It has been over 2 weeks I am staying on the other side of the world.  The contrast differences between east and west cultures and the ways of life do make you ponder often times.  Not because they are confusing, but they are just too interesting.  Maybe, when I was little I was not too care or keen on what people doing or how people support their life courageously in a very dynamic and daring economic condition in Asia. 



Two weeks or so ago, I was still waking up late and sleeping late in a dingy room in California (but it is comfortable though). Weather was scorching hot even inside the room.  During the hot night, my brother and I just open the window and put a little standing fan on its corner to suck in cold air from outside.  In just 24 hours or so in July 14th, I was sleeping like a king in a well cleaned room with its minimalist style but comfortable, full air conditioned, with its new room smell. 

The weather in Indonesia, surprisingly, not as bad as US weather during summer.  No rain during summer season, a lot of wind, especially in the morning.  I can still see blue sky occassionally although Surabaya's road is full of motor cycles and cars.  The traffic, to say the least, is bad. Although not as bad as Jakarta's traffic.  It should take me a good one month to get used to Surabaya's road if I plan to drive well.  As a matter of principle, in Indonesia, everyone surely fail their DMV test since the gap between each motor cycle and car is not more than 1 meter during traffic.  In terms of crossing the road, you will not get your chance if you don't plan to drive dangerously as if you want to crash your car to other people.  You basically have to trust your animal instict and drive crazy.  




Recently I just move out from my old residence to a new one.  Therefore, my arrival in Indonesia is even spectacular.  I told my parents that I am just like living "a luxury dream" after a long time living in a one bedroom apartment in the United States with no proper furnitures and super clean environment (it has better entertainment and game system though, haha).  I am not saying that I did not maintain proper hygiene of my apartment in the United States, but the level is just so different with some help of private servants in Indonesia. 

"How come you say like that, there are much bigger houses nearby our areas?"... my parents said so.  This is very true and this also makes me thinking after seeing those superfabulous houses around the city.  How do they earn that much money to buy such luxurious and spacious house?  what does it look like from inside? how does it feel to stay in a too big of a house?  and how could they even put god of war-esque Rome pillars, Venus statues, and patrol guards in front their house? I never find all of the answers so far, but so far it has been fun and interesting just wondering some stuffs that I have never thought with much enthusiasm before.

Having never been back to Indonesia for 2 years, I just feel so nostalgic. 

When I went to the mall several times, I often see a big group of young students, laughing, joking around, girls with boys, seniors with juniors.  Aaah, there is no pressure for them yet aside from school works.  Sometimes I wish I have more fun during my senior year with my friends.  Anyway, I can't go back in time and so far I feel thankful for all the companions which I still treasure until now.

I still meet them and hang out with them until now and then.  As far as I remember a week ago, although all of the topics discussed were more mature, it was still fun and nostalgic.

Oh.... to end this, I took a cute picture.



Me: Help me! help me!
Bro: Don't worry my brother, I will show you the way !

To be continued...

One more week to the "almost" freedom from school. I still have one more class to go.

I always like to try new things and analyze them quite deeply.

For this past two semester, I have been trying to watch a lot of Japanese doramas. The verdict is: I enjoy watching them!... I don't really know the reason why a lot of people choose to watch more Korean or Taiwanese drama. Japanese drama is more realistic, not too girly or touchie feelie, although it can be cheesy sometimes. Each episode only runs for 40 minutes for 11 or 12 eps (1 hour special for 1st eps and last eps), which is good to be watched during lunch time or small break during studies. Korean or Taiwanese drama can be really long (1 hour each episodes - for 20+ eps or even more) filled with unnecessary filler.

The content:
Japanese drama usually describes a life of certain occupation (you can learn about pilot from "Good Luck";Exam taking strategy from "Dragon Zakura";"Interior Design" from Kekkon Dekinai Otoko"; or "Medical Team" from Iryu. Probably those are some of the good ones, the rest of them either so-so or not that good such as "Himitsu no Hananozo" about life of manga creator and its work life.

Okay, now the fun part: *let's try playing a game*
In Korean drama, the story is usually either sad or tragic (there have been a lot improvements into comedy drama). But most of the time, the sad ones involve something like this: (the more the better)
- A guy already has a girlfriend
- the female main character likes this guy, and this guy somehow likes this main character
- they hate each other and the guy acts tough and screams to the girl all the time "YA ! YA !!" (or something like that)
- but there is another guy (cool looking one) like this female main character
- and it turns out this another guy is the girl's brother from same dad with different mom
- the guy then has some kind of sickness
- the girlfriend of the guy that the female protagonist like becomes jealous
- she makes a plot with the other guy
- the guy help the main protagonist and become close
and so on. Worse than that, what's the point keep twisting the story if at the end  all the character DIES or goes BLIND, or CANCER. I mean that's life, but drama is suppose to be entertaining, not this depressing.

Oh well, it is getting quite long. I will pause it here.

The unique things about Merger and Acquisition that it involves a lot of buyer and seller behavior. There is a unique blend between finance, accounting, tax, negotiation, law/ legal perspective, as well as human behavior. It is tough, but interesting so far. Although I don't really see myself doing that soon in the future.

Maybe a video gaming industry acquisition will be interesting, although I rarely see such thing happens. Is there any ? let me know.