Okay, I have been busy with my life recently. I went home to Philippines and went back to Japan to take the JLPT N2 level examination last December 1. I was studying Japanese everyday and reading all the long Japanese passages for the reading comprehension section and memorizing all the grammar uses of certain Japanese expressions, and of course Kanjis. I got a bit crazy since I crammed everything and studied for the exam only for less than 2 months. without any teacher explaining to me. Anyway thats done. I gotta write another post about JLPT examination itself.
So now that I got back from Japan, I am starting to prepare myself to go to Switzerland, meet my future professor and colleagues and also study at ETH Zurich! Yey! So recently I saw the updated 2013 Shanghai university rankings. Osaka University was somewhere ranked at 85 in the whole world. ETH Z ürich, on the other hand, was ranked at 20. That's 20 for pete's sake! And it's pretty high!
Okay, I admit that I am overwhelmed and I am really really excited to go to Zürich. In fact, I have already bought my plane ticket about a month ago. When I went to Japan last week I have already done some winter clothes shopping, since I am expecting Zürich to be very cold when I arrive there on the 5th of January. Last time I checked, winter temperatures can reach up to about -20 degrees Celsius. That's REALLY cold. and I'm coming from 28 degrees celsius btw.
Anyway, so I have already prepared a list of things to do this December. Of course I have to study for Chemistry. I mean, I have to show off somehow. LOL. I checked the profiles of my future colleagues there and I must admit it was a bit intimidating. Not only were they from top ranking universities around the world, they also looked older than me. Okay, I guess I really need to pull myself together.
So in this past week I was reading about chemistry, the new lab's research, etc. I have to know about their topic and I have to at least have some ideas on making a new molecule. I want to impress my future boss and colleagues altogether. I am also studying how to make a good first impression at work, especially I am meeting them on January 6, right after I arrive there. I want to look my best by dressing properly and I need to work on eye contact and smile, firm handshake. I have to appear very professional, even though I am probably younger than most, if not the youngest of my colleagues. I have to arrive there early and prepared. Even though I think I will be on jet lag during that time, I need to hide it. I have to re-read that book Convince them in 90 seconds or less. This book really helped me a lot.
Next in line would be Research. Research. Research. I gotta think of a good idea. Something which has never been done before. To do that I have to know about their research. I have to rethink everything and I have to know what to expect. I can't go there unprepared. So I have been reading about their research. and i have already guessed which kind of research will be assigned to me. I have been doing this for two days now, but its not easy thinking about a new topic. something somebody has never done before. I need to learn more about basic chemistry, this will help me somehow.
Anyway, i was supposed to write about the things i thought of today, but anyway, i am feeling tired of blogging now, maybe tomorrow or day after the next i will write about it!
Ciao!
