学生専用クレジットカード::Credit Cards for Students

>> Saturday, December 20, 2008

(English follows)
日本では、クレジットカードはデパート、料理店やオンラインストアなどで幅広く使われています。カード会社によって違いますが利用した金額に対して、ポイントが貯めれて、そのポイントをマイレージや精選品に変換できる魅力的なポイントシステムもあります。なので、日本にいると、クレジットカードを持てるととっても便利なことです。

でも、「留学生って日本で発行されているカードがもらえるの?」と疑問したことがあると思います。

私の経験では、できます!また、いくつかの知り合いも留学生ながらクレジットカードを持っていました。但し、クレジット会社は留学生に対して厳しく審査されると思います。なので、申請してみないと分からないのです。

もらえったら、使いすぎないように気を付きましょう!!

クレジットカード完全比較より、学生専用クレジットカードとその年会費を簡単にまとめました。各カードの詳細をクレジットカード完全比較または各カード会社より確認してくださいね。私が学生時代に持っていたカードはこのリストに載っています!









Credit card is widely being use in Japan and most of the shops,restaurants,online stores are accepting credit card payment and thus having a credit card is very convinient here.

But,as a foreign student in Japan, you may wonder if it is possible for you to have one.

In my experience, and some of my friends who were also foreign students, you can apply for credit card as long as you can prove that you have a source of income. If you have scholarship such as Monbukagusho, Rotary, etc, then you can submit the certification from the university that you are recieving a fixed amount of stipend to the credit card company (well, that is if the credit card company had asked you to do so). One of the Asian student I knew, who is just doing a part-time job as his source of income for his studies was given a credit card.

Basically you will need a (1)certification that you are student, (2)identification which is usually Alien Certificate Registration (from the cityhall of the city you are living,(3) bank account to debit your bill and (4)inkan.

So, you may try applying for one and enjoy the point system that could be converted to selected items or even mileage offered by each credit card company.But of course, avoid spending too much with your card!

I googled the cards that offer credit card for students with thier annual membership fee, I do NOT know if all of them grants approval to foreign students, but the list includes the card companies that granted me and some of the students I know.

Information and Images Source:クレジットカード完全比較


  • 三井住友VISAクラシックカードA::Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Classic Card A
    初年度は無料(Free on the 1st year of use)
    翌年度以降ご卒業予定年迄262円(262yen for the following years until year of the expected graduation)



  • 三井住友VISAクラシックカード::Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Classic Card
    在学中無料(Free while student)




  • 三井住友VISAアメティ ::Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Amitie
    在学中無料(Free while student)
    *女性専用(For ladies)"


  • シティステューデントカード::Citi Student Card
    初年度は無料(Free on the 1st year of use)
    *入会後3ヶ月以内に10,000円以上利用することが条件(above is valid only if card is use up to 10,000yen with in 3months after joining)
    翌年度以降1050円(1050yen for the following years)



  • NICOS CAMPUS CARD
    在学中無料(Free while student)
    *※卒業後は、NICOS一般カード(年会費1,312円)へ自動的に継続されます。 (After graduation, the card could be renew as NICOS card with annual fee of 1,312yen)




  • UFJアイムカード::UFJ AIM Card
    在学中無料(Free while student)


  • UFJ カードスヌーピー学生カード::UFJ Card Snoopy Student Card
    在学中無料(Free while student)



  • DCカードエスプリ ::DC Card Esprit
    在学中無料(Free while student)


  • DCカードエスプリニューズ::DC Card Esprit News
    初年度は無料(Free on the 1st year of use)
    翌年度以降ご卒業予定年迄262円(262yen for the following years until year of the expected graduation)
    *保険付き(with insurance)"




  • 学生専用ライフカード::Life Card for Students
    在学中無料(Free while student)


  • JALカード Navi::JAL Card Navi
    在学中無料(Free while student)

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Chicken Tinola::生姜味鶏肉スープ

>> Wednesday, December 17, 2008

(Japanese to follow later)
Tinola in Tagalog is a soup-based dish in the Philippines. Traditionally, this dish is cooked with chicken, wedges of green papaya, and chili pepper leaves, in broth flavored with ginger, onions and fish sauce. A common variant substitutes pork for chicken, chayote instead of papaya, or moringa leaves known as marungay or malunggay, instead of pepper leaves. It is best served with fresh chicken.

However, most of these vegetables are not available in supermarkets in Japan. Although you can buy papaya and chayote from Ueno Asian Market or from Filipino stores, it will cost you 300yen-600yen for only 1 papaya.



So, instead of using papaya/chayote, I am using turnip or "かぶ(kabu)" in Japanese. I am using the turnip as substitute for papaya and it's leaves as substitute for chili pepper as the leaves has bitter taste just like pepper/malungay leaves. On summer, I buy young pepper plant from home center and grow them in a planter and use the leaves for Tinola and Sauted green beans (Mongo).


Anyway, I am writing here my own version of Tinola recipe. Since I don't measure when I cook, I dont know the accurate measurement of each ingredient :(



Chicken Tinola

Ingredients (approximately):
1/2 kilo chicken (breast or thighs or wings).
3 pcs turnips ( cut 1 turnip into 4pcs, cut the leaves of 1pc turnips 3-4cm long - only with stem part like in the Tinola picture above)
4 cups of chicken broth (4cups of water + 3tbs of "gara su-pu")
1/4 of the ginger pack sold in supermarket(roughly chopped)
2 head garlic (minced) <- reduce if you dont like garlic but garlic sold in Japan has mild taste, so Im using 2pcs and besides we like garlic.
1/2 onion (diced)<- the white or green onion available in Japanese supermarket
1 1/2 tablespoons oil (abura)
salt and pepper to taste

(Below)Gara Su-pu and zero Calorie Oil



Procedure:
1.In a casserole, heat oil and saute' garlic, onion and ginger
2.Add the chicken, let the color of the chicken changed a bit then add broth.
3.Bring to boil and lower fire, let simmer until chicken is cooked.
4.Pour in salt and pepper to taste.
5.Add in turnips and turnips leaves (the hard stem part), allow to cook.
6.Add the remaining turnip greens, then turn off the heat and covered the pan.
Serve hot .

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Cheap way to travel within Japan::国内旅行を安くできる青春18きっぷについて

>> Monday, December 15, 2008

(English follows)
 そろそろ冬休みが入りますね。今年の冬休みどのように過ごしますか?
 
 学生時代に、冬休みや夏休みが入るとよく国内旅に出ました。京都、大阪、奈良、広島、徳山、阿南まで遊びに行きました。もちろん、学生だったので、最も安い方法で旅をしました。泊まるのが友人のところや寮で移動は「青春18きっぷ」を利用して、普通か快速電車でした。
 
「青春18きっぷ」とは、JR線の全国普通列車・快速列車の普通車自由席および宮島航路が一日乗り放題となる、 期間限定の特別企画乗車券(トクトクきっぷ)である。「青春18」と言っても使用年齢に制限はありません(小人大人の区別もない)。しかも、このきっぷの使用期間は学生の休みの期間を中心に本当にお得なきっぷです。価格11500円でお1人の5日間連続、または利用期間内いつでも使えます。もちろん、同じ行く先または方向であれば、5 人分としても使用可能です。(写真はWikipediaより)

 このきっぷは時間かかるが、一日で途中で電車に降りてぼらぼらしてからまた乗れるのでとてもお得です。

 今年の発売期間及び利用期間は以下の通りになります。

発売期間
平成20年12月1日~平成21年1月10日

利用期間
平成20年12月10日~平成21年1月20日

発売箇所
JRの主な駅、旅行センター及び主な旅行会社

使い方など詳細な情報に関しては以下のサイトから確認してくださいね。
青春18きっぷの基礎知識
「青春18きっぷ」超基本ルール10 - [鉄道旅行]All About




 Hurray! Winter vacation is coming!

Well, I guess students out there are now excited planning on how they would spend this years's winter vacation.

When I was in college (Toyama and Nagaoka), I travelled a lot and in fact I've been to Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Tokuyama(Yamaguchi prefecture), Anan (Tokushima Pref) and so on during summer, spring and winter vacations. Of course as I was just a student and therefore poor enough for luxury travel,I was just taking local or rapid trains using "Seishun 18(Juhachi) Kippu".

"Seishun 18(Juhachi) Kippu"is a JR Seasonal Discount Ticket for unreserved seats at Local and Rapid Trains including JR ferryboat between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima Island. Although it's name is "Seishun 18 kippu", there is no age limit and has the same price for adult and children. This seasonal discout ticket is especially available during spring,summer,and winter vacations.At the price of 11,500yen, it is good for 5 straight days or 5 days with any interval within the validity period or may be shared by 5 persons if a group travels on the same route.

It may be taking time to reach my final destination, but it was fun especially when with friends or even when I was alone as I kept reading books or enjoy the scenery behind the window. And while waiting for my next train during "norikae", I used to get off and have side trips.

If you are thinking of using this ticket, I recommend that you plan your trip, i.e. take note of the arrival and departure time/station name, because if you miss the train, you may have to wait for more than 1 hr.

Lets say from Yokohama, you want to go to Niigata, let's confirm the train schedule at yahoo.co.jp.
Earliest departure:
04:22 - 05:08 Yokohama Stn -> Ueno Stn
05:13 - 06:55 Ueno Stn -> Takasaki Stn
07:10 - 08:13 Takasaki Stn -> Minakami Stn
08:19 - 10:14 Minakami Stn -> Nagaoka Stn
10:38 - 11:53 Nagaoka Stn -> Niigata Stn
If you can read kanji, I would suggest you buy a jikokuhyou or JR time table - this is manual scheduling but really fun if you know how to use it.


So it would take 7hours by local train compared to 3hours by Shinkansen, but speaking of the money you would spend on one way trip, 2,300yen to 10,700yen!

Oh and by the way, you can refund the remaining unused tickets with a handling charge of 210yen.

This year's winter sale and validity of ticket is as follows:
Date of Sale: 2008/12/1~2009/01/10
Validity: 2008/12/10~2009/01/20
Available at all major JR Stations and travel agencies

For more information regarding the Seishun juhachi kippu - please check the Japan National Tourist Organization

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Leche Flan:::フィリピン風プリン

>> Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I used to make Leche Flan to my husband decorated with fresh young mint leaves when we were still friends. And that’s one of reason he fell in love with me. Hehehhe.. I proved that "The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach".

So, let me share my "Leche Flan" recipe. Actually, my friend, Tet shared this to me. All the ingredients are available in Japan. Its a bit expensive (I think 500yen per small platter ) if you buy the ready made one from a filipino store in Tokyo so I really recommend you to try this!


Leche Flan decorated with gold kiwi and green grapes

作り方(Filipino Leche Flan Recipe)

材料(Ingredients):
1 397g 森永コンデンスミルク Morinaga condensed milk
1 1/2 カップ 牛乳 cups Fresh milk ( I am using the low fat fresh milk )
10 卵黄 egg yolks 
1 小さじイバニラエッセンス tsp vanilla extract

キャラメルのため(For the caramel):
1 カップ砂糖 cup sugar
3/4 カップ水 cup water



作り方(Cooking Instructions):
1. In a saucepan, mix the sugar & water. Bring to a boil for a few minutes until the sugar caramelize.
2. Pour the caramel into aluminum moulds. Spread the caramel on the bottom of the moulds.
3. Mix well the condensed milk, fresh milk, egg yolks and vanilla.
4. Pour the mixture on top of the caramel on the aluminum moulds. Fill the moulds to about 2/3 of its height, then cover each moulds with aluminum foil.
5. Steam for about 20-25 minutes. If you have a steam oven , you can set it to a pre-set menu "6pcs chawan Mushi" (in NE-SS30 model, menu #13). In my experience, the later is better and convinient!
6. Let cool, refrigerate then serve. Decorate with fresh mint leaves or fresh fruits on top upon serving.

Originally Posted on my Friendster Blog

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Speaking of December:::12月と言えば

>> Monday, December 8, 2008

(English to follow later)
ついに12月になったね。。東京は寒くなってきたが、皆さん風邪などひいてないでしょうか?

12月といえば、何を思いつきますか?クリスマス、大晦日、ボーナス、紅白歌合戦、日本レコード大賞…といろいろあるのです。

私は学生時代に12月と言えば、「クリスマス、友達とのなべパティー、お正月ホームスーティー、初雪、コタツの下で足を温めながらみかんを食べたり、友人と喋ったり、紅白歌合戦を見たりする」のが思いつきます。今思い出すととても懐かしい。

6年後の今は、12月と言えば、「クリスマスイルミネーション、ボーナス、忘年会、家族と紅白歌合戦を見る」と変わった。

今年の我が家はチビッ子たちを東京都内のクリスマスイルミネーションに行ってみたいと思いますので行ってみたいところをピックアップしました。




Baccarat ETERNAL LIGHTS -歓びのかたち-』 (恵比寿ガーデンプレイス・センター広場ほか 2008.11.01(土)~2009.01.12(月・祝):: EBISU GARDEN PLACE 11/01 to 01/12 )





「Artelligent Christmas 2008」天空のクリスマス『スカイ・イルミネーション 2008』 (六本木ヒルズ(六本木けやき坂通り、66プラザ、毛利庭園) 2008.11月初旬~12.25(木):: ROPPONGI HILLS, 11/25 to 12/25 )





Caretta OCEAN Xmas 2008 『BLUE OCEAN』 (カレッタ汐留 カレッタプラザ 2008.11.28(金)~12.25(木):: CARETTA PLAZA Shiodome, 11/28 to 12/25 )





光都東京・LIGHTOPIA 2008(皇居外苑、丸の内仲通り、大手町、有楽町、東京国際フォーラム、2008.12.19(金)~12.28(日)※アンビエント・キャンドルパークは12.24(水)まで :: IMPERIAL PALACE,YURAKUCHO,INT'L FORUM AREA 12/19 to 12/28, Candle Park ends on 12/24)





東京タワー開業50周年記念 クリスマスイルミネーション2008(東京タワー正面入口 2008.11.03(月・祝)~12.25(木) ※ダイヤモンドヴェールは2008年12月1日~6日・15日~25日の20:00~22:00 :: TOKYO TOWER 50TH ANNIVERSARY 11/03 to 12.25, Diamond Veil light up on 12/1-6, 12/15-25 from 8-10PM)





ミキモト ジャンボクリスマスツリー(ミキモト本店前 ガーデンプラザ銀座、 11/8(土)~12/25(木) :: MIKIMOTO CHRISTMAS TREE GINZA 31st light up 11/08 to 12/25 )



その他の東京都内クリスマスイルミネーションについてはクリスマスイルミネーション2008から確認してね。

English :
Tokyo Christmas Light Up 2008

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Part-time jobs:::アルバイト

One of the things that impressed me when I just came here is that there are many opportunities for college (or university) students to do part-time job. Most of my japanese classmates are doing part-time jobs such as at the gasoline station, wedding service staff at the hotels or wedding venues, teaching private lessons/tutorials and others.

When I was student too, I used to teach English - not really teaching but you just have to talk to them in english and make them remember useful expressions. I also did packaging of "mochi" or rice cake at mochi factory in Nagaoka City(Niigata) during winter vacation, Tagalog translation at the Police Stn/Jail, and the most memorable one was counting cars in the street in the middle of cold winter season. I look back to these part-time job memories, no matter how hard they were with grateful and pride because I owe my first ever pleasure trip to New Zealand and Australia with the money I saved from doing so.

So, how can a foreign student do part-time job and where to find information?

First, you need to get a "PERMISSION TO ENGAGE IN AN ACTIVITY OTHER THAN THOSE PERMITTED BY THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE PREVIOUSLY GRANTED" from the immigration (or ask the foreign student section of your university).

Take note that
1. There is a duration limit for part-time job as follows:
Max duration of Part-time Job
a.College Students (except for visiting students or research students with visiting student status)
->28 hours or shorter a week
->8 hours or shorter a day during long vacation of the educational institute
b.Visiting Students or Research Students with Visiting Student Status
->14 hours or shorter a week
->8 hours or shorter a day during long vacation of the educational institute
c.Pre-college Students
->4 hours or shorter a day

2. You may not engage in all kind of part-time job.

Please check the Immigrattion Office for more detailed information and downloadable application form.

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Japanese Nursery Rhymes:::日本の童謡

>> Friday, December 5, 2008

(English follows)

息子の一歳お祝いで日本人の友達から有名な童謡が16曲入っていて、ボタンを押すと音楽が流れてくる絵本を頂いた。「エディタさんの息子は日本の保育園に通い始めたから、日本の童謡を習うのはどう?」と言われた。

「どうよううたのえほん―お手本のうた付き! 」という絵本で、歌とカラオケのボタンが付いていて、電子音の音楽が、本についた小さなスピーカから流れてきます。また、全歌の歌詞もひらがなで書いてあるのでママも簡単に覚えられる。

今、その絵本のおかげで、息子が保育園で習っている童謡と一緒に歌えるし、親子会みたいな集まりでみんなで歌っても私が参加できる。息子はその絵本が大好きで、寝かす時でも「ママ、ゆりかご歌って~」「今度はぞうさん歌ってね~」とリクエストされる。また、登園の時や駅までの散歩の時も「さんぽ(となりのトトロの歌)」を一緒に歌って息子ととても楽しい時間が過ごせる。

この絵本によって、息子は言葉の発育だけでなく、日本語も覚えるし、何よりも日本の文化を自然に学べると思っている。

(Below) "Doyou Uta no Ehon", "Doyou Uta no Ehon-Part 2", "Eigo Doyou Uta no Ehon (English Nursery Ryhmes)"


 On my son's 1st year birthday party, my Japanese friend gave him a picture book with 16 famous Japanese nursery ryhmes. She told me that I may want to learn Japanese nursery rhymes especially that my son has started going to the nearby nursery.

 The picture book is "Doyou Uta no Ehon" literally translated as "Nursery Song Picture Book". It is a picture book with lyrics written in hiragana and on the last page - a 16 buttons corresponding to the songs. There is a small speaker and music is played when you pressed the button.

Now, I am very grateful for her because I can sing along with my son whenever he sings songs he learned from nursery. Also, my son likes the songs (especially Yurikago and Zou san) very much that he would request me to sing these songs
when I make him sleep.

And not only that this book helps my son's language development, it also helps him remember Japanese and most of all, he is also learning the Japanese culture in a very natural way。

 Take note that in the book "Eigo Doyou Uta no Ehon (English Nursery Ryhmes)",there are english versions of the songs in the book "Doyou Uta no Ehon" such as the songs 「おおきなくりのきのしたで(Under The Spreading Chestnut Tree) and むすんでひらいて (Closing Hands, Opening Hands ). I really recommend these books, your kids would surely love them!

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Hib Vaccine would be available in Japan starting Dec 19, 2008:::Hibワクチンが12月19日販売開始

>> Thursday, December 4, 2008

先週、娘の6ヶ月検診に行った時、先生にHibワクチンが12月19日から販売開始と言われた。

インターネットで調べると「インフルエンザ菌b型(Hib)はインフルエンザウイルスとは違い、鼻の奥などから血液中に入り、髄膜炎などを起こす細菌で、日本では年間約600件(推定)の感染症が発生。細菌性髄膜炎には5%の死亡例があり、20%の割合で後遺症が残るとされる。早期発見が難しく、ワクチン投与が一番の予防法」だそうです。

接種対象は2か月以上5歳未満。生後2か月以上7か月未満は4~8週間隔で3回接種し、1年後に1回接種する。7か月以上12か月未満は同様に2回接種し、1年後に1回。1歳以上は1回のみ。

料金は任意接種のため接種1回あたり9千円だそうです。ちょっと高いのですが、わが家では子供の健康が大事なので申し込もうと思っています。

ママ達もおかかり病院でHibワクチンについてご確認下さい。

Last week, when I went to the clinic for my daughter's 6 months check-up, my pediatrician told me that Hib Vaccine would be available starting 19th of December.

According to articles in the internet (Well, I search for it since the pediatrician explained it in Japanese and most of the words she used was medical terms that I dont understand), Hib Vaccine or Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib vaccine)is different from the ordinary Influenzae as when the germs spread into the bloodstream trough the throat, it could lead to bacterial meningitis.Every year in Japan, about 600 (estimated) children are affected by the disease, of whom some 5% die and 20% suffer from serious sequels.As early detection is very difficult, vaccine is the best prevention method.

Children above 2months and below 5years old could avail the said vaccine. There would be 3 times of vaccinations with 4-8 weeks of interval for above two months to below 7months old infants plus 1 time vaccination after a year. While, there would be 2 times of vaccinations for above 7 months old to below 12 months infants plus 1 time vaccination after a year. On the other hand, children above 1 year old would have 1 time vaccination only.

As this is an optional vaccination, the fee would cost 9,000yen (rate at the hospital I went to) per vaccine and would be shouldered by the parents.

Well, this is very expensive but I am thinking of doing so because health is priority in our family.

For more information, ask the clinic/hospital nearby your place.

FYI:
-According to WHO, this virus mainly affects children under age of 5, chiefly through meningitis ang pheunomia.
-Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings, which can lead to lasting brain damage and deafness. Hib disease can also cause: pneumonia severe swelling in the throat, making it hard to breathe infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart death

Source: http://www.the-miyanichi.co.jp/contents/index.php?itemid=13030&catid=74

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Today is a good day! :::今日はいい天気ですね!

>> Wednesday, December 3, 2008

今日の東京の天気はいいですね。

今日は「「今日はいい天気ですね!」という表現についての経験を書きたいと思います。

日本に来たばかりのころ、バス停でバスを待っている間に、隣の知らないおばさんに「今日は天気がいいですね」と言われたことがあります。確かにいい天気だけど、なぜ言われたのかが分からず、とりあえず、「そうですね。暖かいですね」と不思議に思いながら返した。

このような言葉の交わしは、一度きりで終わらなかった。バスを待っている時だけじゃなく、いろいろな場面にもあった。 共通点を持たない人同士の会話は、「今日は、いい天気ですね」で始まることに気づいた。

後で、日本語の先生に確認したところ、「今日は、いい天気ですね」は、一種の挨拶だそうです。

あれから、私もこの挨拶を何も考えずに使っています~~。

** Originally published in my yahoo blog

** English to follow soon

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Wecome to La Ediths's blog!:::ようこそ!

>> Monday, December 1, 2008

フィリピンから参りました「 La Editha 」と申します。

日本に来てから、15年間も過ぎました。留学生として来ましたが現在二人の子供を子育てしながらIT関連の仕事をしています。

今まで、日本の暮らしの中で、感じたこと、見たこと、経験したことについて書きたいと思います。日本語は完璧ではありませんが、一応英語も日本語両方の言葉で挑戦したいと思います。

どうか、このBLOGを日本で生活している他の外国人やこれから来日する留学生の方々に役に立てばと思います。もちろん、外国人だけではなく、「外国に住むのに異文化を乗り越えるのにどうすればいいのか」について興味を持て入る日本人もぜひ読んでもらいたいのです!

Welcome to La Editha's. I am from the Philippines.I have been living in Japan for more than 15 years. I came to Japan as student, but now a career mommy :D.

I hope this blog would be of help or a sort of reference to other foreigners working/studying in Japan (especially those who just came and struggling to survive). Of course, I hope that Japanese would read this blog too to help them understand how to overcome cultural differences when you live abroad.

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