, it's always expensive to roam....

I'm still waiting on details for my dorms from Jasso..anyone out there who is going in April, has received a reply yet?
 
Don't think we need to bring our phones, getting a phone will be first priority once we reach there.
Leeming pointed out some good examples - toiletries (lotion, facial wash and stuff), medicine/supplements (especially chinese traditional meds!), internet cable, slippers + some simple jumper/jacket for spring time.
Other than those we can get it there easily. Hopefully won't be too expensive.
Stationeries (files etc) and books I would recommend shipment. They're heavy, and not so urgent. If you guys find any reliable shipment company that charges RM150 and below for 20kg please PM me!! if not i'll go for posmalaysia. thanks~
 
The tips are given from a friend of mine who went to UK.
Some of it might not applicable to us.
Im also thinking that bringing handphone is useless, but somehow you can use it as your Mp3 and taking photos temporarily before we get a new one.
Menrui,
Why vitamins? haha... might helpful in preventing u from getting a cold.
U can also bring so multivitamin/ spirulina, to boost your immune system.
Just something superstitious.., my friend's suggestion bring a small bottle of water and mix it with the boiled water when u reach japan. it is just in case u 'sui tou bat fook'..don't finish the whole bottle until u keep on adding the water for a few days then u will be fine
(P/S : If you've tried this before , and it's not helpful , just ignore this haha)
kshoo,
I already received some detail from my uni international affair bureau
Might give you some clue, here it is
2. Housing
> You will stay in an accommodation for international students called the International House.
> The term is six months (from April to the end of September 2009).
> (Room size 13.3m2, Rent 5,900 yen/month, Common House Expenses 2,700 yen/month,
> Deposit 25,000 yen upon entrance)
> International House is located 20 minutes by foot or 5minutes by bicycle from the International Student Center.
International House information;
> (1) International House Office is closed after 17:30. You can not receive Room Key after this time.
> Please go there before 17:30.
> (2) There is a bed, but no mattress nor blanket/futon. If you would like to use our futon rental service, please contact me.
> The rent is 2,200 yen for a month. I think you had better rent a bedding set for the first month,while you get one for yourself.
> (2) There is a gas stove, but there are neither a kettle nor tableware, etc. For those arriving in the evening, please be sure to pick up something for dinner that evening and breakfast the following morning.
 
hehe, I know what vitamin does for you... What I meant was, 'Why vitamins? Is Japan insufficient or something?'

Wow, your international housing seems cheap. My dorm will cost 23,490yen/month! grrrr...
 
wow, your housing fees seems doubled mine. Which area are you in?
 
Hi Leeming, mine is estimated at about 32 k yen, also more expensive. Any mention about meals (ie provided, or we have to cook)?
 
Hi Kshoo,

Wow, yours even higher. Are you placed in Metropolitan area?
No meal provided, I think we have to cook. Gotta bring some instant noodles and cookies just in case, since we 're not familiar with the new environment.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…