2nd Autumn

November 2015 is my second autumn, many stories have been written, regarding my research, family and social life, and food.

Research

I belong to Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Applied Bioscience Division, Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University. There are several research subject related to reproductive biology in our laboratory such as establishment of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS cells) from somatic cells, study about formation of germ cells in mammals, study on generation and differentiation of fertilized egg, and other related basic reproductive science.  Here, my research topic is “Study on pluripotent stem cells established from bovine male germ cells”.

Study about Pluripotent Stem Cells from Primordial Germ Cell (PGC) is important to producing transgenic animal, cattle propagation, conservation of endangered species, and regenerative medicine.

There are lack of study about pluripotent characteristic of PGC in domestic species, so, this is remain a challenge to study about this unique stem cells and their mechanism of self-renewal in domestic species. My research purposes are to identify pluripotent stem cell from male bovine germ cells and its self-renewal mechanism.

Family and social life

I came to Kyoto, Japan on 29th September, 2014. My family ( my wife and my sons) came to Kyoto during spring 2015, several months after me. Like others, I was worried about starting a new life in a different country that I have never been before. As a newly arrived foreign student in Japan, it was very difficult to adjust in an unfamiliar environment and using a new language.

Indonesia and Japan are very different countries in many ways, not only in academic, scientific, and technology matters but in cultures and manners as well. Japan experiences extreme cold weather in the winter season that is never seen in Southeast Asia countries including Indonesia. The four seasons in Japan are marked by endless beauty and harmony.  

Within a short time, many Japanese people from outside and within my lab providing a friendly environment, these made my life much easier in Kyoto. I got much needed support from my professor, my lab mates and International friends for adjusting to my new surroundings.  Step by step, I started my life here to find an enjoyable stay and study.

There are many foreign students in Kyoto University who came from different parts of the globe.  Interacting with these multi-cultural students, as well as with the local people of Kyoto are kind of new experience that not only develop my knowledge but my insight about the world. One of the similarities I notice is that no matter where we are from, people are nice to foreigners. I can say same thing in Japan. The people help each other without thinking of nationality.

In  my opinion Kyoto is the miniature of Japanese culture, very nice city. We can see Kyoto with thousands of buddhist temple and shinto shrine scattered across the city, beautiful autumn, and incredible cherry blossom during spring. 

Food

Food culture is wonderful in Japan. Japanese cuisine made from meats, vegetables and fish. It is provide healthy diets to the people want to loss their weight. I was take part in several parties at the University and local restaurants and enjoyed delicious Japanese food as well as lively interactions with many students. As Muslims, I avoid some food such as alcohol, pork and meat. We really appreciated the respect and understanding shown by our Japanese friends towards our diet restriction. During parties with lab members and professors, I am provided with food I can eat. In many ways, the party becomes vegetarian, or a fish and seafood party since my friends know I cannot eat meat and pork. 

Last but not least my interactions with other foreign students and Japanese friends have enriched my appreciation of diversity of humanity and nature. I learned many things, it was not only academic, scientific, and technology matters but Japanese cultures, manners, and Japan natures.