ASEAN-Japan night

Brought my English Club students to the International University of Japan in my town (sounds quite grand huh?) for its ASEAN-Japan night. Students of each of the ASEAN countries set up food stalls offering samples of their local delicacies (except for Singapore, which put its name up with the Malaysian stall and contributed a tourism poster starring Dick Lee).

I had Thai curry, nasi lemak at the Malaysian stall, dango (mochi balls on a satay stick) at the Japanese stall and agar agar at the Philippines stall. The food wasn't spicy enough to be authentic (and I can't even take spicy food back home!). Nevertheless, my students still proclaimed that it was too spicy.

Students representing the ASEAN countries. First time in months that I've seen tudongs!


There were also song and dance performances by almost all the ASEAN countries except Malaysia and Singapore I think. Malaysia played their tourism video though (the Malaysia, Truly Asia one).

An energetic bamboo dance by the Philippines.

A funny para para dance performance by the Japanese students called One Night Carnival.

Some of the students from my English club.

When I drove the boys back to their dormitory, I asked them which their favourite performance was and they replied "Myanmar". I asked why (because I certainly did not anticipate that to be their answer!). They said "because the dancers are so beautiful" and sniggered. Terrible boys! (In case you have not seen Myanmar women, my students did not mean that as a compliment) Brings to mind a very uncomplimentary remark about Myanmar women that my former colleague once made.