Asia Association of Education and Exchange

Sunday, November 30, 2014

VIET NAM CUISINE IN THREE DIFFENRENT REGIONS

VIET NAM CUISINE IN THREE DIFFENRENT REGIONS

Today I would like to bring you to the marvelous Vietnamese gastronomy. Viet Nam has long been famous for a wide range of dishes with distinctive flavors. However, Vietnamese culinary tradition differ from region to region. It is the difference in the geographic feature that has a big influence on the way of cooking as well as the eating habit. Let’s take a look at how food varies from the North to the Middle and to the South of Viet Nam.

The subtlety in the North food

Being the cradle of Vietnamese civilization, Northern Viet Nam has produced many signature dishes of Viet Nam and reflected the influence of ancient Vietnamese cuisine. Since Northern people succeed the standardized way of cooking from our ancestors, Northern food is featured by the pure and noble flavors that result from subtle combinations of many different flavoring ingredients Fish sauce, soy sauce, prawn sauce, and limes are among the main flavoring ingredients. Some famous dishes: young rice cake, Pho,

The spicy flavor features the food in the middle of Vietnam.

What sets apart it form the two other regions of Viet Nam is the extreme spices and the color of food. Especially, once the capital of the last dynasty of Viet Nam this royal land in the past created the royal cuisine that couldn’t be found any where else in the world. The food was highly sophisticated in decoration as well as culinary.

The plain ways of cooking in the South.

Like the characteristic of the Southern people who is outgoing and honest, the food there is featured by the sweet and greasy flavor. The mother land is so generous that provides this land with fertilized soil and warm climate, which creates the diversity in the ingredient such as vegetables, livestock and fruit.

PHOTO SOURCE: http://news.zing.vn/Net-am-thuc-dac-trung-cua-3-mien-Bac-Trung-Nam-post407298.html
リーチ168人

Friday, November 28, 2014

Son Doong cave

Son Doong cave (Vietnamese: Hang Son Doong) is world's largest cave, located in Quang Binh province, Vietnam. It is found by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1991 and was recently discovered in 2009 by British cavers, led by Howard Limbert.

The name "Son Doong" cave means "mountain river cave", It was created 2-5 million years ago by river water eroding away the limestone underneath the mountain Where the limestone was weak, the ceiling collapsed creating huge skylights...
Click the link below for more photos and video.
http://www.sondoongcave.org/

Monday, November 24, 2014

Bonik Barta

Bonik Barta, one of the major Bangladesh newspaper introduced the Cleaning Awareness Program organized by AAEE in association with SWITCH.(Nov. 14)
Bonik Barta Published a news about Cleaning Awareness Program on 14 November 2014,By AAEE&SWITCH!

写真: Bonik Barta Published a news about Cleaning Awareness Program on 14 November 2014,By AAEE&SWITCH!
リーチ54人

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Big News from Bangladesh!

<Big News from Bangladesh!>

Media plays an integral part to convey any sort of important message to the society. It is really an overwhelming experience that ATN News broadcasted the news about cleaning campaign 2014 organized by Asia Association of Education & Exchange with SWITCH. Let’s be hopeful that this will make more people aware and responsible towards the environment.
ATN News Telecast-ed the Cleaning Awareness program.
動画を再生

Clean Bangla, Green Bangla!

<Bangladesh>

This picture was taken from Mohammadpur. This is common in Dhaka City.
Even between the buildings you will see the same situation so this is the time for everyone to take proper action. Everyone should come forward for cleaning our country.
Clean Bangla, Green Bangla!

写真: <Bangladesh>

This picture was taken from Mohammadpur. This is common in Dhaka City. 
Even between the buildings you will see the same situation so this is the time for everyone to take proper action. Everyone should come forward for cleaning our country.
Clean Bangla, Green Bangla!

AAEE Cleaning Awareness Organizing Committee, Bangladesh

<Bangladesh>

Asia Association of Education and Exchange in association with SWITCH since last year have been conducting cleaning campaign with the aim of creating awareness amongst the students to keep the environment clean. After the meeting of Cleaning Awareness Organizing Committee, they took part in cleaning activities in front of Arts Building, Dhaka University to continue the legacy of the program.
 

Statue of Liberty? (Odaiba, Japan)

<Japan>

For those who visit Odaiba, getting off a train (monorail actually) and seeing a replica of America’s famous statue right in front of you might be slightly weird.

But this replica has little to do with the original Statue of Liberty that is in New York. It is a replica of one that was in Odaiba in the late nineties made to celebrate Japan’s ties with France but it was only there for one year, from 1998 to 1999. It was so popular however, that a replica of that statue was created and has been there ever since. Getting it back was a pretty astute move really, as it is very popular. And it is a great place for some fantastic photos if the weather is good.
写真: For those who visit Odaiba, getting off a train (monorail actually) and seeing a replica of America’s famous statue right in front of you might be slightly weird.  

But this replica has little to do with the original Statue of Liberty that is in New York.  It is a replica of one that was in Odaiba in the late nineties made to celebrate Japan’s ties with France but it was only there for one year, from 1998 to 1999.  It was so popular however, that a replica of that statue was created and has been there ever since.  Getting it back was a pretty astute move really, as it is very popular.  And it is a great place for some fantastic photos if the weather is good.

Exchange Program in Nepal, March, 2013

<Exchange Program in Nepal, March, 2013>

Click here for the video clip
 
動画を再生

Thursday, November 20, 2014

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)


South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation popularly known as SAARC is an organization established by the mutual understanding of south Asian countries. The SAARC was established by initial seven members Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the year 1985. The newest member of SAARC is Afghanistan who was the part of it from the year 2007. 
The organization structure of SAARC consists of Council, Council of Minister, Standing committee, programming committee, technical committee and secretarial. The SAARC policies are focused on welfare economics, collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia and to accelerate socio-cultural development in the region. Besides these as well, SAARC countries cooperate in different sectors such as agriculture, transportation, environmental conservation, technology etc. SAARC also conduct award functions which are awarded for the contribution in different sectors within the SAARC countries. 
The logo of SAARC refers to peace and helping each other. Even though the SAARC Charter requires the heads of state or government to meet once a year, the summits generally take place in approximately every eighteen months. The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1985 and now 18th SAARC summit is going to be held at Kathmandu, Nepal from 22nd November. The country is now on a verge of completing the preparation needed for the summit. This is the third time Nepal is hosting SAARC summit.
Reference: Wikipedia
Photo source: saarc-sec.org

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

TIPS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM INTERVIEW

[TIPS FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM INTERVIEW]
Here are some key points for those who want to get a ticket for exchange program. Let’s check with us what you should and should not do in an exchange program interview!!!
DO
-Wait until you are offered a chair. There is nothing to rush. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look interested at all times
-Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Please check some of our latest posts in previous weeks for more details.
- Show what you can do for program rather than what you can get from it.
- When the interview ends, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact.
DON’T
-Don't answer cell-phone calls during the interview. It’s better to turn off you phone before hands.
-Don't go to extremes with your posture, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair.
-Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully. And don't over-answer questions.
-Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence

Traditional Folk Games

<Vietnam>

-Traditional Folk Games-
When I was a child, I had chances to experience hundreds of traditional folk games. The most popular folk games are: “Co nguoi”(human chess), “Meo duoi chuot” (Cat and Mouse games), “Ca sau len bo” (the crocodile get on the beach), “Ban Bi” (Marble game in Vietnamese style), “O an quan” (Mandarin Square Capturing), “Tron tim” (Hide and Seek) and “Rong ran len may” (the game of Dragon and Snake).
More than fun, these folk games improve the observation ability in children. For example, “O an quan” (Mandarin Square Capturing) is the game of calculating capacity. You must calculate carefully to win your player. The folk games teach children how to play, how to behave with their friends. They help children to become friendly with others and become healthier. Children will find happiness when they play with others while their parents are too busy to play with them. So the folk games are the most important memories of students’ childhood.
Source-image
Me.Zing.vn
Vnexpress.net

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

THE WANDERING WIND

<THE WANDERING WIND>
Hi, guys. My name is Dauntless. I am a strong and wild tropical wind. I was born in a far-away oriental meadow which is out of this world. Since birth, I have been a black-sheep of the family and never have I rooted myself in this small land. One day, I plucked up my courage to fly across the vast oceans to discover the world. All of a sudden, I caught sight of the USA and fell in love with it, which is a western country with the intriguing nature. The USA in my imagination is a picturesque and exquisite 3D carpet with the width of geography, the length of history and the depth of culture.
To me, the USA is a new world. This is the land of magic with the vigorous development. I flew through the sky-scrapers of New York City. I sensed the green foliage and the giant body of the bristlecone pine trees in the Western area. I bathed in the soft and shimmering water of the beach in California Coast. Besides, I was almost dried when I made a trip to the Death Valley which is the hottest and lowest place in the USA. By chance, I met my first love - Santa Ana Wind who was quite warm and sometime even “hot”. Some people called her “red wind”, “devil wind”, which is quite unfair. She is an angel who blows the polluted air out to the sea. After that, we together paid the visit to the sunny Hawaii and discovered the Mauna Kea which is over 10.000m high and may defeat Mount Everest as the highest mountain in the world if measured from the sea floor. The US nature gave me a new look into the Earth. I have learned the lesson about the diversity of this globe, it conceals extraordinary things that you may never hear of or taste. I am so happy to have a soul of freedom and courage to experience real life. Everyone can fulfill their curiosity like me; just “pack your luggage and go”.
I lingered in the corners of the USA. I heard people tell each other the story of Columbus who discovered America in 1492 and sew the seed of civilization on this land. The USA stretched its wide hands to welcome the immigrants here and contribute their tears or even blood for this country. All the US citizens will never forget the Independence Revolution under the leadership of the General George Washington or the Civil War between the Confederate and the Union to emancipate the slavery`s society. This period brought me a precious lesson about freedom and human rights or even “wind`s rights”. We all come to this world for reasons, God blow us the breath of life to be an outstanding person. We have no rights to own people and force them to work for you just because you are rich or blue-blooded. Believe me; you are unable to force the wind to do so. The USA is a “land of liberty” where people can fully achieve their life goals. Besides, I also realized that homosexual rights here are much more accepted compared to Asian countries. This leads to the society of no racial or sexual discrimination, people live in harmony and love. Human history started out and developed with its own features and “bright points”.
American culture could be easily aware if you observe the open-mindedness of its people. They enjoy this heavenly life; they live as if tomorrow were the doomsday. They pursue dreams and accept risks; they made the masterpieces of the humanity. Besides, when I dropped by a bar with a jazz singer raising his voice with the emotions strongly attached to its lyrics and melody, I love the art of improvisation in Jazz, which make the unique and marvelous USA. Once, I made my way to Texas and saw the cowboy galloping on the horse. In my imagination, he seemed to be an errant knight in the chivalric medieval literature. I had another lesson about the importance of the image of a country through culture. That is why the USA has so much influence on other areas of the world.
In conclusion, you may think a wind has no thoughts, no feelings. But to the contrary, it could sense the world and dare to face new challenges and experiences. You cannot become a grown-up man if you just travel around your hometown. Open your view like Mark Twain once said: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

Monday, November 17, 2014

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Are you a positive thinker who can keep smiling even in the worst day? Or are you a pessimist who always moans all days and easily give up if bad things come in your way?
It’s time for you to be conscious of the importance of your thinking and make a change!

There is undeniable fact that positive thinking is so powerful that it can change our whole life. All thoughts, no matter what they are, have a strong connection with our emotion, action and words. It means that the way we judge every real situation creates our attitude toward life, which finally determines our reaction. Let’s take an example. Imagine you have a glass with some water. How do you describe it? Is the glass half empty or half full? So two different ways considering the same matter will results in different reactions.

As Mahatma Gandhi said “A man is nothing but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes. Or Zig Ziglar said “ Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will”. To my mind, I strongly agree with these two famous quotes. Let’s me show you a real example. My mother is such an optimistic woman that I have ever seen in my life. She was heart-broken when my grandfather passed away eight months ago, then just a past few days, she learnt about my grandmother’s death. I know that the losses of the most beloved parents were a tremendous pain to her. However, she still holds out hope that their deaths were blessed and sacred, and instead of looking at the past and being regretful, she makes her best attempt to take care of the place of worship, their house and old things. So by focusing on the positive rather than the negative, my mother is able to transform not only herself, her life but the lives of those around her.

So how can we practice to have positive thinking?
1. Boost our optimist mood by words.
“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.” ~ Buddha
Let’s use inspiring words in our daily life, when talking with ourselves and with others. Instead of saying “ I can’t do this” Let’s say “ Yeah, I can!”; or don’t say “ It’s impossible” but say “ I’m possible”. By this way, you are sending out a happy sign to your brain and to other people, therefore, we transform negative behaviors to positive ones.
2. Let go negative forces that affect your life.
Looking at the past won’t help you survive the future. Therefore, instead of sticking to ideas, beliefs or even people that are no longer healthy for us, think about what is more important to you and will make it more beautiful and meaningful.
3. Make your good day!
Let’s work to make changes in your tough days. As no one- but you can help you deal with your own problems, what you need to do is to wake up, stop dreaming or wishing. This would bring much help to you when you can see the bright side and start to deal with your own problems.
4. Talk to positive people.
By this way, you are creating a happy and healthy environment for your mind. Positive people have the power to express their feeling over other people. Therefore, you are able to learn about their attitude and how they manage their emotion. No where can you find better advices than meeting positive thinkers in real life.
5. Smile! Your smile is the most powerful weapon!
When you smile, you are changing the facial expression as well as your feeling. Happy thoughts create happy emotion and vice versa. Therefore, try to visualize what make you happy and practice to smile more. Practice smiling in front of the mirror every day and you will see the result. It’s worth a try!

<photo source>
thehormonedoctor.com
www.patheos.com
http://www.verybestquotes.com/practice-positive-thinking/
www.lifehack.org

Saturday, November 15, 2014

BANGLADESH CLEANING CAMPAIGN 2014 was kicked off!

<Big News from Bangladesh!>,

BANGLADESH CLEANING CAMPAIGN 2014 was kicked off!

With the initiation of Yoshiki Seki, the Japanese high school student (he’s the student member of Asia Association of Education and Exchange), BANGLADESH CLEANING CAMPAIGN 2013 was started by AAEE in association with the Bangladeshi organization SWITCH (A Youth Platform for Social Development) last year. As the program was really popular and the need of such program was felt, it was told that program shall continue in the year to come as well.

Continuing the legacy, now An one year cleaning campaign awareness campaign is launched in Dhaka City with the slogan ”Clean Bangla Green Bangla”. More than 500 volunteers from 30 universities took part in this program!

Asia Association of Education and exchange in association with SWITCH jointly organized this program, aiming at creating awareness among the students to keep their educational institution clean and make them conscious about the proper disposal of garbage.

Professor Sahid Akter Hossain, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University inaugurated the campaign. In the program, Md. Ansar Ali Khan, CEO of Dhaka South Corporation and Professor Dr. Dalem Ch. Baram, VC, ASA University, Suenaga Hiroki, System Engineer was the special guest of this program. In the event, Md. Muinul Faysalwho is chief coordinator of AAEE Bangladesh and co-founder of SWITCH was also present in the program. The chairperson of the ceremony was Yakub Nabi.

Similarly Prof. Akinori Seki, President of AAEE and Associate prof. of Tokyo Keizai University was the program Manager. And the founder of the Cleaning Awareness Projects in Bangladesh and chief coordinator of AAEE, Yosihiki Seki was the integral part of this program to be a success.
 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Shin-Umeda City (Japan)

<Japan>

Shin Umeda City was completed in 1993. At its core is the Umeda Sky Building, a "pair of skyscrapers connected in midair" built in an unusual architectural form not often encountered anywhere in the world.

The skyscrapers are equipped with superior safety measures such as earthquake-proofing and disaster protection, and have a floating garden at the top. With the passage of time, the half-mirror glasses that cover the building reflect the sky on their surface, so that the building seems to become one with the firmament and it appears as if the garden is alone, floating there in the blue.

"The Westin Osaka", a top grade city hotel adjacent to the building, is a favorite with VIPs world-wide.
写真: Shin Umeda City was completed in 1993. At its core is the Umeda Sky Building, a "pair of skyscrapers connected in midair" built in an unusual architectural form not often encountered anywhere in the world. 

The skyscrapers are equipped with superior safety measures such as earthquake-proofing and disaster protection, and have a floating garden at the top. With the passage of time, the half-mirror glasses that cover the building reflect the sky on their surface, so that the building seems to become one with the firmament and it appears as if the garden is alone, floating there in the blue.  

"The Westin Osaka", a top grade city hotel adjacent to the building, is a favorite with VIPs world-wide.

Special lecture series 3rd Day -Mr. Shinji Kazama

Special lecture series organized by Asia Association of Education and Exchange and Prof. Akinori Seki Seminar at Tokyo Keizai University

-3rd Day, Mr Shinji Kazama, one of the most famous adventurers in the world who holds three Guinness world record.
Report of our Special Lecture Series written by Mika Tanaka

December 4th, the 3rd day of Akinori Seki seminar
Special guest: Mr. Shinji Kazama
「All-Sided The Adventure」
12l1258 Mika Tanaka
November 4th, we invited one of the most famous people in Japan. He was “Mr.Shinji Kazama” who was a pioneer of motorbike adventure and a member of entertainment office named “Horipuro.” His theme was “All-Sided The Adventure.”
1. Why did Mr. Kazama start the adventure?
・Mr. Kazama wanted to be a famous motorbike rider because he loved motorbikes. Thanks to his passion of motorbike, he could win the motorbike race.
・Mr.Kazama loved the nature too. He was interested in finding new world of motorbikes.
・Mr. Kazama invented a new type of motorbike race “Off Road” because he wanted to be a pioneer of something. He thought that “The ending of public road is beginning of my road.” And “The adventure is journey to find myself.”
2. What did you think during the adventure?
・Mr. Kazama’s finger was suffering from frostbite when he crossed North Pole by motorbike. It was very terrible.
・Even then Mr. Kazama decided to continue the adventure in North Pole, and then, he came to feel sorry for his mother; his feelings were“I’m very sorry, my mother. I was injured my body had given from you.” And “I want to take care of my parents more.”
・From the point of view of experiences of being a father, Mr. Kazama thought that “What do I expect from my children?” He could find the answer “They can live fine and that is great pleasure for me.”
・From those experiences, Mr. Kazama could find himself during the adventure. He always thinks “My body is given from my mother”, “My heart is given from my father” and “I have to live fine to take care of my parents.”
3. Questions from Students
I’ll write about the most interesting question from a student.
Q. What should people who don’t have courage to start the adventure do?
A. “To start something new” itself looks like the adventure. You should find something new and keep doing it. It means the adventure. You should try!
4. Conclusion
・ Mr. Kazama came to understand “Daily Life we usually spend is the most important” during strict environment of the adventure.
・ Mr.Kazama solved a simple and basic, but really difficult question, “Who am I?” through the adventure. His answer was “My body is given from my mother; my heart is given from my father.”
・He thinks when you start something you have never experienced is even if you think “It doesn’t match for me, you should quit that thing and try to find new activities.”

We were moved by Mr.Kazama’s marvelous speech very much because we have been holding mysteries of our life. “I should do something I love”, “I should respect my mother and father more.” I decided to keep those words said by Mr. Kazama in my heart. They are very simple things but, I had been forgetting until then.

Thank you Mr. Kazama!!
写真: Report of our Special Lecture Series written by Mika Tanaka 

December 4th, the 3rd day of Akinori Seki seminar
Special guest: Mr. Shinji Kazama
「All-Sided The Adventure」
 12l1258 Mika Tanaka
 November 4th, we invited one of the most famous people in Japan. He was “Mr.Shinji Kazama” who was a pioneer of motorbike adventure and a member of entertainment office named “Horipuro.” His theme was “All-Sided The Adventure.”
1. Why did Mr. Kazama start the adventure?
 ・Mr. Kazama wanted to be a famous motorbike rider because he loved motorbikes. Thanks to his passion of motorbike, he could win the motorbike race. 
・Mr.Kazama loved the nature too. He was interested in finding new world of motorbikes. 
・Mr. Kazama invented a new type of motorbike race “Off Road” because he wanted to be a pioneer of something. He thought that “The ending of public road is beginning of my road.” And “The adventure is journey to find myself.” 
2. What did you think during the adventure? 
・Mr. Kazama’s finger was suffering from frostbite when he crossed North Pole by motorbike. It was very terrible. 
・Even then Mr. Kazama decided to continue the adventure in North Pole, and then, he came to feel sorry for his mother; his feelings were“I’m very sorry, my mother. I was injured my body had given from you.” And “I want to take care of my parents more.” 
・From the point of view of experiences of being a father, Mr. Kazama thought that “What do I expect from my children?” He could find the answer “They can live fine and that is great pleasure for me.”
・From those experiences, Mr. Kazama could find himself during the adventure. He always thinks “My body is given from my mother”, “My heart is given from my father” and “I have to live fine to take care of my parents.”
3. Questions from Students
 I’ll write about the most interesting question from a student. 
Q. What should people who don’t have courage to start the adventure do?
 A. “To start something new” itself looks like the adventure. You should find something new and keep doing it. It means the adventure. You should try!
4. Conclusion 
・ Mr. Kazama came to understand “Daily Life we usually spend is the most important” during strict environment of the adventure. 
・ Mr.Kazama solved a simple and basic, but really difficult question, “Who am I?” through the adventure. His answer was “My body is given from my mother; my heart is given from my father.” 
・He thinks when you start something you have never experienced is even if you think “It doesn’t match for me, you should quit that thing and try to find new activities.”

We were moved by Mr.Kazama’s marvelous speech very much because we have been holding mysteries of our life. “I should do something I love”, “I should respect my mother and father more.” I decided to keep those words said by Mr. Kazama in my heart. They are very simple things but, I had been forgetting until then. 

Thank you Mr. Kazama!!