Chiba University: My Lab

[My Lab] [Classes] [Halls & My Room] [Other Places at the Uni] [Research]

University life here begins with my laboratory. I have a supervisor who is actually also the head of international student centre and specialises in biochemistry. Yes, that has absolutely nothing to do with what I am researching here but for some reason they put me in the science faculty (well I'm doing science history and they have few exchange students in science and too many in arts) but it makes very little difference to the way I study.

Prof. Nakano, my supervisor, is a wonderful guy who even picked me up from the airport (at 6:30am with a half-hour wait while customs went through everything I brought with a fine tooth comb), helped me set up all the procedural bureaucratic stuff which defines this country and has even given me an old TV of his as well! There is one science historian at Chiba who officially retired in April but still comes to the university for some classes. His speciality is in physics but is also a good source of information.

My place in the science faculty gives me another benefit in that I have a place in Professor Nakano's laboratory with a desk and all, alongside the postgraduate and 4th year students. Those of you who have computers which read Japanese can find out about it here and there's even mention of yours truly - the exchange student from Australia). That is the place where I have made the most Japanese friends so far and I have assumed the position of English translator/ editor and sometime tutor as well. I thought I had done away with DNA and all when I finished chem. but now I am becoming quite well acquainted with the enzymes associated with pig and cow ova (yes, truly riveting stuff) but at least I don't have to do the pracs. Many of the students graduated in April but we have had quite a few replacements including Imai-san from Brazil so I am now not the only exchange student in the lab.

However, because I don't take part in the regular activities, my position in the lab is rather vague and undefined. Still, the building is only about three years old and has airconditioning, and as of this semester my own internet access point and even a keycard lock for after hours which is as close as Chiba Uni gets to high-tech. In Chiba Uni which rivals Monash for architectural failure, it is quite a nice place to be.

Now my time at Chiba is over, I have lost my keycard and there is a new student, Sandra, from Canada, sitting at my desk. However, i still borrow it from her from time to time when I am in the area.

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[My Lab] [Classes] [Halls & My Room] [Other Places at the Uni] [Research]