What a colorful photo!
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This semester is less rigorous than the previous as we touch base with the 'softer' issues of policy, including international negotiations like that of the Kyoto Protocol, isolating education policy effects, understanding the nature of leadership in the civil service which includes overcoming existing bureaucratic barriers and the workings of the Japanese financial system etc. This gives us more time to discuss more specific issues relating to our various countries, especially the developing ones. I begin to realise how difficult it is to create an efficient and honest government given the danger of vicious cycles of corruption, risks involved in using religion to create hegemony in states etc. It's time like these where I feel much pride describing the system in Singapore. Again, international politics including the nature of the Japan-US relations with regards to security policies have got the few of us excited in our discussions. Very intriguing stuff!
On another note, the weather's gradually warming up and it is really amazing to walk down streets with so many green leaves starting to appear on the thin and wrinkled winter trees. I am looking forward to spending more weekend afternoons admiring the various blossoms that will bloom across Japan throughout Spring.
Till then, it's one more weekend ski trip at the Shiga Kogen Ski Resort with all-you-can-eat buffets and onsens.. :)
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