Weekly Journal: Week 2 (Start of Physical Classes)

Sunday:

With no classes scheduled, I took the day to unwind and recharge. In the morning, I decided to hit the gym in my condo. The gym is small but well-equipped, with treadmills, free weights, and even a couple of resistance machines. I started with a light jog on the treadmill to warm up, followed by some basic weight training. There’s something so refreshing about working out—it clears my head and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I even ran into a couple of my housemates, which made the session more enjoyable as we exchanged workout tips and had a laugh or two.

In the afternoon, I settled on the couch and watched A Silent Voice on Netflix. It was a deeply emotional experience. The movie is about redemption, forgiveness, and self-acceptance, focusing on a boy who bullied a deaf girl in elementary school and later tries to make amends for his actions. The animation was stunning, and the story was so heartfelt that it had me tearing up more than once. Watching the protagonist grapple with his guilt and learn to forgive himself was a journey I’ll remember for a long time.

Later in the evening, I went with a friend to AEON Maluri to look for a cabinet for our clothes. We took the train to get there, which added a bit of adventure to our trip. At first, we couldn’t find anything suitable, so we decided to take a break and grab something to eat. After recharging, we continued our search and finally found a cabinet that fit our needs. It was massive, though, and carrying it back proved to be a challenge. We ended up calling one of our housemates for backup, and after a lot of effort and some late-night laughs, we finally got it home. It was a tiring but fun day

Monday:

Today’s classes were in the morning, and I had both Math and OOP sessions. During the math class, we did exercises on relations, applying concepts like Cartesian products and properties of relations. It was a good practice session that helped solidify my understanding. The second class was OOP, where we continued exploring the implementation of Abstract Data Types (ADTs). We learned how ADTs like stacks, queues, and lists are designed and implemented in programming, and how they simplify data management in real-world applications.

Since both classes ended by midday, I had the rest of the day to myself. In the evening, one of my housemates suggested we visit MyTOWN Shopping Centre. We started by grabbing some food near the train station, enjoying some local delicacies, before heading to the mall. Once there, we let our inner child loose and spent time at a toy shop. It felt like stepping back in time as we played with action figures and toy cars, laughing at the nostalgia of it all.

Afterward, we visited a game center with a PS5 and Nintendo Switch setup. We decided to play It Takes Two, a cooperative game that was an absolute blast. The game’s puzzles and quirky story kept us entertained for hours. It was such a fun experience, and we couldn’t stop laughing at how badly we coordinated at some points. By the time we got home, I felt relaxed and grateful for such a carefree evening.

Tuesday:

Tuesday, today classes are only in the evening so I had a lot of spare time in the morning, I read a new manga comic named ‘Red Blue’ , it is a story of two high schooler getting into the world of MMA, Aoba Suzuki, a weak, physically fragile kids that had suffered from asthma, and his peer, Kenshin Asakawa, a young prodigy set up to shake the world of MMA, Aoba finds it absurd the degree at which Kenshin is nice to other people, he rescues dogs from shelter, cheers up everyone with his mere presence and has dream of becoming a world champion, on the other hand, Aoba is regularly dragged out of his classroom and bullied and used as human-punching bag by Iwase Sanosuke.

The first volume of the Red Blue manga

One day Kenshin encounter Aoba getting bullied and being the standup guy that he is, rescued Aoba from Iwase. In any other comic, this would has been a great setup for a rivalry friendship between the two, but nothing Kenshin says convinces Aoba to be his friend, this incident doesn’t inspire him at all Kenshin says everyone needs a dream, so he offers to protect Aoba from his bullies, Aoba said no, but instead of giving up, Kenshin decides to teach some basic Karate technique to Aoba. While he’s learning, Aoba actually thinks that never really been comfortable around Kenshin, and its not just apathy that he feels towards him, its more so jealousy.

Kenshin (Blond hair) after saving Aoba 

(Read from right to left) 

“I may be a part of your positive and confident world, but I’ve always hated it” he thought to himself. He has always hated the forced positivity Kenshin has put on him.

Then Kenshin asks him “Don’t you feel really empty? You always seem kinda sad, you could really use a good dose of joy”. This question lit a fire in Aoba’s heart, as he thinks back to all the time he felt weak, empty and helpless. “WHAT? Being empty, being sick, being weak, being sad and having no dream. What’s wrong with that?!” he thought to himself as he is throwing a punch to Kenshin’s face. Unfortunately, Kenshin easily countered that punch and Aoba falls to the ground.

Aoba got mad and tried to punch Kenshin

Aoba said he suddenly wanted to punch Kenshin in the face for all the reason that has been stated above, and he express those thought to Kenshin. Kenshin was shocked but realized, that Aoba wanting to punch him could be said as Aoba’s dream. Aoba agrees and said he really cant stand Kenshin. After this incident, Aoba reaches out to his bully, Iwase, and Aoba joins Iwase’s MMA gym. This is the start of Aoba’s MMA career. This comic has a really interesting twist to the typical rivalry friendship. Instead of them being good friends, they are enemies with different ideology of life, and this incident unknowingly set a path of greatness for Aoba, who has been living his life as a weak, and fragile kid.

In the evening, I had an HCI class. We covered topics like the Goals of HCI, which include usability, safety, and efficiency in system design. The lecturer emphasized how HCI aims to make systems easier to use while reducing frustration. We also learned about the Importance of HCI, particularly in creating accessible and inclusive designs. Finally, we discussed Factors of HCI, such as user comfort, system functionality, and environmental considerations. It was an insightful session that deepened my understanding of user-centric design.

Wednesday:

Today was a busy but productive day, with classes spread out from morning until evening. The day started with General English Proficiency class, where our lecturer introduced us to the blog assignment. It’s split into three parts: the first is a 5-week journal documenting everything we’ve done during that time, the second is an “About Me” section where we share details about ourselves, and the last part is a reflection on our future plans, including what we’ll do after completing the program and our goals for the next three to five years. And at the end we have to do a presentation of our blogpost in video format. It sounds like an interesting challenge that will require creativity and self-reflection, so I’m looking forward to working on it.

In the evening, I had two back-to-back online classes. The first was System Analysis and Design (SAD). We revisited the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), diving deeper into each phase. The analysis phase involves gathering requirements to understand what the system should achieve, while the design phase is all about creating blueprints for the system. The implementation phase brings the plans to life by developing and deploying the system. And finally maintenance phase is the final stage, where the system is monitored, updated, and improved after its deployment. The lecturer explained these steps in detail, and I found it fascinating how they fit together to ensure a system’s success.

The second class was Data Communication Concepts, where we explored network topologies. The mesh topology connects every device to every other device, offering high reliability but at a higher cost. The star topology features a central hub, which is simple to manage but can fail if the hub goes down. The bus topology uses a single communication line, making it cost-effective but prone to bottlenecks. Finally, the ring topology connects devices in a loop, ensuring data flows in one direction but making the network vulnerable if any connection breaks. The diagrams and examples provided by the lecturer made these concepts easy to understand.

By the end of the day, I felt accomplished, having tackled both creative writing and technical learning.

Thursday:

Classes began early today and were packed with engaging topics. The first session was Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), where we built upon the previous lessons. We started with HCI Design Components, which encompass people (users of the system), work (tasks being performed), environment (physical, organizational, and social aspects), and technology (tools or systems used). The lecturer explained how understanding the interaction between these components is critical in creating efficient, user-centered systems.

Next, we discussed HCI Design Principles, focusing on affordance and visibility. Affordance refers to how an object’s design suggests its purpose or use, such as a door handle implying it should be pushed or pulled. On the other hand, visibility ensures that all necessary controls and functions are apparent to the user. A good example is a car dashboard, where the placement and labeling of buttons make it clear what each control does. These principles are essential in designing intuitive systems that minimize user frustration and confusion.

The System Analysis and Design (SAD) class was particularly hands-on today as we worked on exercises related to Information Systems (IS). Information systems are a combination of hardware, software, data, people, and processes working together to collect, process, and distribute information. The lecturer guided us through examples of four main types of information systems:

1. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS): These handle day-to-day operations, like processing sales or payroll transactions.

2. Management Information Systems (MIS): These focus on providing summarized and structured data to help managers make decisions. For example, generating monthly sales reports.

3. Decision Support Systems (DSS): These systems aid in decision-making by using analytical tools, such as forecasting or “what-if” scenarios, often used by middle managers.

4. Executive Information Systems (EIS): Designed for senior executives, these systems provide high-level summaries of data to support strategic planning.

We practiced classifying real-world examples into these categories, which gave me a better understanding of how information systems are tailored to different organizational needs.

The day ended with OOP, where we wrapped up chapter one by revisiting core principles like abstraction, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism. We also tackled coding exercises, creating simple class hierarchies and applying these concepts in practical scenarios.

Though the day was packed, I left feeling more confident about my understanding of HCI, information systems, and OOP. Balancing theory and practical exercises always makes learning more engaging!

Friday:

Today started with our first physical Data Communication Concepts (DCC) class, which was a refreshing change of pace. We revised network-related topics, starting with the criteria of a good network—delivery (ensuring data reaches the right destination), accuracy (error-free data transfer), timeliness (fast and responsive communication), and security. The lecturer emphasized how these criteria define the quality and reliability of a network.

We also revisited types of connections, focusing on point-to-point connections, which link two devices directly, and multipoint connections, where multiple devices share a single link. The discussion transitioned into network topologies, where we reviewed mesh, star, bus, and ring layouts. The interactive nature of the class made it easier to visualize these structures and understand their real-world applications.

Afterward, I had a Math class, where we completed chapter one by learning about functions. The lecturer explained how to determine whether a function is one-to-one or onto and how to represent functions on a graph. We worked through examples like the floor and ceiling functions, which are commonly used in programming. The graphical representation of functions helped solidify my understanding, as it showed how inputs map to outputs visually.

In the evening, I had some free time, so I decided to play more Minecraft. I worked on expanding my cabin, adding a cozy second floor with a balcony overlooking a river. Exploring a nearby cave, I found more valuable resources like iron and redstone, which I used to upgrade my tools. Minecraft always helps me relax after a long day, and I love how creative I can get with my builds.

Overall, Friday felt balanced, with productive classes and some much-needed downtime. It’s always nice to end the week on a lighter note while still feeling accomplished.

Saturday:

With no classes, I spent the morning revising. I revisited topics like HCI design principles, the SDLC, and the OOP principles of abstraction and encapsulation. The revision helped me connect the dots between different subjects.

in the evening I watch a lot of MMA fights on YouTube , I watched a lot of Ilia Topuria’s fight because I’d like to study his style of MMA, because how interesting his style is. His style look more like boxing than MMA, with a wider and more bladed stance than usual, throwing a lot of punches and countering of his opponents a lot, its very interesting that someone managed to use a boxing-heavy style in the sport of MMA. Boxing by itself may seem incomplete to be used in the sport of MMA, but by having great takedown defense, making himself unable to be taken down most of the times, and using lots of leg kicks to make his opponent not throw kicks to him.

This made his one of the most tactical and strategical MMA fighter in the Featherweight division, and it shows as he is now the UFC Featherweight Champion. And had absolutely the best fight of 2024 with another great boxer in the game, Max Holloway, whom I had been a fan of for years. While Ilia Topuria is more of a power-puncher, Max Holloway is less powerful, but he compensated that lack of power with volume of strikes thrown at his opponents, sometimes giving them swollen or bloody eyes from the amount of times they had been eating punches, this made for a great tactics for Max as this discourages his opponents in the fight. But unfortunately, in the fight between Max and Topuria, Ilia Topuria knocks out Max Holloway in the third round, knocking Max down to the canvas with a left hook, and winning the fight. It was very interesting and hype to watch such a fight, as I am a very big fan of martial arts

Summary:

The second week of January was a mix of relaxation, learning, and fun. I started the week by taking some time for myself—hitting the gym in my condo, watching A Silent Voice on Netflix, and going to AEON Maluri with a friend to buy a cabinet. It was a productive yet laid-back Sunday.

Throughout the week, classes picked up pace. In Math, I worked on relation exercises and explored functions and their graphical representation. In OOP, we delved into the implementation of abstract data types, encapsulation, and other key principles. The HCI classes were particularly insightful as we learned about design principles, usability, and components of HCI. SAD introduced me to the SDLC, while DCC covered network topologies and their impact on communication systems.

Outside of class, I balanced work with leisure. I read the manga Red Blue, which offered a fresh twist on rivalry in the MMA world, and spent an evening at MyTOWN Shopping Centre, where I indulged my inner child in a toy shop and played It Takes Two with a housemate. I also spent time revising subjects and watching MMA fights on YouTube, focusing on Ilia Topuria’s unique fighting style.

This week was both productive and fulfilling, with a perfect blend of learning and recreation. I feel more confident about my studies and grateful for the fun moments I shared with my friends.