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!!!