We prepared for the Bilateral Market to be held tomorrow, Sunday. The Bilateral Market is a market organized by the Exchange Department as a place for cultural exchange between Japan and Thailand. The Exchange Department has been making a lot of preliminary preparations during the department activities. As all members gathered for the activity today, the Exchange Department members were giving instructions and setting up the market with a sense of initiative and responsibility. The other members were willing to cooperate with each other, looking around and finding what each of them could do. Although the activities were carried out under the scorching sun, the members were careful to keep hydrated and to take care of their physical condition.
The first specific activity was to set up tents. The tents were provided by the local people and we were able to use them. Next, a yagura was set up in the center of the tent, using four bamboo poles and decorated with lights and flags. The stage was decorated with signs for the Bilateral Market written in Japanese and Thai. It was decorated with handprints of children from the Class of Initiatives and PRENGO members. Other thoughtful decorations included handmade ball lanterns, an entrance gate with bamboo lanterns, chairs made of straw for viewing the stage and resting, and paper bag lanterns with PRENGO members' wishes written on them.
Since this was the first time for us to actually set up the market, there were several areas that needed reinforcement and repairs. However, with the help of local collaborators, we were able to create the market as we had envisioned. The preparation to spend a lot of time, was so well worth it that some of the members of the Exchange Department were in tears even on the day before the event.
After the activity was over, the members of the Exchange Department continued to hold careful discussions to ensure that the local people would enjoy the cultural exchange with Japan, and that they would be able to show the results of their preparation.
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