After departing from Naha Airport and transiting through Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan, we arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at 5:45 p.m.

 At the airport, we were warmly welcomed by teachers and students from Ongkharak Demonstration School (ODS).

 Afterwards, we had dinner at the ODS student dormitory, where we stayed, and spent a relaxing evening there.

 In the morning, we held a welcome ceremony and participated in cultural exchange activities such as team building with 10 students from ODS, who are also part of the joint research project.

 At lunchtime, everyone worked together to cook "tappai," a traditional Thai dish.

 In the afternoon, we conducted ant collection on the ODS campus under the guidance of a researcher from OIST.

 In the morning, we attended a lecture by Dr. Weeyawat Jaitrong, a leading expert on ant taxonomy in Thailand from the Thailand Natural History Museum. We were amazed by the incredible diversity of ants in Thailand. After the lecture, he kindly showed us some valuable specimens from the museum’s collection.

 Following the lecture, we conducted ant collection on the museum grounds. According to Dr. Jaitrong, there are about 50 different ant species in the area, which made the collection activity even more exciting.

 We had lunch on the museum premises. The bus ride afterwards was very pleasant and relaxing.

 In search of tropical deciduous forest habitats, we traveled from the city area where ODS is located to the Whan Nam Khaio Forestry Student Training and Research Station (WFTRS), a university-managed field station. There, we conducted ant collection activities.

 Since WFTRS is located within a national park, we had obtained special permission in advance to collect ants.

 It was a rare and valuable experience that would not have been possible under normal circumstances.

 In stark contrast to the previous day, we conducted ant collection in a park located in the heart of downtown Bangkok. We are looking forward to seeing how the species of ants differ depending on their habitat.

 In the evening, a closing ceremony was held, and each student and accompanying teacher received a certificate of completion.

 Although the program was short, it was an incredibly fulfilling and meaningful collaborative research experience.

 We woke up early this morning and headed to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. The morning sun felt refreshing and energizing.

 We hope to return next year—stronger and even more inspired!