MICKEY LIVE IN FUKUOKA, JAPAN

Last Friday, 5th December 2008,  was the auspicious day of Thai people around the world because they were the His Majesty the King's Birthday, the Father's Day, and the National's Day. On this day, if you were in Thailand, you could see most Thai people wore the yellow shirts. It was like the symbol that we loved and paid respect to our king, or we could say that His Majesty was our father.

Even though I was in Fukuoka, Japan, I wore the yellow shirt in this day. And in that night, I went to join a party at Praw Jai, a Thai restaurant, in the downtown of Fukuoka city with 11 Thai Kyushu University students. We were the small group in the restaurant, but it was full of happiness. We enjoyed Thai food which were named as the best and most delicious food of the world. Tom Yum Kung (Thai Spicy Soup with Prawns), Kaeng Keaw Wan (Thai Green Curry), Kai Yang (Grilled Chicken) and others delicious Thai food were served as the buffet.

Actually, every year our King has given the speeches on his birthday. The speeches were like worthy teachings which Thai people would follow them. However, this year his health was not quite good, so we had not a chance to listen to his speech. We hope that his health will be better, and stay with us as the father forever.

And last Monday, I had a chance to go to a elementary school again, but this time I went to Susenji Elementary School which was established 130 years ago!!!. I went there around 8.30 am. and listened to the story of the school from the principal. Then I joined to the grade 4 classroom for 2 hours, and went to played dodgeball with children. It was very fun. After that, I had lunch with them in the classroom. And left there at 2 pm.

On the Subway

Tom Yum Kung (Thai Spicy Soup with Prawns)

Kai Yang (Grilled Chicken)

Mickey in the Yellow Shirt (I'm not PAD)

Thai Students in Kyushu University

In Front of the Restaurant, Praw Jai

My Dad - Love and Miss You

My Mom - Love and Miss You Too

My Sweet Heart - Also Love and Miss You Too

At Playground of the School

In the Classroom

My Lunch

This weekend, I had the 2 study trips - to Dazaifu on the Saturday and to the football stadium on the Sunday.

On the Saturday, I woke up early because we had to leave the dorm at 7.45 am. The bus arrived the Dazaifu Shrine around 9.00 am. We visited the Sumo stable as the first place. Sumo is the Japanese traditional sport which 2 big body men fight on the stage. They can fight by pushing or throwing an opponent out of the stage. They woke up around 4.00 am., and practice until 11.00 am. everyday. Furthermore, they have to eat a lot of food to make their bodies bigger and bigger.

Then I went to the Dazaifu shrine which was built in 901. Many people come to the shrine to ask the god for the blessings. We walked around the shrine and went to Komyozenji Temple. In the temple, there was a garden which the leaf is changing the color from green to red. It was very beautiful.

For the lunch time, we ate Ramen (Japanese Noodle) at the Dazaifu Street. The street had many souvenir shops which there were a lot of Japanese stuffs. We walked here about 2 hours before went to the Kyushu National Museum.

In the museum, they showed the ancient stuffs which came from both Japan and Asian countries. The building was build as the modern style. Actually, I thought that it was an airport hahaha.

We leave Dazaifu around 3.00 pm. and arrived the dorm at 4.00 pm.

I think that I will go back again on March to travel and buy souvenirs more.

And on the Sunday, Hiroki, the head of tutors, invited us to go to see the football at the studium. Avispa Fukuoka is the local team of the city. Now they are playing at the J League Division 2. The match started at 4.00 pm. but I left the dorm aroud 12.00 pm. because I did not know how to go to the stadium, and I should go there early to reserve many seats for our group. I took at the subway which the station was located near the dorm. The subway in the city are very complicated. I had to transfer 2 times before stopped at the airport station and took a bus to the stadium. I arrived there at 3.00 p.m. The name of the stadium is LEVEL5 Stadium which is the name of the company. The stadium's seating capacity is about 20,000. The game was quite ok, but I was very cold. The score was 2-2. After the game, we went to Tenjin (Downtown of the city) to have a dinner. Before we went back to the dorm, I went to the park in the Tenjin. Now, the park was decorated the Christmas lights. Very wonderful!

In Front of the Dazaifu Shrine

The Bull Statue - You can go to the good university if you touch it.

In the Garden of the Temple

Red Leaf

In the Subway

At the Stadium

Christmas Lights in the Tenjin Garden

Today, I have a chance to visit an international festival at Daizaifu-nishi Elementary School. I left from Kaikan (International Dormitory) at 8.45 and used about 1 hour to there. Here is the Japanese public school which also has the international program for students.

Firstly, I was invited to a first or second grade classroom to play game with children. We played Janken (Scissors - Rock - Paper Game). There also has this game in Thailand and many countries in Asia. Then I went to a sixth grade classroom to join 6 activities - how to use a abacus, listening the Momotaro (Japanese Fable), festivals in Japan, how to play Kendo (Japanese Martails Art), how to use Ohashi (Chopsticks), and Japanese caligraphy.

For a lunch, I got 2 tickets to get the Karee (Curry Rice) and hot dog. I had the lunch with one family which a father can speak English very well. He said that he always go to work and have a meeting at Thailand. He love Thailand. Furthermore, he and his family has a plan to go to Thailand on this summer.

Next, I joined the tea ceremony. A tea maker said that for a long time ago, the tea ceremony was made for Samurai (Japanese Knight) to negotiate about war. But it is now applied as the Japanese culture.

Finally, I played a card game and took many pictures with the children before I left there.

This is the wonderful trip for me and my friends. Actually, I did not want to go this trip because I do not like children. But when I met them, my opinion is changed. They are very cute (however, I also do not like them when they cry or yell) hahaha.

Dazaifu-nishi Elementary School

  In the Classroom

With Children in the Classroom

In the Tea Ceremony

In front of the Tea Ceremony Room

With Children in front of Tototro

With Children in the Classroom

Konnichiwa Minasan,

This is my first blog in Japan since I have stayed here for 5 weeks. I got a scholarship which is the cooperation between Mahidol University and Kyushu University to study in Japan 11 months. I study in JTW (Japan in Today's World) Program at Kyushu University. Furthermore, in this semester, I will do a short research which is a part of this program. I choose 'Kimono' as my topic. I think it is very interesting. Kimono is more than the Japanese traditional clothing. I will research the history of Kimono, the development of Kimono, and Kimon in Today.

In this blog, I will share my experiences while I stay here. And I will be very happy if everyone either in Japan, or in Thailand will read and share your opinions in my blog. Finally, I would like to say sorry if the language and grammar are not correct because I am not a native speaker.

Thank you,

Mickey

PS1. Thank you my dad, mom, mint, mild, mook, and my MU's friends. I miss you all.

PS2. Thank you Aj.Natthida, Aj.Pattiya, Aj.Chantarath, Aj.Nisakorn. If I have no your helps, I can't come here.

PS3. I miss and love you my sweet heart.

My Family at Suvarnabhumi Airport

My Sweet Heart at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Gang of Six (hahaha) at Suvarnabhumi Airport

My Friends at at Suvarnabhumi Airport