Dazaifu and party

One of my Singaporean friends, who is now studying in Osaka, visited Fukuoka the other day. She is going to take an entrance examination of several Japanese universities, so she is now preparing for it. Her Japanese has greatly improved and it made me think that living abroad is surely a good way to acquire the language.

We met up and went to Dazaifu shrine together in order to pray for good luck. She also bought a lucky charm for the exam. I am sure she will make it without it!

At night, she and her boyfriend, who graduated from Kyushu university 2 years ago, had a party at his former laboratory. A lot of friends of him came together with delicious meals they cooked. There were people from all over the world; Dominica, Brunei, Myanmar, and Korea.

We talked and talked, about their cultural background, their future visions, their boyfriends and girlfriends... I felt it very comfortable to be there, to be one of them and to be a friend of them. Thank you all for that wonderful, warm party.

From left to right;

"Chili salad" Myanmarese cuisine with super spicy chilies. Tastes a bit sour, but nice. The green chili is so spicy that you cannot even put it on your tongue!

"Kueh lapis" The colourful, layered cakes are called so. It is common in the Southeast Asia and so delicious when fresh from a refrigerator.

"Dazaifu" Fukuoka's main sightseeing spot. It is said that you can pray for good luck when you have an exam to sit for, or you want to get better result of what you study.