Yush

Blog: House Full!

2006-06-29T21:14:00.000+09:00

Yush blog has hit the roof following which I have launched the sequel Yush Part II accessible on the right panel of this page or URL http://yush29.blogspot.com Its a continuation of the usual on the life and times - so stick around. It also happens to be my birthday! 29 June. The camp hosted a small surprise party and I tried to masquerade unawares.. but I suspect I got busted coz I unlush the camera I had tucked in as the party set in.. Kimie chan a chief organiser of the party (and a poor liar) lured me with a calculated story on a serious meeting I am supposed to attend... but I read through her sweet lie ha haa.. Was good fun and I genuinely feel like a zaks. You can view the photos on the sequel blog. Thanks to all of you for the e-mails and particularly the phone call. Its time to move on to a new page -- ukurasa mpya.

Stiglitz and Yush

2006-06-05T17:11:00.000+09:00

Landed a quiet rare chance with the strategic support of my ''maoist'' compatriot from Nepal to interview the rock star of Economics - Joseph Stiglitz . Of course, begun with an enquiry into his eight months research escapade to Kenya in 1969! (damn! the only historical significant event I could recall in Kenya in 1969 was the population census :-) shame! Lakini, was there anything else? Anyway guys this dude is not just a chop but also a very entertaining and pleasant man.
2001 Alfred Nobel Laureate in Economics

WB Development Conference Opening

2006-06-01T23:55:00.000+09:00

Later that nite.. Yush, Hon. Norbert Mao (Gulu District, Uganda), A dude from University of Manchester, Dr. John Okidi (Uganda)
From Left Kisangi (University of Hiroshima), His Excellency Dennis Awori (Kenya Ambassador to Japan), Yush, Ed Karanja (GRIPS Tokyo). Finally bonded with our cool n calm Ambassador. A really easy goin guy.. perhaps it runs in the family from Moody.
Lassaad Lachaal (Egypt/ AfDB), Beatrice Gakuba (Rwanda Flora, Rwanda), Me
Mao is a Ugandan Jatelo - the President of Gulu district Uganda. He really jazzed the conference with comic acts.
With the usual crowd on a break from one of the sessions... Donald Kaberuka (President African Development Bank). Didn't get the chance to vybe him but he sounded like a brilliant easy going dude. Well versed in Mama land affairs and I understand why Kagame picked him for the job.
From left to right: Japanese Minister for Finance Sadakazu Tanigaki, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President World Bank Mr Francois Bourguignon.. and Paul Wolfowitz at the opening of the conference. Thats right, got a close up with Paul Wolfowitz (WB Group President just in case) and two things struck me. 1st: The dude looks like George Bush's twin sibling! He's got that cowboy bravado too. 2nd: I was impressed by his attention to detail in his tribute to a Rwandan woman Beatrice Gakuba (see above) a horticulture businesswoman. I am battling with what to make of him... He unlush some Gringo jokes at the cocktail. Ok..I was tickled big deal. Will keep you posted as I figure out what to make of him.

World Bank Reception

2006-06-01T23:21:00.000+09:00

Later that nite.
On the rear view the steel structure is the famous Tokyo Tower.Easy guys! Yush blog has been docile for a while. Its been a hectic couple a-weeks. Quick updates? Life is good and Japan is slowly creeping up on me. I relentlessly bow and blurt out ''sumimasen'' (which implies sorry/ excuse me) at slightest chance. I think you can tell its time to go back home once you begin to apologise over everything under the blue skies like the Japs. I need a bit of rugged Nairobi to grow back my rough edges. Anyway as is my tradition, I think pictures say much more than words... This was at the opening reception of the World Bank Development Economics conference at the 52nd Floor of Mori Tower over the weekend. Was a rare chance to enjoy Tokyo from the skylines at zero cost - very handy for a scrooge like me.

Aikido

2006-04-02T17:17:00.000+09:00

Aikido is a form of combat sport like karate, judo etc. Its basically street fighting because rules are limited but the idea behind it is technique and utilising your opponents force. Please be not fooled by body mass the tiniest and oldest herein were the most lethal. Murakami (blurred on my left) is the master and Wan is on my right.

Tsukuba Africa Graduation Barbeque

2006-03-26T22:57:00.000+09:00

Beef n Fish..a real African Feast.....
This year two PhDs in GIS and Forestry were added to Africa(Kenya) by Dr. Charles Ndegwa and Dr. Lubanga Makanji (in blue second from right, standing) respectively and another rising star in academics and soccer Fode Ndiaye (Senegal and sadly Arsenal) bagged a bachelors in computer science. The Tsukuba Africa Association hosted a farewell barbeque and the turn out was very good in Tsukuba standards. This photo is easily a line up of the African community in Tsukuba. Dr. Charles (Nigeria), Fode (Senegal), Me, Dr. Charles Ndegwa(Kenya), Dr. Willis(Kenya).

Dinner made in Brazil

2006-03-11T17:07:00.000+09:00

Kimie Chan! the expert cook from Brasilia hosted us to a mouth lickin' Brazilian dinner... Niku, cream, mushrooms, pancakes, crabs and of course my coconut delicacy drink... Oishiiiii desu.

Mid Term Exam

2006-03-11T16:30:00.000+09:00

World Bank camp on fire. Haa! ha! This shot is worth ichiman yen.
Photo mess opp! right before the macro paper. I have lodged my application for pardon on medical grounds of a rare macro destabilisation syndrome only found in 3k building...
This clandestine shot by Wondy n Hady explains the root cause of the rare effects observed above..

UNU Awards

2006-02-09T14:33:00.000+09:00

Standing - Yush, Smee (Australia), Shin (Korea), Ionescu (Romania), Suharto(Indonesia), Fukumoto close of UNU trimester. An evening to savour with an assortment of Japanese food and drinks. Headed to an Izakaya (traditional Japanese pub and restaurants) thereafter in downtown Tokyo.
Prof. Hans van Ginkel (Under Secretary General of the UN and Rector of UNU), Prof. Mori and Yush

Mr Snowman and the Cohorts

2006-01-21T12:37:00.000+09:00

MG, Kayoko and Me with permission from Davit of course!
Five of us from left Xuan(China), Davit, MG, Me and Kayoko (From the Republic of Okinawa)
Building Mr Snow Man with fellow cohorts to unwind. The unwinding part worked, the snow man project grounded.. too many Economists -- colosal assumptions! Took a break to sample Yuki (Snow) outside my Kenkyushitsu (study lab).

Winter and Snow

2006-01-21T12:24:00.000+09:00

At the centre of University outside the Chinese restaurant.
Compare this shot with the summer view posting below for a nice contrast.

Woke up in the morning to an awesome sight from my window and gruesome cold through my bones... and I thought of Kakii! I am sure she'd be head over heels playing with snow balls...

Boxing Day

2005-12-28T18:59:00.000+09:00

This was Professor Tadashi Yamada's bash for graduate students. He is in the front far right. A precious Professor indeed.
Some of what we had. I have really improved my scope of intake as you can tell.

Christmas is Here

2005-12-28T17:55:00.000+09:00

I spent christmas day with my loving Japanese family for dinner. Yes.. the cake was oishii (delicious). Oh! and as usual attended mass at the local church. I am still a staunch Catholic.. Shintoism has not rubbed off and its not likely to do so anytime soon.

Christmas Eve & Automobiles

2005-12-28T17:40:00.000+09:00

Italian Job...

A taste of the world famous Japanese car auctions - tonnes of automobiles on offer to the highest bidder. Spent my christmas eve here with Kenyan auction dealers.. bumped into a number of jaw droppers and finally... wound up in Roppongi Hills (Tokyo Party Kapitaal)

Farewell Breakfast to Professor

2005-12-13T17:19:00.000+09:00

This was an 8 a.m. farewell breakfast for Prof. Rhee from Seoul, South Korea. He took us on East Asia Politics and Economics and was without a doubt a brilliant and insigtful Economist. He is the zaks in a dark suit and jungle greenish shirt.

Odaiba, Tokyo

2005-12-11T13:55:00.000+09:00

The view from a friends digz in Odaiba, Tokyo.

Beach

2005-12-11T13:40:00.000+09:00

At the beach. Japanese beaches are really nice lakini hazitoshi Mombasa raha kamwe.

Summer View

2005-12-11T00:40:00.000+09:00

The view from my window in summer.

Yush's Japanese Family

2005-12-11T00:11:00.000+09:00

This is my lovely "Japanese family" known as the Takamichi's. This family concept is designed to get you adopted by a Japanese family for stronger intercultural interactions. It works man! because those twins Emi Chan and Miki Chan truly make my day.

Deekays tanjobi

2005-12-10T23:41:00.000+09:00

This was Deekays surprise birthday party. As you can tell, this Fiji man is still seething from the surprise attack.

The Cohorts

2005-12-10T23:29:00.000+09:00

Deekay (Fiji), Villamar (Ecuador), Raquel (Brasilia), Me, Damaru (Nepal), Aye (Ethiopia)

Annual University Festival

2005-12-10T23:21:00.000+09:00

Shumba (Zimbabwe), Kanojo and Yush at the annual Uni festival
Japanese folk singers
Japanese Shamisen Band
With soccer mates Zak (Brazil), Me and Quispe (Brazil)

Gradschool.. Life & Times

2005-12-10T14:28:00.000+09:00

United Nations University (UNU)
On my way to lectures after enduring the Tokyo subways. Believe me.. its not the best of life. With Professors and fellow Cohorts of the United Nations University (UNU)
Yush and Fukumoto on their way to school

and finally Tsukuba University...

Hopefully this provides a snaphot of my Grad school life in Japan.

Shibuya, Tokyo

2005-12-10T14:18:00.000+09:00

MG san and Yush. MG san is my right hand man in reign and crime in Japan. Trust me.

Saavedras Birthday

2005-12-10T00:26:00.000+09:00

Professor Saavedra's birthday party from left MG, Hidayat, Marco, Me, Damaru, Otsubo, Louise and Chan Chan.

2005-12-10T00:23:00.000+09:00

Blowin an invisible whistle (kupiga binja maanake) .. was the referee for the birthday soccer match.. Below from left is me my Microeconomics don, Professor Hanaki, fellow cohort Hidayat (Pakistan) and Prof Louis Augustin-Jean (France).

Barbeque fiesta

2005-12-09T21:32:00.000+09:00

The good times. Enjoyin a barbeque under the steady state hands of Chef Castillo. From left Castillo (Chile), Chan Chan (China), Yush, Deekay (Fiji), Marco (Brazil), Renato (Brazil).