Day 42-45 Finally Meeting Alex Foster!

Thursday, October 14th.

I don't think I will never forget this day.
I spent 8 hours with Alex Foster, vocals of the alternative / progressive rock band, Your Favorite Enemies, in Kyoto!!!
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Favorite_Enemies)

First I need to explain how this happened. About 2 years ago, Alex sent me a friend request on myspace. He is a Starbucks lover and at that time, my profile pic was my smiling face holding 2 Starbucks coffee in Ankara, Turkey. And he gave me a long message in Japanese (using a translating machine). His message impressed me and I listened to his band's music for the first time and thought it was pretty good so I accepted the friend request.
And our communication began.
The band was everywhere; on myspace, facebook, vkontakte, mixi, and even on skype. I gradually learned about them and found out that they were very close to their fans. They treat us if we were their family! And I've become to like their music too. Alex sings very well. I especially like "Little Sister." If you have a chance, please check it out.

Now, they (Alex and Jeff) are here in Japan for shooting their own film. It was my mission to see them. I just had to see Alex because we had been communicating time to time))) But unfortunately I was working for COP10 almost everyday. My best day was October 14th, when they were moving from Tokyo to Kyoto. I sent a message to Stephanie, who is always interviewing them on Q&As and updating what they are up to everyday. She was nice to give me a message that she was also eager to see me!!! She had heard from Alex that I love Starbucks))) She even said it would be nice if we met at Starbucks Kyoto for a coffee!!!

Stephanie mailed me that morning that she would call me. And after a few hours, I found out on twitter that they had left Tokyo so I decided to wait for her call at Kyoto station to save time.
And what a coincidence!!! I was about to go into the book store at Kyoto station when I heard Alex's voice from somewhere. I looked around and there he was, hugging his Japanese fan! I went up to them, losing my tongue, and Alex saw me and he said, "Hey! So good to see you!" It was so natural! As if we've met before) "Stephanie was just about to call you!" Wow, this couldn't be happening!!! It was real! Not a dream))) I was introduced to the crew, YB, Jonathan, Miriam, and Kim. Jeff had a meeting but would join later on.
They said it was their pleasure me coming with them rest of the day!!! Oh, wow!!! So it was me and Kosho, a Japanese guy who would take over his father's temple in Kyoto, that were their fans who were lucky to go around with them!!!

We went to Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple and to Gion. They were taking pictures and taking videos everywhere. I was becoming like their interpreter, which was an honor! Stephanie and I were talking about lots of things! Was it really our first time we've met????  And even Alex, too. For us fans, we've been seeing them through videos and on the Internet but they were actually right in front of us, actually talking, laughing, eating and drinking together!!! And I was so happy that I was drinking the same caramel macchiato with Alex at Starbucks!!! I was sitting between Stephanie and Alex!!! How exciting is that!!!

And at the soba restaurant, I was sitting next to Alex, Stephanie and YB right in front of me. It was such an unbelievable experience for me! They were so natural))) And I was explaining to all of them the whole menu of the restaurant and about Japanese food, how to eat soba noodles properly...YB was such a nice guy, with lots of sense of humor. YB and Jonathan, the Belgium photographer, were finally competing who would make the loudest sound when eating soba noodles))) The whole group, they were lacking sleep and I could really see that. But all through the time, they were smiling and making the others laugh and I really really thought they are a one big happy family. The bond they have is so strong.  It was also great to see Jeff at the end too. He had done a great job for the group!!! We respect him for what he had done!

There was no time to get one from Jeff, but I got everybody's message on my favorite Russian Starbucks matryoshka!!! I will treasure this!!!

They are traveling around Japan. I wish them good luck and I really hope I could see them again.

As this meeting that I wished for became true, I now really believe that wishes DO come true.
That's if you believe!!!

Day 41 A Long Day...

Woke up at 5am to do the laundry.
Then left home at 7am, commuting to Nagoya Congress Center.
(the pic u see on the left)
The rush hour...oh I hate it)))

Press Conference Briefing started from 9am. After that, what I did till 6pm...just wait,wait, WAIT!!! I am needed only when there is a press conference. I couldn't just go home coz you never know what's going to happen...

But I enjoyed my day because I was with Sano Eri san and Hiroshima Akiko san all day! Sano-san was an i-J of my favorite radio station Radio-i, and Hiroshima san was reading the news there too! I was a huge fan of Radio-i, that's why I was so happy to spend time with them!!! I just couldn't believe that I was actually talking with my favorite female i-J of Radio-i!!!

We had to do something to spend time effectively so we walked around the COP10 / MOP5 site and found these!!

The picture to your left is a dinosaur made from 650 pieces of garbage!!! Cans, toys, dolls, even mileage cards were stuck on to this dino))) So cool!
And to your right is a flower made from tsuru (crane) out of origami!!! Isn't this neat? All these little origami cranes are stuck together to make one flower!!!
Lost for words!!!

I think I really need to find what to do during the LONG WAITING time.
Do u have any good ideas?)))

Good night! Need to sleep now!
Oh, it's almost 2am)))

Day 40 Waiting is my job...:)

 "Biodiversity is Life"... (left is a Russian written poster I found today)

MOP5 started today in Nagoya!!! http://www.cbd.int/mop5/
My job is to work with the camera crew of NHK Int'l, to tell them in brief about the press conference, when the next press conference will be held. It was very interesting to watch how they really do the press conference. Today I saw the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries! So many SPs, security was so strict today! Even the press conference was closed to have it inspected by the police!)

This morning I kind of felt great because when they checked my ID tag on the bar code, the guard said through his walkie-talkie, "This person is a free-pass!", meaning no security check)))

I worked from 8am to 5pm today and there were only 2 press conference today...So most of the time I just had to sit somewhere and wait! WAITING WAS MY JOB))) That is, you know, a bit tiring...I had a book with me but that made me fall asleep) Went to the Cyber Cafe to do some research on COP10 / MOP5, listened to my mp3 player, explored the site...so much time and was so hard to spend time))) Maybe I should study something or really try and read a book!!! Because I am working everyday except Thursday and Sundays until the end of the month! I really CAN DO SOMETHING!!!

I have some interesting stories to share while I was exploring. There was a stand where you could by hotdogs, pizza, fried chicken and stuff and you know what? I found 2 huge spelling mistakes.
Instead of Smoked Turkey, it was Smoked Terkey,
instead of plain hotdog, it was PLANE hotdog!!!
It's an international conference!!!! How could they mispell them?))) And they wrote it SO BIG)))

And look at his photo to your left. You will see this all over the site. You can drink NAGOYA's water for free!
Yeah, it was a great promo, but once you taste it...I think I really cannot recommend this...Sorry, Mr.Mayor, but it was awful....
I see many ad and even on newspapers that NAGOYA water is recommendable and delicious but...there is a big question among the interpreting staff here))) We all tasted it and have the same question...
"Can we really promote this?"
If you have a chance, please try. When I tasted it, it was like I was in a swimming pool....Can't find the right word, nice word to explain but some strange flavor is left in my mouth...I would rather drink my own tap water at home...although I live in the same city...I'm sorry but I would go straight to the vending machine to buy mineral water instead)))

Day 39 It's only my first day but...

It's almost midnight and finally I can sit down...After I came back from my first day at the COP10 job, I cooked dinner for the family, with some help from Asahi-chan and Julie (making gyoza - pan-fried dumplings), washed all the dishes and frying pans, then after a quick shower, did all the ironing I had to do!
By the time I finished ironing, I felt a bit dizzy...Doing my housework straight after work is so exhausting than my workouts)))

It's only my first day but I don't think I can EVER be a full-time working person and a mother)))
After I come home and see all the housework I need to do, and miss the times I have with Julie, I feel like starting the day all over again!!! This was my decision. I thought it would be a great opportunity to be engaged in such a huge, global conference. And if I DO complain, or say I'm tired, I know my husband would say, "Sakichan, then why did you take the job? " I don't want to say that I'm too tired from work that I don't feel like cooking))) Sometimes I feel....if ONLY he can cook too...

I'm the one who is making myself too busy!
But there are so many things I want to do and try! No one can stop me!!!)
Born in the year of "boar" (inoshishi doshi), born as a Leo (August), and being a blood type B,
I think some people can understand what kind of character I am !!!;)

I'm so tired and sleepy and my mind's not working so I'll write again tomorrow!
Good night!

Day 38 Such a busy day today...

It rained like crazy today. It's okay...it HAS to rain, but don't want it when I have to do so many things outside like today!!!

Started my day doing the laundry. No time to hang the laundry because we were late for Julie's SADO (Japanese tea ceremony) class. Yes - Julie, 8 years old, she's learning Japanese culture! She saw me doing it and she got inspired by the movements and silence, and asked me & my husband if she can learn! We didn't believe that such a young girl would be SO interested in SADO, but she's been learning for a couple of months and she loves it! Yes, go on girl! Inherit the Japanese tradition!!! And she's a fast learner!

Quickly went home to hang the laundry, then off to the dentist. Did some grocery shopping for the weekend, came home, cooked lunch & dinner at the same time, munching a sandwich))) JUST SO BUSY to sit and eat! What made me so busy was that I had this interpreting job to do for a friend who is giving a wine seminar in the evening. Being a housewife and a mom is not so simple. Plus if you have work, who's going to cook and do housework? My husband doesn't cook, Julie's too young to cook for the family...which means that I need to do that. I am very thankful to my husband, for letting me do all kinds of work that I'm interested in, letting me do whatever I want to do...As an appreciation, or I can say, in return, I really must do all the housework and cooking!!! My responsibility is to keep my family happy. If Julie's happy, and if my husband is also happy and satisfied in the house, I feel great.

But...ABSOLUTELY I'm so grateful that Asahi-chan is here! She is helping me so much. She helps me prepare meals, do the dishes, and babysit Julie!!! Maybe that's why I could go out tonight to work...

It was my first time, actually interpreting for a wine seminar. Honestly speaking, I don't really know about wine because I can drink only a tiny bit...But I thought I should give it a shot and see how it goes. Even if I don't drink so much, it's always good to know new things. Always think positive! And I DID learn a lot and it was actually fun!!! My curiosity made me enjoy the event! I liked the people who came today too! And I loved the restaurant! 

Now...from tomorrow a big international conference will start in Nagoya. Have you heard of MOP5, COP10? From 190 countries, over 8000people are coming to the site. It's a big conference for biodiversity. And I'm going to take part. Interpretation at the press conference room!Working except for Thursdays and Sundays, from morning to evening. Just like a full-time worker!!!

What I worry is the communication with Julie and meals!!! I hope I could do everything smoothly...Asahi-chan is going to cooperate, which I reallly appreciate!!! She made chocolate mousse today! I'm so excited to eat it tomorrow!

Cheers!;)

Day 17-37 It's Already October!!! So quick!!!

I can't believe time flies so fast..
I was saying and writing to my friends that I will update my blog, and look! Almost 3 weeks have passed!!!
What have I been doing?)))
I have been too active! ...as usual. I sometimes wonder, where DOES all this energy come from?)))
I will try and write in brief what happened but that's the hardest part for me because I just LOVE to write!

YAKUSHIMA TRIP
This is what my husband and I had planned for my daughter's birthday and Asahi-chan's welcome trip.
We stayed in Yakushima for 2 nights and Kagoshima for 1 night. Sorry school teachers, the girls had to skip school because of the flight schedule)))

Yakushima, registered as UNESCO's World Heritage site, is said to be an island with lots and lots of rain. But we were SO LUCKY! No rain, but blue sky and strong sunshine!!! We arrived late in the afternoon on the first day. We didn't want to miss anything so we went to 白谷雲水峡(Shiratani Unsuikyo), the forest of  もののけ姫(Princess Mononoke). I've never seen such a forest in my life!!! How can I explain this in words? Everything was just perfect. So green, so quiet, and so relaxing. On the way back, we kind of had a spooky adventure. It got real dark))) We did not have a flashlight, only the moonlight, and the sound of water that made us get back to the entrance. I was scared myself because I hate the dark))) I REALLY DO!!! Even at this age, YES! But my daughter was crying...I could not say I was scared, I had to be a brave mom...

The following day, we enjoyed the river and the sea!
Just look at the photos!


We ended our Yakushima trip with another trekking. Again, we were deep in the forest! We really enjoyed the walk! I am definitely coming back to this island! There are more things to see, do, and enjoy!
After Yakushima, we kind of lost energy in sightseeing Kagoshima. But HAD to see Sakurajima, the active volcano) Unfortunately the top of Sakurajima was covered with clouds but the following early morning, we got to see a nice and clear one!

AFTER THE TRIP TILL TODAY!!!

My daughter, JULIE, she turned 8 on the 19th, so we went to HARD ROCK CAFE Nagoya to celebrate! I have been a huge fan of Hard Rock Cafe since when I was 18 years old, whereever I travel, it's a mission for me to go there and get at least one souvenir!!! And I LOVE going there on birthday months! You will get celebrated from the restaurant, get 10% discount coupon for the shop, and get your photo taken!!! So many treats!!! Actually, I couldn't go on my birthday month in August (which was a MUST thing to do every birthday), what a pity, so I kind of forced the family to go on Julie's birthday month))) I'm the only one in the family who is eager to get celebrated by a whole bunch of people! I wonder why my husband and Julie are so shy)))

←See!!!:)))) It was Asahi-chan's first time going to Hard Rock Cafe! She loved it! I made her become a Hard Rock Cafe fan)))  Yeahy!

On that weekend, we went to a huge toy shop to buy Julie's b-day present.
We got her HEELEY's. It was her dream to get one))) I wanted to buy her rollerblades so she and I could rollerblade together but she refused...
How come HEELEY's are much more expensive than rollerblades? Can anyone tell me? Oh, well. It's her b-day present! She can get what she wants)
So I think Julie had a great b-day this year!!! We celebrated all through the week!

And what have I been doing? I have been working out a lot!!! I took belly dance, body combat, "waist-shape" class, Zumba, Rusie Dutton, and my usual hip-hop dance class!!! I don't think I'm a real cool hip-hop dancer, but I love the music so much and love to dance to the music so I have been taking dancing lessons for over 4 years))) My body really changed since I started. I can move my neck side to side now! And able to keep my flat belly!) As you become older, it's easy to put on weight but it gets quite hard to lose weight. To stay young, healthy, and energetic, dancing really works for me. I've only tried belly dance twice but I think there is a connection to hip-hop dancing. So I think I must try this from now on. Zumba is so fun!!! I love this kind of dance! I need to learn more Latin dancing. Maybe I can learn how to dance more sexier!!))) But I am showing no one))) I'm never going to do body combat! Absolutely not for me! But I liked Tae Bo! Maybe because I loved the instructor!!!

Hmmm....other than dancing, I have been shopping for inexpensive clothes) Just can't stop searching for cool clothes and accessories that are not expensive!!! The happiness, excitement doubles, even triples when I find them!!!

Oh, and I went to a cooking & lunch at my friend's house. We get together once a month and share our recipes. We've done French, Italian, and Japanese food. This month we did some French dishes called Hachis Parmentier and Tarte Tatin!!! They were soooo good!!! I wonder what we will be doing next month. But one of my best friend is leaving...I hate good-byes...

And Asahi-chan, she's doing great!!! She is always studying Japanese hard, always writing a lot in her notebook, asking me so many questions which is kind of a test for me, whether I understand Japanese well! And I am realizing that Japanese has so many ways of expressing one thing!!! I'm learning too!
It's nice having her! She helps me a lot and we have fun together!!! We have a good relationship!

Hahaha, 20 days in brief!!! Will try and write everyday. I think no one believes me now;)