MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009: Post Application

[menrui]

Hi guys, perhaps this is a better gauge.

hehe 5500yen/day X 30days = 165,000 yen, which is past our monthly stipend. hey, we're students remember?

anyways, what maaya said is right on I believe. ah~ trying to live on a small budget... student life, I miss it already.

 

[skfer]

.........................................

 

[MakKuro]

....He must be a guru in saving money~~

woah. 200 usd........worthy of hero worship.....

Back then he told me that there's a carp full small river near his dorm. I think that for the first month without stipend my friend helped the carp population to beckame considerably smaller! ^^

As far as I know, MEXT cancel to give us 25,000 yen upon arriving since 2008.

Yup! That's what I heard too. Also there is a big possibility that no one will meet us at the air port(!?)
@athz no worries, the mean green turtle machine will be in Nagoya. ^^

 

[athz]

Also there is a big possibility that no one will meet us at the air port(!?)

OMG... almost forgot about this part... i think it was mentioned somewhere by a post in the previous thread that JASSO had stopped the picking-up part since 2006. well... getting lost is one of my best ability

>ooilingfan
did you get all the package from the embassy? i already received the Pledge form etc except the map and the guide book... i wonder if everyone received the same package in other country

>MakKuro
yeah turtle invasion in Nagoya haha...

 

[jim84]

OMG... almost forgot about this part... i think it was mentioned somewhere by a post in the previous thread that JASSO had stopped the picking-up part since 2006. well... getting lost is one of my best ability
>ooilingfan
did you get all the package from the embassy? i already received the Pledge form etc except the map and the guide book... i wonder if everyone received the same package in other country
>MakKuro
yeah turtle invasion in Nagoya haha...

I think the letter and pledge form is standard from Tokyo. But other stuff are additional reference prepared by respective Embassies.
I don't think there will be a pick-up at the airport, since all 4000 scholars from the world are going to different Universities, different airports and arriving at different times. Just check your university website, they should have a very clear description on how to get to your university from the airport via various public transport. Which subway to take, which stop, which road leads to your dorm blah blah blah... I wonder how am i gonna carry a big suitcase on subway =p

 

[kouki]

Airport Allowance
I remember reading that only JASSO scholars' airport allowance are cancelled? Is there anyone's friend went to Japan with MEXT scholarship, or any MEXT scholars currently in Japan can answer that for us?

>MakKuro
How he helped to keep the carp population smaller? He ate them or sold them? Too bad that my place has no small river... My university is in Science City.

 

[kimberleylhj]

yeap, it's either we arrange on our own for someone to pick us up or we will have to travel our own. but it shouldn't be that difficult. however, we should practice more japanese now.

 

[kouki]

Most of the name of the stations and bus stands in the major cities are written in both Japanese and English. However, I think it would be better if we can brush up our Japanese, since we might need to ask questions.

 

[athz]

yeah, i think it's a good idea for us to memorize some kanji of train station and the name of the street of our university and dorms... luckily i'm not the only one leaving for Nagoya from my country, you bet learning some basic Japanese would really be a great help ^o^

 

[MakKuro]

...He ate them ...

Good guess! Since lake Biwa is near Kyoto , I'm taking my fishing kit + Fishing for dummies along! Ibaraki Prefecture is on the Pacific Ocean, so you could consider buying some fishing rod yourself.

yeap, it's either we arrange on our own for someone to pick us up or we will have to travel our own.

I don't think it would be such a problem! (I'll probably end up lost somewhere in Okinawa ! ^^)
If some of us are arriving in close time proximity at the air ports, couldn't we group and head for the dorms together?! Do you guys think it's possible?
The closest air port to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport, right?

 

[kimberleylhj]

yeap..kansai international airport!

 

[luckyme]

Hi guys,
I guess may be there was a mistake here. 5500 yen per day is not the living expense itself. 5500 yen is including your living expense and your salary. That money is pay for people on business trip. Of course, the company will pay accomodation fee for you but you have to pay for the food.
My college also received money count per day while he was in a business trip in Japan.

 

[kouki]

>MakKuro
Are you sure you can bring those things (fishing rods) over the custom?
Yeah, Ibaraki prefecture is just next to the Pacific Ocean and I hope I can catch huge tuna fish... Anyway, Tsukuba City is more inwards... so can't catch sea fishes there... Perhaps I will opt for discounted items in supermarkets and 100 yen shops. Maybe I should bring some cup noodles as well. Haha!

 

[MakKuro]

@kouki
I was just joking!
But if you insist we could try to catch that Huge Tuna. If we succeed and then sell it, we'll be quite rich!!! ^^

 

[jim84]

yeap..kansai international airport!

So does it mean all those going to Kyodai will be entering via Kansai International Airport??
We'll be on the same flight then! yay

Btw, regarding the $ issue, just got something from my University's Student Centre

2. Scholarship payment and Money to bring with on your arrival
It will take about one month or one and a half months for you to receive the first monthly scholarship.
Also, you are responsible for covering such expenses as transportation from your residence to the international airport in your country, fuel surcharge fees, airport fees, airport taxes, and special taxes on your travel. Therefore, we advise you to bring a
sufficient amount of money (at least U.S.$ 1,500 or 180,000 yen) to live during the first month in Japan.

I know, must be wondering, "what the heck" right?
I got a shock as well. Fuel Surcharge, airport fees, airport tax and special tax?? That's like at least RM 500-1000. Well, guess we just have to wait for the Embassy's advise on flight related matters.
180,000yen is like RM7200, which is a lot of money for Malaysians i guess. I don't feel comfortable holding that much cash. Hope we can find a channel to withdraw money from our bank accounts.

Members who can't find your names updated to the list of Universities on the 1st post - My apologies! I can't edit the post anymore, maybe there's an expiry time/date or limited no. of times i can edit one post.

If anybody knows how to do it please let me know. I've seen other forums being able to slot in updates in between the #1 and #2 posts

 

[c0ok1e]

oh ****.. the embassy people read this forum.. then they will read about all the rubbish i post in here..

Anyway, are all the malaysian scholars already in this forum or we only have a few malaysian scholars here?? It will be cool if all are here then easier for us to get to know each other

 

[kawabanga]

180,000yen is like RM7200, which is a lot of money for Malaysians i guess. I don't feel comfortable holding that much cash. Hope we can find a channel to withdraw money from our bank accounts.

Channel to withdraw money? Where can I find such an account in the first place?

 

[jim84]

oh ****.. the embassy people read this forum.. then they will read about all the rubbish i post in here..
Anyway, are all the malaysian scholars already in this forum or we only have a few malaysian scholars here?? It will be cool if all are here then easier for us to get to know each other

I think there are less than 15active members here. Perhaps some never come across this forum.

 

[kouki]

>ooilingfan
I think most of them did come here (the previous thread) they are not necessarily registering themselves or putting up posts, right?

Someone previously in the forum is not here... ayumi.tt, does any of you know what happened to her?

180,000yen!!! Where can I find such money? And fuel surcharge, air port tax, tranportation to our campus... I have read some guides of my university it seems I will have to use quite some money to get myself from the airport to my university.... 2 hours++ ride from Haneda Airport or about 2 hours from Narita Airport!!!

Say we arrive in Japan at night, are we suppose to plan for our stay in the major cities, and go to our university on the next day BY OURSELVES? Will we have to pay for the accomodation at that time?

ooilingfan, I would suggest that you update the names and the universities in another post... I think most of us won't mind you doing that... (Have you tried going to the advance settings?)

>c0ok1e
Do you think we can do a mailing list of them, asking them to join? (I don't know what will Ms Yin say later)

 

[jim84]

>kouki
yes, i thought of that too, but as a last resort. The advance setting doesn't help. Seems like we have no choice.
This is the site: [MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009 - List of recipients + Universities]
MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009 - List of recipients + Universities
So that site is only for list updating. I'll need to keep reposting with newer updates when i'm no longer able to "edit".

 

[c0ok1e]

>ooilingfan
I think most of them did come here (the previous thread) they are not necessarily registering themselves or putting up posts, right?
Someone previously in the forum is not here... ayumi.tt, does any of you know what happened to her?
180,000yen!!! Where can I find such money? And fuel surcharge, air port tax, tranportation to our campus... I have read some guides of my university it seems I will have to use quite some money to get myself from the airport to my university.... 2 hours++ ride from Haneda Airport or about 2 hours from Narita Airport!!!
Say we arrive in Japan at night, are we suppose to plan for our stay in the major cities, and go to our university on the next day BY OURSELVES? Will we have to pay for the accomodation at that time?
ooilingfan, I would suggest that you update the names and the universities in another post... I think most of us won't mind you doing that... (Have you tried going to the advance settings?)
>c0ok1e
Do you think we can do a mailing list of them, asking them to join? (I don't know what will Ms Yin say later)

Mailing list?? I dont even know who are they.. LoL.. Can ask Ms Yin to do it for us since she visit this forum...

 

[kshoo]

Hi Maaya,

Thanks for the information. Again, this is just a guide. Based on my colleague's feedback, 5,500 yen is just about enough to cover food and travelling there (decent ones outside), and they were in Tokyo. Perhaps it might differ again depending on regions. I have not been to Japan personally, so i'm just taking in any input that i can get.

Thanks again.

 

[oronen]

Just a quick update from my side of the world.

We still haven't received final confirmations from the embassy. I've been glued to my cell phone and checking email every 30 minutes for a week now, and the stress is starting to get to me. I got in touch with a fellow applicant who contacted the embassy this morning, and he was told they are dealing with the paperwork and they hope they can give us word today. It's past 8pm now, so that didn't happen -- I am very hopeful we will get the call tomorrow, and considering calling and nagging them myself.

As for living expenses - I kind of feared that would be the case. Luckily for me, I have some money saved up so I can handle bringing a largish initial amount of money with me, and also to withdraw some extra cash if I want to live a little better once every four or five month to complement the stipend
I seem to remember from my short trip to Japan a couple of years back that there's an international ATM at Kyoto Tower, right opposite Kyoto station, so withdrawing money using whatever credit card you have shouldn't be a problem. The exchange rate may suck, though - so it's better to bring as much cash as you think you'll need for the first month.

 

[maaya]

Just a quick update from my side of the world.

We still haven't received final confirmations from the embassy.

I hope you will get the confirmation soon.

I seem to remember from my short trip to Japan a couple of years back that there's an international ATM at Kyoto Tower, right opposite Kyoto station, so withdrawing money using whatever credit card you have shouldn't be a problem. The exchange rate may suck, though - so it's better to bring as much cash as you think you'll need for the first month.

You can also withdraw cash using your international credit card at the ATMs at the post office - every post office has them. You might want to check how much will your bank charge you for the transaction (for me it was 5 euro per transanction, so I always withdrew a lot at a time to save on the transaction cost).

 

[oronen]

I hope you will get the confirmation soon.

Thank you.

You can also withdraw cash using your international credit card at the ATMs at the post office - every post office has them. You might want to check how much will your bank charge you for the transaction (for me it was 5 euro per transanction, so I always withdrew a lot at a time to save on the transaction cost).

Actually, once I get a Japanese bank account, I will probably just get my parents, who will be in charge of my account back home, to do a direct bank transfer if/when I need some extra funds. That has got to be cheaper than withdrawing money at an ATM.