Where I am, who I am

How has your 2010 been?

Mine has been...
At first half, I had been under medical treatment, so I spent days kind of slowly.
Since June, I had been job-hunting as a bilingual emcee. Since September, I started to work as an emcee, being an English teacher as well.

The turning point of this year was the toastmaster's 10th anniversary party. It was in June.
I was an emcee. The party was big and gorgeous. I had a wonderful experience...
But right after the party, I felt "This isn't it."

I don't want you misunderstand... Toastmasters is wonderful club.
A great activity to participate in, but it is after all, "an extracurricular activity."
While I was emceeing at a Toastmasters party, I thought, "this is what I want to do, but not where I want to be."
I realized I wanted to WORK as a professional emcee.

Since September, I have done Japanese emceeing, and bilingual emceeing (Japanese and English.)
Frankly speaking, I had been frustrated with the job til recently.
I was an wedding emcee at restaurants and estate-style wedding venues before, but hotel weddings are completely different.
I need to be careful with choice of words, meeting with event planning companies...
I felt tired and even felt it might not be my thing.

However, since December, I started to enjoy my emcee job.
After three months I restarted my emcee job, I could finally "restarted" feeling, "I am a professional emcee."

Then, I've done the last job in 2010.
It was December 26th, the international wedding reception party between a Japanese bride and an English groom.
They have a lot of speeches. I needed to summarize them or translate completely.
The groom was an Oxford graduate, an Kung Fu European champion, and a great piano composer.
I needed to explain his study and Kung Fu skills.
I got a lot of pressure, but eventually...the wedding was successful.

I received thank-you e-mails.
The bride and groom said, "the day would not have been the same without your excellent services as our special master of ceremonies."
The bride's father said, "Because of your excellent translation skills, our family and Jer's family could share the same messages together. I think we produced the common background at the wedding party because of your wonderful skills. Thank you very much."

After the party, unlikely after the toastmasters' party...I sensed, "this is it. This is what I want to do, where I want to be, and what I can do. This is my professional service that I can make people happy."
I know I have several things I need to improve as a professional, but I thought, "An international couple should hire an emcee who can speak English, and who knows bridal service well. A wedding emcee for international couples should be able to both. I can do both."
I found my professionalism the day.

Also, I realized how important concentration was.
The wedding's meeting with the bride and groom was three days before the wedding reception, so, I confined myself to my home, writing a script for the wedding.
Then, I watched the Japanese championship of figure skating.
I noticed, winners like Miki Ando or Takashi Kozuka, had no distraction during performance.
I determined, "I'm not an experienced emcee, but I'll do my best without having any distraction."
Finally, my clients were very happy for my service.

My biggest resolutions in 2011 would be, keeping doing the "what I want to do & what I can do" job, as much as I can do.
To make my clients & my students happier, I need to sharpen my skills!
My head teacher at my school got the full score of TOEIC, full score of TOEIC speaking and writing test, first grade of EIKEN, and special A grade of United Nation English test.
He must be much much busier than me, but he has brushed his skills up.
I need to look up him!!

So, I ended up writing my resolutions in 2011...
"Getting the first grade of EIKEN and the full score of TOEIC."
What!? The same as 2010!?
...See you the next year!! Have a happier, better new year!!!

Language Learners

When I went to an Okonomiyaki (Japanese pan cake) restaurant with my co-workers of a language school, an American teacher, Seth, and an English teacher, Scott, talked about how difficult Japanese Keigo (honorifics.)

I agreed with them, "You know, I just started to my wedding emcee job again...then I realized, in a formal occasion like wedding, we should put many "O" or "Go" on nouns to be polite! For example, "O-photo,"（お写真） "Go-entering,"（ご入場）etc..."
Seth was surprised and asked me,
"So, you say, "O-dress（おドレス）" or "O-cake（おケーキ）??""
I laughed, "No! We don't put O or Go on loan words from western."
Then Scott grinned, "That's insulting for western words!!"
I laughed again, "You know it doesn't mean so! Let's see, another example... Here it is!
We say, "O-burns（おこげ）!!""

I pointed out burns on the plate for Okonomiyaki.
Seth looked pleasant, "Actually, burns are my favorite! Can I eat them?"
Then, the owner of the Okonomiyaki restaurant appeared.
Seth presented the new Japanese word what he just learned.
"私はおこげが好きです。" (I love burns to eat.)
The owner, who was middle-aged, speaking very fast like a typical Eddoko（江戸っ子）,looked very surprised and warned Seth.
"You shouldn't say that in front of people! O-koge has another meaning!!"
"What is the meaning?" Seth asked.
The owner said, "O-kama(iron pot) is a guy who dresses like a girl. O-nabe(pan) is a girl who dresses like a guy. You know, burns stick on a pan... So, O-koge is a girlfriend of O-nabe!!"

I translated what the owner said to Seth and Scott, then they burst into laughing, saying, "Japanese is so interesting!!"
Seth presented again to the owner in Japanese.
”私はおこげがすきでしたけど、今はあまり好きではありません。”
(I liked burns to eat, but now I don't...because now I know the other meaning of it.)
...They weren't supposed to know the other meaning of O-koge!
Even I, and other Japanese staff there didn't know the meaning!!

I used to know things in common between me and foreign teachers in my school are speaking English and teaching English...but I discovered another thing in common that day.
WE ARE LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
I've been learning English(and French, even I rarely study it recently..,) and they've been learning Japanese!
They've been struggling to improve in their Japanese, making errors sometimes, like us, when we study English.

After we ate and drank, it was almost midnight.
Scott got on the train with me even though his home is on the opposite way.
I asked why and he said, "Oh, I'm meeting with my friends at a night club in Shinjuku. I think we'll stay up all night tonight!"

Here, I realized "things not in common" between us...
They(foreign teachers in my school) are in their early twenties!!
I can't stay up all night at a night club now!!!

Perfect English Resume

One day, the president of my emcee agent called me and said.
"One hotel wedding staff told me an American groom wants to read your resume before he asks you to be his wedding emcee. Would you write your resume in English?"

Oh oh, I see, I was a bilingual emcee who never wrote an English resume because I have had a job from a Japanese staff!
Referring to my mentor'(a very experienced professional emcee)s English resume, I started to write mine.
Then, I realized...writing my resume is looking back my life.

I found myself filled with a mixed feeling.
1) How inexperienced I am as a professional bilingual emcee!
I know I just started this job. But if I write honestly, "I'm sorry I just started this job, but I will try my best to your happiest day" on my resume, the American groom will never hire me!
On the other hand, I can't write a lie on my resume.
So, I appealed my experiences & skills with...a kind of "word magic."
I put my Japanese professional work experience forward, and my professional English emcee experience backward.
Don't blame me! It's not a sin. It's what people do to get a job! ...right?

However, the second feeling came to me was...
2)How experienced I am as an amateur bilingual emcee!
Because I had dreamed of doing that for several years, all of what I did in America was related to my current job(maybe.)
For example,
 Volunteer lecturer in Japanese culture and Japanese wedding practices at Purdue University, Purdue International Friendship Group, Purdue affiliated English school, while living in West Lafayette, Indiana, America, in 2003-2008
 Winner of the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in 2007, Division G (Indiana state)

I'm proud of myself having became bilingual.
But, there have been actually "five B" situation which I just named.
That is, "Being Bilingual Brings me Benefits and Burdens."
I should become a "go-between" of two cultures. That brings me joy, but sometimes, requires me to overcome the barrier or cultural differences.

For instance, I asked Seth, my American co-worker, to proofread my English resume.
He said, "where is the reference section? You should put the couple's names & dates of your wedding emceeing, and write "reference is available upon."

I know asking reference is very important in American business society...
But when it comes to international weddings here, most brides are Japanese, and many Japanese people don't want to reveal their personal information for unfamiliar people for them.

There were other issues Seth pointed out from his America view for my resume, but we needed to compromise at some point. I had to submit it (a Japanese-translated version) to hotel staff, so I should take in American ways and Japanese ways, too.

...I hope the American guy offers me a job! I took much time to appeal him!!
Oh, now I realize...He could read this article! When I searched two key words, "bilingual emcee, keiko" on the Internet, my blog appeared in the first section.
You! American guy who asked me to submit a resume!! (So sorry, I don't know your name, though,) I'm not inexperienced!! I'm capable of making your wedding party perfect, and I'll do my best for you! You don't have to worry at all!!

...A blog is personal? or public? So tricky! That's why I've told about my blog to my closest friends...

Home & Away

I have worked for a language school for two years and a half.
Now I feel very AT HOME in my school.
However, when it comes to my another job...emceeing, I have felt so AWAY so far.
Mainly, there are two reasons.

1: I have been struggling to change my wedding emcee style from casual to formal.
I used to work for restaurant wedding occasions, which casual style was preferred. However, now I've been involved with hotel weddings, which formal style was pleased.

I am wondering why Japanese language has too many variations.
For example, even I can simply say, "Taro and Hanako's wedding reception party" in English, Japanese has many cases to describe.
From casual to formal...
① 山田太郎さん、鈴木花子さん　ウエディングパーティ
②山田太郎様、鈴木花子様　結婚ご披露宴
③山田家、鈴木家　結婚ご披露宴

Since Japanese people thought marriage was a matching between two families,"(not just for a young couple, ) some traditional couples still prefer the pattern 3.
"Sama" and "san" are how to address the couple. Restaurant wedding staff think "san" sounds friendly and suits their western style, but hotel staff believe addressing the clients with"san" is not very polite, so they recommend us (emcees) to have a permission of using "san" word from the newly weds.

...Everything goes on just like that, so I've been really careful with choosing the words when I emcee at a hotel.

Even I feel stressed out for that, here is another one makes me feel "away."
Reason 2: Some hotel staff are not very welcomed a new staff, like me.
I think one unpleasant aspect of conventional Japanese people is "hating change."
In America, a few years ago, people were excited about "change" and they repeated "yes, we can!." In Japan, in traditional working places, some people want to say, "no, you can't!"
(I heard now in America, many people want to say "no, you can't!" too...anyway,)

Last week, when I worked in a hotel at a bay area in Tokyo, the floor captain was the typical type of the person. He was not friendly at all, even didn't introduce himself to me, always yelled at staff, frowned all the time...
I know there are advantages of having a strict boss, but his lack of communication caused staff's mistakes sometimes. For example, after the party, he told me to make an announcement. I did, but that was different one from what he wanted to. Why it happened? He muttered unclearly, so I misunderstood!

Now I have worked in different hotels whenever I am a wedding emcee, so, I try to be really careful not only for my client (the newlyweds and guests,) but also the staff (floor staff, and employees of event companies who give us jobs)there.
...Basically, wedding job needs teamwork.
But when can I feel completely HOME and a player in THE team??

Nobody has given me the exact answer, but my co-worker from a language school gave me a clue.
She is a part time teacher like me, and started a second job recently like me.
She said,"I started to do translating job. My friend introduced me to a president of a translator agent, so I started to work there... but it's very hard! The hardest thing is not the translation itself, but... communication! Agent staff often calls me no matter what time it is, requires me to attend a meeting or cut my job all of sudden... They make me crazy. I envy you! I assume a bilingual emcee job is also hard, but at least, YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO!!
I've never dreamed of being a translator,! Just there was my friend's connection, so I became...But now I'm wondering why I'm doing the job. I'm just exhausted!"

I'm actually learned a lot from her words.
1) No job is easy.
2) Even we work using English, we need to communicate with Japanese staff in a polite, delicate Japanese style. It is tiring, but once we understand that, people around us start to trust us...finally.
3)To overcome the tiring problem like 2) situation, we need to know individually,　"who I am," "what I want to do" and "why I'm here."

In my case, a wedding is a wedding wherever I have a microphone.
If the newlyweds and guests enjoy the party, nobody can fire me.
I remembered what my mentor said to me again.
"If you have your AXIS in your heart(I mean...understand 3) matters) nobody hurts you.
Whether having an axis or not is regardless of your experience or age. YOU CAN HAVE IT."

"When can I feel HOME in my working places for weddings?"
I haven't still had an answer...
But I just keep trying to go forward, believing, "away" places right now are getting to be near my "home" from my heart, unless I lose my way.

Scenes behind

As I teach many kids, I have become to distinguish (of course I don't discriminate though,) very smart kids.

One tendency of those kids is...they ask me a lot of questions.
Arisa, a third grader girl, is one of those distinguished kids.
A few years ago, she often asked me "how do you say (something) in English?"
But recently, her questions got to an upper stage.

When I said," OK, so, what you want to be in the future is patisserie(baker), right?"
She wondered, "Probably... but the word patisserie is French, so shouldn't I make it to a feminine form? Isn't it patisserier??"

Another time, I said, "OK, let's play a baseball game!"
She wondered again, "Wait! The word, GAME has two meanings, one is: board game or computer game. The other is: sport activity to compete. How can you let English-speaking people get you're talking about which?"

A few days before, she talked to me during the class.
"Keiko sensei, you often encourage us! You hardly ever scold us. Is that your school's policy?"

Then, just after the class, I gave stickers to Arisa and other kids, instead of taking attendance, as usual.
She asked ma again, " Who invented this sticker attendance? Staff at this branch, or your company people? Is this just for this branch, or nation-wide thing?"

She is only 9 years old, but she doesn't just see everything just as the way it is, like me when I was 9 years old.
She tries to see even "the scenes behind."
Sometimes I happened to meet these kids like Arisa. Whenever I meet them, I feel, "I'm sure the kid will become SOMEBODY! I would like to develop her/his gift more!!"

After the class, when we became alone with Arisa, she asked me again.
"...So, your eyelashes got mascara, fake lashes, or extension?"
...You don't have to know MY SCENE behind, kid! I wanted to say...

Another day, when we just welcomed our new British teacher, Scott, I tried to have my kid students make conversations with him.
I worked hard to encourage kids to talk to him like,
"Did you say hello to Scott? He will be teaching you!"
I also tried to give Scott pieces of information about those kids.
"Scott, this girl, Rui, is 8 years old, and she is so brilliant that she got a full score of a kid English test provided by the United Nation! Rui! Have you introduced yourself to Scott??"

Then, Rui, another smart kid who wants to know the scenes behind, said...,
"Oh, I see! Do you like him, don't you?"(好きなの？）
...There is NO SCENES BEHIND sometimes, even the smart kids should know it!!!!

Axis

Another tip what Ryoko gave us at the workshop to work with confidence, was...
"Have your AXIS. Have your own criteria for your business. What can you allow and what can't you do? If you haven't established them, you would wonder between "yes" and "no," and that would make you agitated. I am not perfect at all, but I know I've established my axis. I mean, I KNOW ME. So, I make up my decisions immediately all the time. "

...I was already wondering and said,
"Well, I hope I can reach at your stage someday... But I'm not experienced enough to get to your phase..."
Then, she smiled.
"Sweetie, regardless of experience or age, some people have established their axes and some people don't. If you feel you haven't established your criteria yet, keep your diary!
I recommend you the "five-line, one-day" diary.
After you wake up, write 1, your short-term goal and long-term goal. 2, The things you want to do today.
Before you go to bed, you write 3, the things you did the day(here is the gap between ideal (No.2) and reality.) 4. The things gratitude 5. Today's impressive words or phrases.
This is easy & doesn't take much time. Try it!"

Since the next day, I have kept the "five-line, one-day" diary...
So far, I've just felt how big the gap between my ideal & reality, but...can I become like Ryoko, or famous Ryo Ishikawa, or Hiro Mizushima, those who are really consistent people??"
Can I? Even though I change today's plan often!??

Dragon's wings, Angel's wings

On Halloween day this year, I was in Yoyogi Uehara, where many international residents live.
Looking outside foreign kids were parading for "trick-or-treating," I was taking a bilingual emcee workshop provided by Ryoko Sumitomo, with another two girls.
The day's theme was "summarizing translation."
Bilingual emcee sometimes don't need to do an interpreter job at all, or sometimes we are required to do full-translation...
But when it comes to "summarizing translation," we used this skill for international wedding occasions, mostly.

After the intense workshop was over, we chatted with our teacher, Ryoko, then...I found my eyes welling up with tears.
Why? Because I just felt...grateful, maybe.
At that time, I was talking about my anxiety for entering hotel wedding business, which seema having many red tape for me. One of the great things of Ryoko's workshop is we can tell what we feel nervous about our job. She makes that, "speak out, clear the clouds in your mind up NOW, gals!" kind of atmosphere.

I am always not good at talking what the CLOUDS in my mind (I mean, anxiety) are...
But, Ryoko always understands what I'm trying to say, exposes how vulnerable even she was before, and gives me great tips for getting rid of my "anxiety-clouds."
Her tips are not only for overcoming current situation, but also for building guts to keep working.

Anyway, what she said on Halloween day left something precious in my mind, instead of anxiety clouds. They are "dragon's wings & angel's wings."

Ryoko said, "Keiko, you are so kind that you're worried about those issues. Your kindness is your virtue! You don't have to try to change yourself. But, remember, sometimes, in business scenes, you need to show your MALE side of yourself. You certainly have it because EVERYONE has both sides. When you are emceeing, take out your ANGEL'S WINGS (female side,) perform gracefully, then attract people. But when you are negotiating your performance fee, or when you need to speak out something important for you, take out your DRAGON'S WINGS and be brave!"

Since then, her words have been echoing in my mind repeatedly.
Dragon's wings...Angel's wings...I CERTAINLY have both of them because EVERYONE HAS the both...
Basically, I am a feminine girl, and I know the advantages and disadvantages of being me, a feminine person.
However, Ryoko's "you also have dragon's wings!" magic, work out for me.
I really want to make a good use of both wings!!

On Halloween night, looking at kids' with costumes, I wore "wings" in my mind.
Angel's wings. and certainly...dragon's wings.

How to tame wild boys

Since August, I've been teaching four soccer boys in my condo.
All of them are six graders. One of the mothers is my friend and she said...
"They are too wild to be seated for a class and always very noisy... We, mothers, want them to prepare for English learning starting from junior high school. But we're sure they would drop out if we have them enter an English school or something because of their BAD behaviors. ...So, I would like you to teach them. Will you do that for us?"

When I had the first class with them, they were very cute kids & not noisy at all.
I said the mothers, "Hey, relax! They have no problems!!"
But you know, mothers always know their kids more than anyone...
As they get to know me, they have been getting to become "usual themselves" in front of me.
They really can't stay being seated!!
They are running, chasing another boy, slapping the other by a slipper, pushing someone away...
Whenever I say, "don't!!" Boys say, " どんと押せって言った？”(Did you just say, "bump him hard?") and keep doing that...

I teach them every Friday, so, sometimes I have a wedding emcee job the next day.
I'm really afraid if I lose my voice the next day because I can't stop screaming, "Stop!" or "Don't!!" or "Come here!!!!" or something, like I did in a four-year-old class at school.
Sometimes I'm really upset their rough behaviars!!

Now, their class is the hardest class ever.
I know how to use their energy for having them compete by English games. So, I let them do basketball, soccer, bowling, using some kids props. However, since they're already "low-teenagers," they get tired soon for a game and try a new one.
Therefore, I need to take at least two hours to prepare their class.
It takes time, is tiring, and I use my precious time on my day-off, I mean Friday...but I know it's worth to keep having the class for them, and for me.

For me: I can learn a lot by using another textbook other than my school's. Right now, I don't teach boys in the five & six grade, so getting to know them would make me an experienced teacher for the generation.

For them: They get to take in English, gradually. For example, even when they curse each other, they ask me beforehand, "How do you say 豚 in English?" Then, they scream "Hey, pig!" each other...
Oh, most importantly, they never skip my class and never late. Also, they never neglect homework! They are good students, aren't they?

Yesterday, the wildest boy saw the second wildest boy running, and said.
"Hey, you! You're such a kid! Why don't you go back to first grade and start over with the kids!!"

...Was he reading my mind!?
Teaching kids is great cause I can see the phase of their growing on site!!

Nightmare

...Do you have frightening dreams sometimes at night? ...I do.
I don't know why, but one of the symbols of those dreams to me was...F.I.S.H. Fish.

According to a dictionary, FISH is "an animal that lives in water, and uses its fins and tails to swim." Definition No2 is, "the flesh of a FISH used as food."
Yes, that FISH...

I don't have any bad memories about them in my real life.
I have gone fishing (definition #1) when I was a kid, I like to eat "definition #2" of FISH.
However, when I have a nightmare, they often scared me very much in my dreams.

Recently, I had kept having the kind of nightmares for a few nights, and I had a hard time to sleep well.
One night, in my dream, my hubby threw out fish of a big bucket on the floor.
The floor was covered with muddy water, and a lot of gross black fish.
I screamed to my hubby, "this is your fault! Clear them up!!"
But he didn't listen to me, so I raised my voice louder.
"TOOOOOM!!! (my hubby's name) YOU ARE BAD!!! YOU ARE A BAD BOY!! CLEAR THE FISH UP!!!"
...Then, my hubby whispered by a small voice.
"Clear...what?? I was sleeping!"

I screamed the sentence with capital letters, not in a dream, but in a real life.
My hubby was completely woken up, even though he didn't have any faults in his real life.
"Are you teasing me? YOU ARE A BAD GIRL!!" he complained, and tried to sleep again.

The next night, my hubby went to bed, saying, "don't yell at me tonight!"
While sleeping, he was woken up again, not because of "my" screaming, but...himself's screaming.
"AHHHHHH! What's this!? I'm wetting!!"
...I always put a glass of water on the top of a bed stand. At the night, when he was sleeping, my hubby came closed to my bed (we have two connected queen-sized beds) and unconsciously, slapped my glass!
So, the glass fell down to my hubby...then the content was spread over him and his favorite Futon!!

"What's this!? Is it tea!? Oh my God, it will remain a stain here... You shouldn't put a glass on a bed stand! You know I toss & turn while sleeping!!"
At 3:30 at night, we were busy to get rid of the stain from his favorite Futon and our sheets.
Then he said, "Now I get what YOUR nightmare predicted!! YOU are the one who made a mess by throwing water out! Not me! Not FISH!!"
I laughed, "Well, actually, you are the one who made a mess! I was the one who put a glass of water near you, though!"
He squeaked, "BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DO SO! YOU ARE BAD!"
Like me in my nightmare...

I don't know why, but since that night, the fishy FISH hasn't appeared in my dream.
My hubby might have saved me by getting wet in our real life instead of me, like a nightmare??
Anyway, now I'm relieved!!

Lack of beauty = lack of career?

A month ago, I took a class about corporate bilingual emceeing, from Ryoko Sumitomo.
It was a one-day, eight-hour lecture. But...coincidentally, I was the only student at the class.
So, I asked her some personal questions.
"I don't think my English pronunciation is beautiful... Would you advise me how to improve it?"
She listened to my English announcement, gave me a feedback, and that was...mind-blowing to me!

"...Keiko, you're losing your breath!"
"...What do you mean?"
"I guess, that's because of your crooked teeth. Your breath goes out from those teeth, so you sound very breathy sometimes. Also, you might have a problem with your teeth engagement. You should visit an orthodontist when you have time."

...Well, well, well... I thought I needed to pay my EFFORT to be a good bilingual emcee.
But, is she saying, I need to pay an ORTHODONTIST to have my crooked teeth straightened!??? I was saying that to myself.
Ryoko might have gotten what I was thinking, so she said.
"...However, I know we can't get the perfect teeth arrangement magically over a night...
But you know, you got the first step because now you NOTICE it's about your teeth!
The (instant) solution is, to open your mouth wider than you did before, and try to speak slowly & clearly. Let's hope it will solve most of your problems."

I practiced for several minutes.
Listening to my English announcement, Ryoko said, "Your pronunciation was improved!! You could correct it immediately, I think your English pronunciation will be much much better if you care for your teeth arrangement. But, remember, it's an instant solution.
If you want to be a first-class bilingual emcee, you should go to an aesthetic dental clinic!"

...Well, I noticed about my teeth problem, but I didn't realize my lack of beauty might connect to my lack of future career!!
When I lived in the U.S, some of my friends got braces on their teeth even though they were mothers. I thought my teeth arrangement was not so bad (it's true!!) so I didn't have to...
Also, one of those friends got a severe disease. She was diagnosed as having a "chronic fatigue syndrome." It has not been cleared, but she said, after she got braces, the symptom started.

I don't want to lack of my health, so I won't get braces...
I'm fine with ending up to be,"a second-class bilingual emcee!!"
...Do I have a problem?

Unforgettable Moment

Teru is a 4 year old kid student, and his brother, Yuto, is 7 years old.
Their mother, Akiko, is the same as my age.
...And all of them are my students!!

Teru gave me a hard time when he was a "terrible two."
He didn't want to stay away from his mom. Whenever he took my class, his mother was at the door of the classroom. If she sneaked out of the room, he started to cry, very hard.

Two years has passed. Now...he doesn't want to stay away from ME!!
Whenever the family comes to school, I play with Teru and Yuto when I don't have a class.

That day, my classes were over, so I wanted to leave school to go shopping...
But I stayed at school for awhile because they were there.
When they leave the school, they always give me Hi-5 at the elevator.
An hour later, finally I got their Hi-5, did some errands at school, and left the school, caring for the department store's business hour.

When I went outside...I heard a kid's voice.
"KEIKO SENSE---I!!!"
I looked across the road, then...Yuto, was screaming my name, climbing the road fence to get my attention!!
When the signal turned green, he dashed to cross the intersection.

"Hey hey, don't run! Where's your mom and Teru!?"
I was surprised and asked, then he grinned.
"We were having dinner at MacDonald. Then、we found you, so I came! Come on, grab a bite with us at Mac!!"
He grabbed MY HAND, and drew me into the MacDonald across the school.
His mother, Akiko found me and said,
"Keiko sensei! Sorry to bother you!! We were at the second floor, and I found you. Just after I said, "Look! Keiko sensei!" Yuto dashed immediately to reach you!!
Teru wanted to go outside to see you too, but I stopped him. Thank you for coming to us!
...A combo is OK?"
She offered me a dinner, but they seemed to have finished their meal (and I WANTED TO GO SHOPPING!!) so I said, "Oh, no, thank you. I need to go. Will you go to the station? Let's go together!"

On the way to the station, I took Teru's hand on my right side, and on my left side, I took Yuto's hand.
Yuto asked me, "Are you coming to the Halloween party? If you come, I'm gonna give you my treasure! Please come!!"
Teru asked me, "Are you coming to my house? Please come with us!!"
I laughed and said, "I'm going to the Halloween party...but speaking of visiting your house, let me do it some another time!!"

We took the trains for opposite directions. I sent them off.
When their train was about to leave, they said, "Hi-5! Hi-5, Keiko!"
They gave me Hi-5 respectively. Even after the door was closed, they tapped the door again and again, trying to touch my hands.

See? The moment was too adorable to forget!!
I didn't imagine I would start teaching kids before. I thought they were uncontrollable... Yes, they are sometimes, but moreover, they give me unforgettable moments.
I just can't wait to see them every week!

When I told this story to my friend, who has also two sons, she was a bit sarcastic.
"Yes, they give us unforgettable moments...
But you're lucky to see them once or twice per week! If if happens for four days, the adorableness will stop! "Unforgettable moments" would become "want-to-forget" moments!!"

Oh, I see...

Dress to Impress

People say, "dress to impress" especially in business scenes.
It means "if you want to look as a professional, wear a professional clothes."
But in American culture ( from my impression,) it also means "dress to impress yourself."
For example, in hospitals, nursing staffs wear white robes(professional,) but inside the professional robes, they wear vibrant-colored or full-printed clothes just to cheer themselves up and to show their personalities.
Or, even when business women wear (professional) power suits, they might have cute stationery to show their characters.

In my case, we have a dress code at our English school.
I keep that, but I try to show (not try, I just can't stop) my personality and preference through my appearance.
For instance, I got my favorite glitters, blings, spangles, crystals...on my shoes, belts, my pen case, automatic pencils, purses, or my memo-pads...
They just lighten me up while working, and also, they become kind of " leads of small talks."
When my students saw my blinging stuff, they say, "Look at that! It seems you!! Where did you get it?!
Even kids say, "it seems very Keiko!" when they see glitter things, their mothers said...
My boss, co-workers and students have known me for two years and a half, and my office is kind of westernized, so it's OK to have & wear "my favorite ones."

However, in a very Japanese business scenes, I might be better not to do that.
Unlike my English school, I started to work at conservative hotels when I do wedding emcee job.
To me, "wedding" is a bright occasion, so I thought a wedding emcee should wear a bright-colored ( I mean, not dark-colored) suit.
In some wedding venues, my idea is right, but in other venues...
"Wedding is a very formal occasion, so a wedding emcee should wear a black formal suit."

When I worked in a big hotel in Shinjuku as a wedding interpreter, a Japanese wedding emcee wore a black plain suit. To everybody, she looked like a wedding planner. To me, she looked like a guest in a funeral. (sorry!)

Fortunately or unfortunately, the hotel crews got to like me through the job, so they offered me to join their DVD as one of their wedding emcees.
The shooting is coming soon... I asked them what to wear, then they said, "Any suit with a DARK-COLORED is fine. Black, navy, or dark-gray."
Oh, those are very depressing colors to me...

I remember, when I went to the meeting of international wedding with the newlyweds, a Japanese emcee, and an event planner, I was advised not to be outstanding from the president of my emcee office because hotel staffers were very conservative.
I wore a navy suit and had a black binder (if I were at my school, I would have a pink one!)
I tried not to bring something "seems like me," but I brought up my pen case, which is a shoe-shaped with a lot of spangles.
The bride saw it and said, "look at that! So cute!" to the groom, like my students always say.
I knew it became a lead of conversation, but also I was embarrassed to bring up my "personal side" in a professional occasion.
If it had been after I get to used to a wedding venue, maybe it would have been fine...
But as long as I'm a "new emcee" to the venue, I should try "to impress as a team player" first, here in Japan.

...When can I finally "dress to impress MYSELF" instead of "dress NOT to impress myself" at my emcee working places??
I don't know...

What makes kids scared

Last week, my English school had a Halloween party.

I wore a sexy (I know I'm not a sexy-type, but when a grown-up woman chooses a Halloween costume...we have just two options. Sexy or silly.) witch costume under my coat, and arrived at school.
My co-worker, Seth, was already there, wearing a Japanese-lord （お殿様）costume and a topknot(ちょんまげ） wig. Our manager got the Japanese costume & wig cause she thought it might be very funny & cute if an American young guy wore them...
Yes, he looked perfectly cute for me, but he looked disappointed.
"You look great! ...But, is it something wrong?"
I asked Seth, then he said to me,
"Thank you...but Mai cried when she saw me, so now I'm changing."

Mai is 4 year old kid student. She has come to my class and Mark's class, two times a week to our school.
She has been our student since she was one-year-old, so she was a brilliant student...
Her English doesn't seem a 4-year-old one's.
Every teaching staffs were surprised when she got a full score of the United Nation's English test for kids!!

Even though she's got used to our school & teachers, she cried when she saw Seth, an "American-version of a Japanese lord."
To us, it was funny, but to her, it was completely frightening.

Seth changed his costume to "Elvis Presley," an American superstar singer.
Then, Mai stopped crying, came closer to Seth, asking, "Who are you??" smiling...

I couldn't stop wondering.
Why did she cry when she saw a Japanese lord costume??
What made her scared?? Why Elvis Presley was OK to her, but Japanese lord was not??

After I got home, my hubby gave me an mind-blowing answer.
"It's clear! Because she has been at English school, she is westernized!! That's why she didn't like a Japanese costume! She wanted to say, "I love American costumes! Halloween is an American festival, don't bring a Japanese style!!" Don't you think so??!"

....Well, I don't know...
I have no idea what makes kids scared sometimes...

Another day, I had a class at my condo (Every Friday, I teach English soccer boys in my condo.)
When I asked "How are you?" a six grader kid, he stared at me and said...
"I'm...scared!! Your make-up is just thick!!"

After I got home and told that to my hubby, he said.
"A score to him!! I'm with him!!"

...I have no idea why kids are scared by a Japanese costume or my make-up, but my hubby seems to completely understand why.
...Is it fair or unfair???

Basic skills & Dream

...This is about a few years ago.

When one of my American co-workers, Mark, asked me as usual,
"Hey Keiko, what's new?" I was dying to tell someone about this exciting news.
"Well, don't be surprised! Two of my acquaintances got a Novel Prize!!"
Mark couldn't stop being surprised.
"WHAT!?? That's huge!!!"

Yes, as you know, two Japanese Novel winners this year.
Both of them (and one more American professor ) were credited for unlocking carbon's potential through palladium-catalyzed cross coupling...which I have no idea what they're talking about... to get Novel Prize in chemistry.

Distinguished Professor, Eiichi Negushi of PURDUE(!) University, and Emeritus Professor, Akira Suzuki of HOKKAIDO (!) University, once researched that at Purdue, under their mentor, the late Herbert Brown, an American chemist who received the Novel Prize himself in 1979. Herbert Brown Nominated them to the Novel Prize, that made them winners finally this year.

If you're my friend, you might already notice...
PURDUE!!! I had lived for four years and a half in West Lafayette, in Indiana, in America. Purdue University is exactly located in the city!! I went to Purdue-affiliated English school (actually, I gave a lecture once at Purdue about Japanese culture!!) and took some classes there. Of course, the classes I took were not clever chemical ones, but crazy theatrical ones...

Also, just after I started to live in West Lafayette, I met Mrs. Negishi.
Mrs. Negishi is actually my hubby's company's interpreter who helps Japanese families when they go to hospital or school. Just after I went to America, I had some small health troubles, so she took me to the hospital. I asked her to do that just a few times because soon I started to go to hospitals by myself to practice my English...but she was so nice that she invited me to her house ( I mean, the Prof. Negishi's house which was often broadcast when they got interviews!!) several times.
The house was MUCH more gorgeous than you saw on TV...and Mrs. Negishi is so open-minded and unique that she took me to the house tour even to their private bedroom!!

My hubby was in charge of hiring interpreters stuff, so he used to talk to Mrs. Negishi often, and went to her house several times. I have never met Prof . Negishi himself, but my hubby has met him at the company's party.

On the other hand, Prof. Suzuki, works for Hokkaido University.
I'm from Hokkaido, lived near Hokkaido University. My brother graduated from Hokkaido University (unfortunately, not me though, ) and my father had worked there for almost 40 years!!
Prof. Suzuki was from a small city, Mukawa cho, in Hokkaido.
In front of the Prof's parents house is...my uncle's house!!
I have never met Prof. Suzuki himself, but my uncle has known him for a long time.
Mukawa cho is such a small city, but after the fascinating Novel news, many TV crews visited Mukawa. My uncle runs a bookstore, boutique, and drag store in Mukawa.
He got marvelous news of his old friend, and also much more customers to his stores.

That was great to share this vibrant news with my hubby, my friends who lived in West Lafayette, and my family in Hokkaido.
Moreover, it was great to hear the winner's delightful winning speeches.
I was especially impressed by what Prof. Negishi said.
"Lads and lassies, have a big dream and sharpen your basic skills. If you keep doing these, your big dream will come true like me. I had been chasing my dream for 50 years, now today, finally it came true!"

I know I'm no longer "a lassie," but his persuasive message got me.

HAVING A BIG DREAM. ...and, SHARPEN YOUR BASIC SKILLS.

He is absolutely right! If we keep doing the two diligently, every single day, anyone can be successful, I believe...

But the thing is, "keeping those EVERY SINGLE DAY" is not so easy.
Even 10 years sound very long to me, but look at him( I mean, two of them!) 50 YEARS!!

...Basis skills and Dream. I repeated the words to myself. B and D...
There's such a great deal that I might not be able to follow all the time...
But so far, just go on...working for...my B & G.

My B&G!? ...Bride and Groom!???

Bilingual Emcee Job

I should have posted this article just after my first job experience, but...you know, from my laziness...I'll tell you about it now!

My first bilingual emcee job was an international wedding ceremony & reception at a gorgeous hotel in Shinjuku(Guests from overseas were 30 out of 100.)
The meeting was a week before the wedding.
Usually, there are supposed to be just newlyweds & emcee at the meeting, but there were...me (an English emcee & interpreter,) a Japanese emcee (the event planner ordered her because the couple couldn't find a bilingual emcee...until they found me,) and en event planner.(why was he there? He said, "because it's a special case," he meant, an international wedding.)

In Tokyo, I used to be a wedding emcee at restaurants or estate-style wedding venues.
So, I didn't know that...traditionally, hotel weddings have "event agents" for wedding.
I got this job offer from an event agent of the hotel, therefore, I should have asked everything not directly a hotel wedding planner, but an event agent. However, the event agent didn't know much about my bride and groom, so everything was unclear until I met the couple at the meeting. For example, the agent said, "the groom is American." But it turned out he was Australian! Why do many Japanese think "All westerners are the same!??"
THEY ARE DIFFERENT!!
They have different accents, different cultures, different characters...
My attitude was right to prepare for the meeting depends on which country he was from, but, you know... it happens. There are many people are involved in business, so, I need to be flexible all the time.

Anyway, (if I need to write so much even "before the meeting," how much I would write until the wedding was over!? Prepare for the worst, baby!!) eventually, the meeting was very successful.
I was afraid if I didn't understand the groom's Aussie English, but I completely could.
My communication was perfect between the newlywed, that made the event agent relieved.

I tried to communicate well enough to make the couple confirmed that I am professional.
We exchanged e-mails a lot after the meeting in a week (for Japanese couples, sometimes it's annoying if an emcee asked too many questions. But in western culture, it's a good attitude to ask if something is unclear.)
Via e-mail, the Australian groom said, "Keiko, you seem a lovely person & very professional.
We're (he and the bride) happy to have you one of our MC's!!"
That words made me lighten up.

On the wedding day, I noticed...
I wanted to be a "go-between" for two culture, I mean, international newlyweds and their families.
But eventually, I was a "go-between" for staff crews and the clients ( I mean, the newlyweds and their families!!)
Hotel staff crews, who were supposed to be very professional for weddings, were very confused at the international wedding.
Because;
The couple basically lived in Australia. They were just visiting Japan to tie the knot in the bride's home country. It means, the groom didn't understand Japanese at all.
However, he was the one who had many plans for their wedding. Firstly, many staffs didn't understand his original plan clearly. Secondly, when we noticed his plan needed to be changed slightly on site, other crews were afraid to communicate with him because they don't speak English.
Therefore;
from the rehearsal of the ceremony to after the ending of the reception, I ran between the groom & stuff crews to "interpret."

I imagined before...but realized vividly ON SITE...international wedding is exactly, mixture of two cultures!!
For example, they had a non-religious ceremony at the hotel's lobby.
But they (the groom) didn't want a Japanese-style-non-religious-one （人前式。）　　
They wanted to have me as a celebrant, who let the couple repeat their vows.
I knew western style wedding was so, and the couple said their vows, exchanging wedding rings... But Japanese staff crews had no idea about it, so I needed to advise them for everything. Even a Japanese emcee and I had a practice for emceeing on the phone, the Japanese emcee was so nervous & misled some orders!! That's why I kept saying, there was no need for "just a Japanese emcee" at international weddings!! A bilingual emcee can do everything!!

For some reasons, ( I want to talk about it more, but please talk to you in person some another time!!) their reception started 50 minutes behind from the schedule.
What I was frightened the most was... speech translation.
I have never worked as an interpreter, but I practiced for that, watching wedding speeches on YouTube etc, and I got some clues from my mentor bilingual emcee, Ryoko.
So, overall, I did good...but again, I realized "ON-SITE" is different from "IN-CLASS."
For example, I learned I could ask a speaker to show me his note for the speech. But one speaker didn't have a note, and another speaker had a lot of spelling mistakes on his note.
I asked them what they were going to speak beforehand, so I could confirm the context while I was listening their speeches, then I summarize them.

I was very busy during the reception because many staff crews asked me to interpret...
Then, a captain said to me, "Keiko, want should I say to the groom?"
I didn't get what he meant, "Say...what??"
"A congratulatory comment! I kept talking to him in Japanese, even he didn't understand... At least after the ending, I want to talk to him in English to celebrate. How do you say, "ご結婚おめでとうございます。　すばらしいご家庭をつくってくださいね。" in English??"
I smiled. "Oh, you could say, " Congratulations for your wedding! I wish both of you build a wonderful family!!"
He repeated, but forgot, so I wrote it down on a memo.
Then, a Japanese emcee and assistant captains surrounded me asking,
"Teach me English! Is there any way to shorten the sentence??"
"Would you write the sentence in Katakana?" etc, etc...
My emcee stand became an "instant-today's English-class."

As the reception was going to the end, a braid maid(hotel staff) told me.
"The groom asked you about speech or something... would you go to him to ask what?"
I asked him, and he said, "I just thought if someone wanted to speak a few words..."
I said to myself..."There he comes! A westerner!!!"
Usually, western wedding parties are "spontaneous," as I wrote in the "Wedding from American point of view" article. They don't decide who will speak except for a maid of honor and best man.
Those who want to speak ON SITE will speak!!

I thought the Australian groom understood Japanese wedding parties, which are "everything is planned beforehand."
But...as he became relaxed, the western part of him appeared.
I wanted to make his request come true, but there were some "red tape" at the wedding.
I needed to ask a Japanese emcee, assistant manager, and a manager...

After all, we couldn't ask, "Does anyone want to say a few words?" because of time restraint.
Frankly speaking, "the red tape" included my inexperience. I thought I would like to avoid "spontaneous, simultaneous interpretation" for table interview...
I asked my mentor the feedback about it later. I should clear about the simultaneous interpretation thing someday!!

Behind one hour and ten minutes from original schedule, the long wedding was over.
My instant students, I mean, captains and a Japanese emcee, who asked me how to say congratulatory messages in English, were about to use the "today's English key sentence" to the groom... But ON SITE, they got scared & let me say that as a representative.

The groom and groom's father said, "Because of the staff crews' hard work, all the guests enjoyed our wedding. We appreciate it."
I translated that, then staff crews, who had been caught in cultural gaps, were so relieved.
The groom told the bride, "You are the perfect bride. Please stay beautiful forever in our married life."
I translated that to a captain. He was astonished,
"We, Japanese guys, never imagine to say so to our girls..."
He, also was caught in another cultural gap.

The couple gave us a gift to me as their acknowledgement.
I wrote a thank you e-mail. They individually replied to me after they were back to Australia.
The bride said, "I hope we could meet some other time privately, or please be our emcee again for another occasion!"
The groom said, "Your help as much appreciated as MC and you were very professional."
Can you imagine how I was glad to hear that?
I think I was very lucky to have them as my first clients. They were very generous, thoughtful, kind, and unique couple.
But some Japanese hotel crews were afraid & didn't know how wonderful the newlyweds were just because didn't speak English!
In fact, we had some issues might become complaints. However, because the bride and groom were so nice & I communicated with them well...( I think I could get a credit about it!) everything was ended fine.
I learned a lot from this job experience!!

By the way, besides the bride and groom, a person who showed me appreciation most was the groom's father. He said, "Keiko, you were the most helpful! You told me everything what we should do next, so we could be relaxed here. Thank you!" He hugged me.
He spoke typical Aussie English, and had many spelling mistakes on his speech note...
God bless me, it was a miracle I didn't have a major mistake when I translated his speech!!

Wedding from American guy's point of view

Yesterday, I had a "practice" for the upcoming bridal meeting with an international couple.
I asked my American co-worker (since the groom is American,) Seth, to pretend to be my client, I mean, the groom. I wanted to confirm all of my questions made sense & if I could communicate smoothly in English.
My English communication skills were no problem when it comes to wedding( when it comes to my unfamiliar field, I might have no idea what they're talking about, though...)
But "some of my questions about wedding in Japan confused Seth, who had no idea how Japanese couples have their weddings.

The point is, a Japanese wedding is "well-planned." We have strict time allotment. Everything is planned beforehand (even a surprise event is well planned.) If there are any changes on the planning sheet, all of the staff crew should know about them to make the wedding go smoothly.
That's why a newlywed needs to hire a wedding emcee!

On the other hand, American wedding is kind of "spontaneous." Wedding is supposed to be fun, so, if a guest wants to make a speech, s/he can do that anytime, on site. The guests even can leave whenever they want!

...So, during the practice, Seth never gave me my desirable answer first.
When I asked, "Would you like to make a welcome speech at the beginning of your reception?"
He said, "Yeah, MAYBE. (Check out the bold letters!) But I don't know if I would do that at the beginning. CAN I DO THAT HALFWAY THROUGH?"
When I said, "would you want me to introduce your backgrounds, or will you introduce yours by yourself?"
He was surprised, "Do...I have to introduce my backgrounds? I guess everybody knows my backgrounds! That's why they're coming to my wedding!"
...And I asked,"who will make speeches?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I don know...maybe, some of my friends coming from NY... if they want to say a few words on the day, they might."

...Then, I turned to be like a teacher.
"OK, Seth, actually, a Japanese wedding is supposed to be a well-planned, formal party. Your party time length has been decided, so we need to be on time, basically. So, all of the party staff should know who are the speakers, what's going on next, and so on. Also, the guests from the bride side might not know about you very much, so, introducing the couple's backgrounds is very common in Japan. That's why you hired me! ( He didn't, I was just kidding.)"
He seemed stunned, and took a look at Pingu stuffed doll beside him.
(He made fun of the practice meeting, so he said, "Look! This is my bride!" Then, he put the stuffed "Pingu" on the chair next to him.)

...He became like a student who were scolded by his teacher, so I was back to be a wedding emcee.
"...But of course you can mingle two cultures at your wedding. That's why I'm here for you!
You don't have to follow Japanese wedding customs all the time if your bride (Pingu) doesn't mind, but there's one thing. Your party time length is decided. So, we're talking how to make your wedding go "effectively fun."

That was the time he met the "cultural boundary," and I did, too!
The interesting thing is, even he thought a wedding reception would be "spontaneously fun," he took his wedding ceremony more seriously than I did.
International weddings might be more "unexpected" than I imagine, but I feel like they could be much more exciting than I picture...
Besides, a bilingual emcee might be needed much more than I expect.
...I can't wait to meet my first clients!!

Weddings Worldwide

Before I started to belong to my current emcee office, I took a lesson to be a bilingual emcee by a pioneer of this field, Ryoko Sumitomo.
Now I've been reading her textbook again because I will take her another lesson for "corporate bilingual emcee." Then, I noticed how interesting this part again, is..."kinds of world marriages & weddings."
For example...

Islamic marriage: means a man becomes responsible to support his wife. Before marriage, they make a contract to decide how much he pays for their wedding & monthly maintenance...not only the amount of money, but also how much jewelry, education he can give her... They make a deal for everything.
Do you think it's unfair for guys? But a man has a right to divorce her if he wants. After he files their divorce, if his wife isn't pregnant three months later, the divorce becomes official even though his wife doesn't want to.

Islamic wedding(In Saudi Arabia): In this culture, it's not respectable for men & women to have a party together. So, they have parties separately. ( I was most stunned to hear that!)
First, a groom and his male guests have dinner, and after that, a bride and her female guests have the guys' left-over. (...WOW...!)

South Africa, Anglican church members: a newlywed couple does a bungee jumping at their wedding... (another wow!)

Jewish: On their wedding day, a bride and a groom fast. In the ceremony, a groom put a wedding band on not a bride's ring finger, but her index finger.

Zulu, African continent: On the wedding day, a groom's family kills a cow, and tells the couple's fortune. (How...? I don't know!) To acknowledge that, a bride puts some money in the cow's stomach, and return it to the groom's family. (...one more, WOW!!)

When I was in America, I heard many interesting wedding customs from international friends.
My Korean friend said, "we send invitations to many guests, but the guests don't reply.
It is OK they decide to come or not come, ON THE DAY!"
I was surprised and asked her,"What about meal? Staff at the wedding place should prepare dishes depending on how many guests there will be!"
She shrugged her shoulders, "They prepare meals for all guests the couple invited. If some people don't come, dump them!"

Another friend from Armenia said, "A wedding is a FIGHTING for us."
"What!? A fighting means, between a bride and groom!??" I asked.
She laughed, "Oh, no! Between guy guests! You know, a wedding is a party. At a party, people drink a lot, when people drink a lot, some people get crazy... A trigger is silly usually. One guy gets mad saying, "You! You had an eye on my girlfriend! You such a bastard!" Then, the guy who was said also becomes upset, "What are you talking about!? I didn't! You ARE a bastard!!" ...Then, they start to fight. When someone starts to fight, we know it's time to close the wedding!"

One newlywed Indian girl said, "I got married to a guy that my parents found for me. In my county, parents are matchmakers."
"Really? Didn't you want to pick a guy you like? Did you think you can love a guy your parents choose?"
She smiled beautifully, "Why not? I believe my parents know about me more than I do. I can love a guy whom my parents believe in."
The Indian girl was a former newscaster. I was surprised even she, such a career woman, believes so.

Marriage & wedding are based on the country's (the tribe's, the race's, the religion's...) culture.
Even though one wedding custom sounds mysterious to me, it has a reason, based on their history.
So, I should respect that.

International wedding is a fusion of different culture.
At the end of the part of the textbook, the bilingual emcee teacher, Ryoko says, "We shouldn't push one culture to an international couple. Communicating with them, we help to make a beautiful combination as they want. During their wedding reception, it is great if we help two family's mingling. We are like a "go-between" for the two culture."

First offer as a bilingual emcee

A few weeks ago, I got the first formal offer as a bilingual emcee.
It was an international wedding ceremony & reception,　between a Japanese girl and an American guy. The wedding place is a big, traditional hotel in Shinjuko.
Yes, my first job as a bilingual emcee...CORRECTION: a TRANSLATOR emcee.

I'm wondering, why are international couples so easygoing?
Most Japanese couples order their wedding emcees AT LEAST a few MONTHS ago.
But when it comes to international couples, they start to think about their emcees a few WEEKS ago!
Another correction: It was not my first offer. I got another offer, but I had a Japanese wedding job already! The offer came just a few weeks ago from the actual wedding day!

The couple, who's going to tie the knot in Shinjuku, have their wedding on October 11.
They tried to find a bilingual emcee, but all of them were booked the day. They hired a Japanese emcee. After that, the event planning company which has a connection with the hotel (co complicated!) heard about me from the president of my emcee office. So, the couple happened to hire me as a "translator" because they have already had a Japanese wedding emcee!

...Do you understand? The route how I got this job offer was so complicated.
When I heard about that, I answered, "OK, I do." But once I told about this offer to my bilingual emcee teacher, my role model, Ryoko, I felt so blue.
Because even she said, "It is much harder than a regular bilingual emcee job. Having two emcees at the same party!? It's not good at all to everybody! Just too much for the audience, complicated for the staff, so awkward for the two emcees, and double-cost for the couple. You should decline the offer, if you can!"
But I couldn't. I said, "Yes" already!

In addition to, we don't have much time. Their wedding day is October 11, but our meeting (the couple & the emcees) is October 3.
Look at this! You can see international couples' easy-goingness again... Just one week!
We, emcees, need to set up the meeting with newlyweds about one months before.
But in case of an international couple(I don't think all of them are so...) one week!!
I asked the president (of my emcee office) to ask the event planning office about the Japanese emcee's phone number & e-mail address.
Yes, it's complicated, but the Japanese emcee belongs to another emcee office, so we need to ask how to contact her to the event planning office, but the event planning office may not know the emcee office, so the planning office might be asking the hotel wedding office....
Well, I'll stop talking about the details.

Anyway, what I want to say is, I don't have necessary information.
I just know their wedding day, the groom's first name & nationality (American,) and the bride's family name and the nationality(Japanese.)
But I should manage under these circumstances.

Recently, I'm writing the script for their ceremony (Intimate style! 人前式）& reception.
But we haven't had a meeting yet, so, my scripts are based on another international couple.
I can memorize the script & perform emceeing under scripts, but on actual wedding sites, things are not so easy.

My catch is "translation" thing... I've never done it as a professional.
Therefore, I'm practicing that.
From the scripts I was given at the bilingual emcee lectures, or some videos from YouTube, I translate wedding speeches from Japanese to English, and English to Japanese.

I'm nervous, but somewhat, I'm excited.
I finally can work on international wedding occasion!!
Also, I realized I'm lucky I can ask for help to other "professionals."
My bilingual emcee teacher, Ryoko, is very supportive. She always replied to my questions with very, very detailed answers. (Even though I took her class just one day! She is so nice!!)
My American tutor, Sally, will give me lessons to check my scripts.
My American co-worker, Seth, was excited to hear I got the first job offer, and pleased to have a "rehearsal" of my meeting with the couple, pretending a groom.

As long as I prepare enough & work hard for the job, I will be all right.
I'm not experienced, so, each job occasion is very precious for me. I need to learn a lot on the sites, with professionalism, flexibilities, and concentration.
...The most importantly, I must enjoy them!

By the way, I got another "first" job offer as a "corporate" bilingual emcee.
That was an awarding ceremony of electronic companies. Most judges were from America.
The place was Makuhari Messe, and many media crews were supposed to come. That sounded a very big event!!
...But I couldn't get the offer. It was on Thursday! The day I should go to school to teach!!
I forgot, most corporate events are held on weekdays.
Anyway, just work on for the following wedding job!!

Japanese Wedding Trends (just in my case)

During two years since I left the wedding industry, there have been many wedding trends emerging.

Before I restarted my business, I read "Zexy," which is a Japanese wedding magazine, to preview wedding trends.

Candle relay, balloon service, unity candle, time capsule candle, surprise by groom's transformation to a server(discreetly,) opening & ending DVDs with the couple's "avatars..."
I have learned a lot from the magazine and...the Internet!
However, I didn't imagine how wedding actual sites advance much more than the Web-sites.

When I had a meeting with a couple, I asked the bride.
"So, would you want to read a letter to your parents before the ending of the reception?"
A typical ending of Japanese wedding is giving the couple's parents bunches of flowers as signs of appreciation.
Before that, it's common that a bride reads a letter to thank her parents for growing her up.
That sort of shows "she is making a line between single and married. She is not anymore just her parent's daughter. She is a "bride" of the groom's family. See, she is saying good-bye to her family!"
I know, many couple believe marriage is between individuals, not families now.
However, reading a thankful letter by a bride to a bride's family is a beautiful tradition.

So, I asked the bride, "Would you want to read a letter to your parents?"
She said "yes," but I heard the groom said, "Yes, I would." at the same time.
I asked him again. "Would you...read a letter?"
"Certainly, I would." He answered, filling with tears in his eyes...
"Oh... I mean, Wow! So nice of you two! Your parents must be pleased about it!"
I made an instant smile immediately.
That's one of important jobs as a wedding emcee!

After the meeting, I asked my wedding mentor, a very nice lady who has been a wedding emcee and was a TV reporter.
She said, "Ah, it's getting common! The world is getting gender-free, as well as wedding field. Why doesn't a groom read a thank-you letter to his own parents if a bride does!"
...OK, OK, I knew stuff crews at my English school are kind of gender-free, ( I mean, guys are so sympathetic like girls, and girls work for a long time like Japanese typical male salaried workers...) but I didn't know gender-free wave is cutting into wedding scenes, too.

The other day, another bride called me and suggested,
"I'm wondering what if you read a letter from the groom's ex-girlfriend?"
"Ex...who?" I thought I mistook who.
But she exactly said, "EX-girlfriend! That's a kind of surprise. You, emcee, say, "I got a letter from his ex-girlfriend. She knows well about him. Let me read her letter here."
You start to read it...then, gradually, guests get to know that is from me, a bride, not from his ex! Don't you think it's funny? I read the episode on the Internet. They said they got a big laugh. Don't you want to get a laugh at our party?"

"Well.. you might want to get a laugh, but don't you want to get your dignity?"
I wanted to ask her back, but surely, I didn't.
Instead of asking, I was advising.
"Well, it might be funny...among friends. But...think about it. At your reception, half of your guests are relatives. If the groom's relative think it's a bad joke... I want to make what you dream of come true on your wedding, but I don't want to make your impression nasty in front of his relatives. (Actually, I don't want to make MY impression nasty in front of guests! Who says "it's from his ex!?" That would be me!!) Wedding party is a kind of live stage. Depends on the couple and the audience, the funny surprise might turn to be faulty."
The bride understood, and thank God, she stopped suggesting the deadly surprise.

After the call, I talked about it to my wedding mentor again.
She said, "that's always a catch! Recently, many brides and grooms want to try funny(faulty) surprises or events what they read on the Website. It's a kind of trend. But we are like...you know, personal trainers. We need to get them back on the right truck, showing understanding what they want to do. Because if we make everything what they dream of come true, the reception would not be coming true! We stay on their Never land, but we are like the shepherds who advise," You NEVER want that!"

...I see. I knew "surprises!" have been trendy in Japanese weddings... but, I would say, "No more surprise to an emcee!" like the "ex-girlfriend" announcement surprise.

Afterthought of the Afterthought

...Continuing from the "afterthought" of my first wedding emcee job since two years...

I told you as if my last wedding emceeing was not satisfactory to me, but, I was actually relieved late night of the wedding day.
Because I got a text message from the bride.
She said, "I had been very picky about my wedding. But during the reception, all of my concern was clear, & everything went so perfectly. I think it's because of you!! Thank you very much for being our wedding emcee!"

While I was listening to my performance I recorded yesterday, I noticed I HAD BEEN very picky about some stammer parts & small mistakes before. They were not big deals at all!
So, overall...it was good emceeing.

However, I should improve my emcee skills, language skills, & business skills whatever the the clients say to me.
Wedding is a happy & private (for most people) occasion, so most couples are very generous to wedding emcees. But, we shouldn't rely on their merciful feedback.

...However, being said "thank you" from the happiest couple always makes me feel EXTREMELY happy.
During two years, I was reluctant to work on the intense occasion ( I mean, wedding,) because of my busy teaching job & medical treatment. But now? Things have been settling down, so...
I'm ready to go!!

Afterthought of Wedding Throw

...Long time no see, friends!
I started to work an wedding emcee again from this month, and I had some offers as a bilingual emcee...a lot of things for me to do!! Time has just flied...

Yesterday, I did wedding emceeing at a big wedding hall in Yokohama.
It had been two years since I did it last time!
But I wasn't nervous at all. I get used to emceeing at Toastmasters, so I knew I was going to be OK. Yes, I was good...but, not more than just "good."

After the wedding, the feedback from me was exact the same thing I felt just after the big Toastmasters' anniversary party.
I got to move party plans smoothly, I didn't make any big mistakes at all, my announce skills were OK...not bad. BUT, also, not perfect!

The bride was the type who worried about every detail.
She and I contacted by e-mails & text messages often, I called her sometimes.
I was getting feel like she was my original friend. I heard about her guests a lot, so I thought I could perform very smooth emceeing.

However...why did I stammer sometimes?
I know it sometimes happen to Japanese emcees, (When I speak in English, I hardly ever stammer...why???) but...I don't want to do!

I tried to be a professional after the job. I tried to give me reasonable feedback. I mean, not only bad points, but also I thought of good things what I did.

What I was good at;
-I cared about throwing a smooth party, not only about emcee job.
I talked with guests a lot, and I found some problems & I told them to the manager.
So, we could stop the problem-to-be just before it became the big deal.
-The couple didn't hire a professional photographer, so I tried to take photos a lot.
When some guests went close to the couple, I spoke to them, "shall I take a photo with the bride and groom?" I think they would appreciate it.
-The floor manager took looong time to explain something to the newlywed, it would have had awkward pauses many times if I hadn't have many resources about the couple. However, I had enough information about them, so emceeing was very smooth.

What I was not good at...were incurred by what I felt I was good.
-I was sure I was good at memorizing a script. So, I didn't confirm the script during the party, and explored around the party venue to make sure every guest is OK.
It might be thoughtful, but it's not my original job. I didn't go blank while I was emceeing, but why I stammered sometimes was because I was not be very very careful.
-The same thing! I said some things mistakenly. I noticed soon & corrected everything soon.
Just there were many things to say & to do at the party, so I just...made some small mistakes.
-Sorry to say... I don't like to have many congratulatory telegrams!! They are supposed to be very nice, but opening them & putting them away again to original envelops is emcee's job.
The couple last night got 25 telegrams. Every telegram has an original number, so I should put them on the original places.It was so confusing & I took a lot of time!!

Yesterday, I noticed.
"What I was good at" were what I have made by trying to experience presentations, speeches, or emceeing for a long time.
"What I was not good at" will be clear if I work hard & if I experience the job more.

So, I made a notebook.
That was called "Emcee Afterthought (feedback, I might have to say...) Notebook."
I took a note, mostly, what I was not satisfied by my performance.
Also, now I'm listening to my emceeing last night.
I started this custom since I joined the Toastmasters.
Emceeing evaluation should be very objective, so I need to listen to how I performed.

My "progress" might be those efforts.
Before I went to America, I didn't want to listen to my emceeing after the party...just I didn't want to listen to my voice. Neither taking a note, I...just didn't.

PR, making a rapport among clients, concentration, flexibility, experience, feedback, self-improvement...
There are any aspects I feel I need as a professional. However, as long as I get job offers, I'm grateful I can challenge those.
...Will I get enough job offers?? That's a good questions!!

Love & Envy

I have almost 20 kid students at the English school I work for.

All of them are so good & adorable. I love them & they love me.

I always look forward to meeting them every week.

Yui, a kid from the first & second grader of primary school class, is one of them. She is seven years old.

She often writes a letter for me, and gives me glittering stickers. ( I don't know why, but that's the way how primary school girls show their loves to their friends...they think I'm a kind of their friends.)

Yui is a very clever, assertive girl.

When I met her for the first time, after greeting, what she said to me the first was...

"I've been coming this school since I was five, so I can speak English VERY WELL."

Yes, she is right! She is one of the kids who can get what I teach immediately.

One day, at her class, I had the kids practice the day's target conversations.

One of them was;

"Is this your pen case? Yes, it is./ No, it isn't."

I asked the question to kids, but Tsutomu, a boy in the first grade (6 years old,) answered vigorously,

"Yes, I do! No, I don't!"

I couldn't explain why that was a mistake to him because I am not allowed to use Japanese during class except for the cases of emergencies.

So, I tried to let him repeat after me, "Yes, it is! / No, it isn't!"

But he didn't notice.

Then, Yui became impatient & advised him in Japanese!

"Because we are talking about a thing, not ourselves, we should use "it!" Why don't you understand!? Keiko sensei, English teacher must be very hard work, mustn't it?"

...She was like my assistant. Tsutome finally got it, and I thanked her in my mind.

After the class, she came to me and asked.

"Keiko sensei, how do you say "便秘" in English?"

"What!? 便秘？ We say, "constipation." Why do you ask?"

She smiled brightly as usual, "Because I want my mom to be surprised how I know difficult English words!!"

I see...but why "constipation??"

I wanted to ask, but she was already leaving me, repeating, "Constipation, constipation, constipation..."

10 days later, when I met Yui, I asked her again.

"Yui, how do you say "便秘" in English?"

I didn't give her a memo, so I was sure she forgot the word.

But she answered to me without a pause.

"Constipation! You taught me so!!"

...I knew I loved her, always I was impressed by her...

But at that time, I actually felt a slight envy for her.

She is very cute girl, has a loving personality...and SO SMART and SO YOUNG!!!

Why did the God give so many gifts to a girl?

She must have a brilliant future!!

Dream is coming true

Once you stopped keeping your journal, it would be hard to restart it...
That is what I feel sometimes since I opened this blog. (Then, it's been four years! Yeah!!)

How have I been doing since my last article?
I've been good! To make a long story short, I've been job-hunting as a bilingual emcee. I've decided an emcee agency I belong to, and now I've been receiving training for my debut.

When I started my job-hunting, I called my emcee friends to ask their advice.
After that, I contacted some "bilingual emcee agencies." But they said, "We are not hiring right now." or " We don't send emcees, so you wouldn't get a job here."
I found out, so-called "bilingual emcees" are freelancers, don't belong to agencies.

Some peopled advised me to be a freelancer and advertise my skills by myself.
But I was afraid not to belong an agency cause I don't have any experience as a professional bilingual emcee!

I found one bridal emcee agency saying, "bilingual emcees are desirable."
Let's say, that was "Office A." I went to the interview.

I needed to demonstrate the whole wedding reception emceeing in Japanese, and the party emceeing in English, which I did at the Toastmasters.
The interview venue was a big meeting room. I demonstrated an imaginary wedding and an English party, without microphone, for a half hour. The interviewers were a male president and a female chief emcee(let's say, "Madame M.") Even though I was emceeing delightful parties, they didn't smile at all, neither clap their hands.

After my demonstrations, they gave me harsh comments. They said I needed to receive training for Japanese wedding emceeing, and bilingual emceeing, too.
During the interview, they remained arrogant & didn't ask me "do you have any questions?" at all.

I was disappointed. I was a professional wedding emcee (in Japanese) before, but they said I needed to start over from "a trainee."(not exactly, but a kind of.)

A few days later, I received discount tickets for the training from Office A.
But, I was anxious about they didn't say the details of my future job, like the party venues, my performance fee...

I was such a coward that I couldn't ask the details in the interview's severe atmosphere.
But, I remembered when I chose my first wedding emcee agency. It was almost ten years ago. I visited several emcee agencies, met every president, and asked them where I could work and how I could be a professional emcee.

I mustered my courage to send e-mail & call Miss M (the interviewer,) and ask to answer my questions. But, Miss M was very reluctant to see me again and didn't answer my questions at all.

My distrust for Office A had increased. They said they had tons of jobs, but why didn't they give me specific examples? Why didn't they tell me how much I could get paid?

During the depressing negotiation with Office A, I met a wonderful emcee.
She is Ryoko Sumitomo, a sort of pioneer of a bilingual emcee.
She opened a "bilingual emcee training course," and I joined the course.

She said to me, "You are a respectable grown-up emcee. Why didn't they answer your professional questions? That's ridiculous! Find an agent you can communicate with. If they welcome who you are, you could belong the agency for a long time."

I had a lecture for international wedding emceeing from her, and the class made my vague image of "what a bilingual emcee is"clear.
I thought a bilingual emcee was the one who ran the event in two languages...but not only that.
I need to give audience summaries of speeches. Yes, a bilingual emcee is also a translator.
Additionally, Ryoko said she was happy to translate private talks among bride's family and groom's family (in the case of international wedding.)
So, the job of a bilingual emcee would be very intense!!

However, at the class, I received earnest training. Ryoko said, "Keiko, what you don't have is just experience! Do the job as a professional! Your Japanese emceeing is good, your English pronunciation is beautiful, and you can translate both languages smoothly. Nothing to worry about!"
Can you imagine how she made me happy?

Having Ryoko's advise, I kicked off the Office A's offer, and had an interview of Office R.
One of my emcee friends, Nozomi told me about her favorite wedding emcee blogger, and Office R is the agent she belongs to.
Office R said, "We welcome you, especially, if you can speak English fluently!" on their Web-site.

I did the same demonstrations (weeding emceeings in Japanese, and English-Japanese) there, but the reaction was completely different from Office A.
Probably, it's because I got used to emcee interviews, and the Office R's atmosphere was very friendly.
Also, thanks to Ryoko Sumitomo, my emceeing had been brushed up.

The president of Office R said, "We really needed someone like you. You are fluent in English, and I like your personality. Please belong exclusively to our agency."

Now, I go to Office R once a week and take private training from a professional announcer.

By the way, speaking of the harsh & fishy (sorry) emcee office, Office A's chief emcee, Miss M...
I met her after I rejected her offer;)

While my job-hunting, I applied to be a member of Bridal Emcee Alliance.
The organization is a kind of labor union of professional emcees. They held an annual conference last Tuesday.
I knew Miss M was also a member of the alliance. She might come there too, even though I didn't want to meet her again... but I couldn't stop going the big conference.

At the venue, there were almost 70 professional emcees... I tried to spot her, but I didn't find.
"Yes! She must be too busy to come here!"
However, after five minutes the conference started, one lady sneaked into the venue, and took a seat just before me... That was exactly, Miss M!!!

She looked back without any intentions, so immediately, I bowed deeply to her, saying, "Nice to meet you again. Thank you very much for everything.(その節は大変お世話になりました。）" in a very Japanese style.

Miss M instantly said, "You're welcome, " then, she started to gaze the attendance list.
Apparently, she didn't recognize me (my hair style and clothes were different,) & tried to remember who I was.

During the interval at the conference, Miss M talked to me, "Ms Ohashi! Nice to meet you again! So, which emcee agent you decided to belong to?"
...I chatted with her a little bit in a sociable manner, hiding my real feeling, "Who wants to belong to your agency? Tell me!!"...

I will be working an wedding emcee & bilingual emcee soon.
My dream, "working as an English teacher on weekdays & a bilingual emcee on weekends" is coming true! I suspended chasing my dream because of my medical treatment, but...the time has ripen.

I can't wait to go my emcee spot, but I need to brush up my language skills...especially, not to be redundant!!

Thank you very much for reading my loooong article!!

Asking for a help

I didn't mention about the MOST IMPORTANT thing about the Toastmasters' party last Saturday.
That was; my friends came to the party even though they aren't Toastmasters!!
Here are special thanks to...

Mayumi, thank you for coming to the party! She is my former co-worker at the Labor Standard Bureau. She has still worked for it as a government employee, but now, she has been taking a maternity leave. Her adorable girl is only 6-month old, but she has been trained as a coaching teacher. Since she is very friendly & a great conversationalist, she seemed to mingle a lot of people there. We have a career counselor, Reiko, at the club, so it was a great pleasure for me to introduce them each other. I took Mayumi's "coaching" session once. She listened to me very patiently, and guided how I could aim to my goal. Thank you, Mayumi! If you're interested in her coaching, please let me know! Because she has been under the training, so far, her session is free. Don't miss the great chance!

Erica, thank you very much for coming to the party even though we have met in person just ONCE. She came to the Toastmaster's meeting once, and we kind of "fell in love" each other.
You are so my type of a girl ( I'm not lesbian!!) and I'm very happy to feel connecting you whenever we talk. (It sounds weird? It's just a friendly talk!!)
I'm sorry you should leave during the party because our time schedule was behind very much.
But I'm very looking forward to having lunch & talking A LOT with you soon.
Also, thank you for bringing your friend, Shu Sai!

Shu sai, it was VERY nice to meet you at the party! Thank you very much for coming to the party. You're an amazing trilingual Taiwanese girl. I was very proud of you & Erica, because you two were so outstanding at the party. I'm looking forward to seeing you again!!

Chiho, (my cousin,) thank you very much for saying, "OK, I'm coming!" even I asked you just a few days ago from the party! Even though you have a conservative job (a pharmacist,) you have had such an adventurous life, and I love it! You have lived in England & France, taking working holidays. Because of your various life experience? you looked so comfortable with coming the party alone & communicating international people in English. I'm proud of you!

Mayumi, (my emcee friend, ) and Kaori ( my friend from primary school,) thank you very much for trying to get to the party until the night before! If I had introduced you two (my most wonderful friends) to my friends & Toastmasters' members at the party, that would have been great! But thank you very much for your nice try even though you're busy with your job & raising your kids!!

Also, Nozomi, thank you very much for saying, "I really really want to go to the party and see your English emceeing, but the night is my engagement ceremony night! I tried to come up with a good idea to get to your party, but it seems impossible... I'm very sorry!"
I AM SORRY for inviting you to the party! I didn't know that was your engagement ceremony night, so, I'm sorry to bother you! But I always appreciate your sincere attitude.

Last, but not the least at all, because she is the one whom I want to say "thank you" the MOST.
KUNIE!!!
Thank you so, so, so much for coming & taking beautiful pictures!!!
She was originally one of my clients. I mean, when I was a wedding emcee, she was a bride.
We have been friends since then, and she consulted with me how to be involved in a bridal industry. I was very glad when she asked me to, and she became a professional bridal photographer after awhile. Recently, she was back to that bridal job from her maternity leave.
I didn't imagine she could come on a WEEKEND because she was so busy with raising her boy & her job!!
But she was so kind that she said, " I would like to take pictures of a "non-wedding" party. That would be my great experience as a photographer! And I want to listen to your emceeing!!"
Since our club is NPO, I said we couldn't pay for her, but she came & took so many pictures as a volunteer!! Even though she was a guest, she was so professional & took many pictures all the time. Especially, when we took group pictures, I felt really thankful for having her. It had been so difficult to take pictures of 70 guests if we wouldn't have had a professional photographer like her!! Thank you SO much Kunie, and I'm very looking forward to meeting you next week!!

Before the party, actually, I was reluctant to invite my friends to the party. Basically, I'm lazy & reclusive... So, I thought it would be tiring for both of us. But eventually, several of my friends came to the party & I was really glad about that!
Because I received their kindness, now I'm trying to find what I can do for them.
That is a wonderful "give & take," and I think I need to do it more!
Just until ecently, I had rarely sent a text message to my friends if I don't have a business to them.
But, just saying "Hello! How have you been?" is OK!! I tried to improve my skills, so I tried to make time for that... But networking is as much as important than improving my own skills.

Today, I called one of my old friends to ask her advice about my job-hunting as a bilingual emcee. Keep asking for a help! Keep asking for some advice!! Then, it would be easier for them to contact me the next time.
...Am I annoying???

Milestone

June 5 was the day of my Toastmasters' club's anniversary party.
The venue was Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, and participants were almost 70. And the emcee was...me.

I had buried myself in the preparation since I published the last article.
Just before the night, the speakers' number and kinds of events had been increased.
I had asked Sally, my former America tutor, to have a Skype session, and she checked all of my script the week before. And I memorized all of it, but I needed to rewrite it & practice the new one again.

I had an emcee partner. Let's say, her name is Alice(she is Japanese, it's a fake name!)
She was too easy-going, so I was a bit worried if she was capable. But I thought it was OK because a Toastmasters' club is basically, a hobby circle. Alice is not a professional emcee!
But I decided to work in a professional manner. I was confident to cover up Alice in case, and I was so ready for the party.
I knew I would be filled with fulfillment after the party even though I was very busy... but after the actual party, I was filled with...not FULFILLMENT, but FRUSTRATION, and I was even FURIOUS.

Why? Because the committee team didn't work as a team!
A party should have a floor manager, a planner, floor staff members, and an emcee.
A floor manager is supposed to manage the time allotment during the party, and direct an emcee when she should proceed events.
A planner, (I know every committee member was a planner for the party, but, I mean, "during the party") was supposed to confirm every details for the following events.
Floor staff members should manage every details for the venue and guests' convenience and of course, serve dishes and drinks.

However, there were no floor manager ( a kind of director) and a planner at the party.
I thought the director would be our president , so I asked her if I could start the next event all the time, but I think she was busy with entertaining guests as a president. The venue was large, so it took time to find her every time. I was desperate because we were behind the time schedule very much. We had too many events & so many speakers. But I couldn't scream her name nor cut into her conversation between guests during the nice party.

Because there was no planner, I needed to take care of every small details. Even I had to follow up receptionists and ushers, cause they didn't know what to do!

Even from the start, that was chaos to me. Floor stuff members at the venue weren't accustomed to parties like those at a hotel or restaurant (the venue was basically, so exclusive to a prestigious mansion residents in Roppongi,) so even they didn't know where they should set a microphone up, and they were reluctant to move tables. Because they were not reliable, one club founder talked to ME "Turn the music's volume down!" or "Clear the projector up!" while I was speaking on a mike.

As an emcee, except for actual speaking, I had jobs;
- Confirm speakers' names and details
- Tell speakers when they would appear, where they would perform
I wanted to do my job precisely, but sometimes I didn't have time to do because of...these jobs I mentioned above. (Don't worry, this blog IS EXCLUSIVE to my very close friends...so, no committee members can read my complaints.)
I needed to introduce all former presidents, so I intended to talk to all presidents & confirm their names and presidency terms, but I couldn't. I felt sorry when one former president interrupted me, "that's not true!" when I announced her presidency term.


Oh, I forgot to tell you about my partner, Alice. How was she? I told you she was not a professional emcee, but I didn't imagine she was so unprofessional.
I wrote all of her script and told her about our program, but she seemed not to read the script well. She started to jump to the other event once, so I took a microphone back from her and mentioned what would happen the next. She asked me all the time, "what I should say next?" or "How should I pronounce the word?"
...I was very, very exhausted.

Would you understand why I was furious after the party?
I can hear you, saying, "Yes, you told me ENOUGH!!"
Yes, I might become vindictive sometimes...

Actually, I spoke out what I felt JUST A LITTLE to committee members, after the party.
Our president said, "Hooray, Keiko! Our party was SO SUCCESSFUL!!"
I interrupted her, "Successful!? No! It has so many problems!! I nearly thought I wanted to quit the club!! All members became GUESTS at the party even though we had so many guests from outside. Be a staff!!"
...I am the newest & youngest committee member, so I couldn't ask something to other members during the party...but my efforts & desperation had accumulated like volcanic ashes, and after the party, "Keiko volcano" just explored.

For honor of the Toastmasters' members, (is it too late?? but, seriously!!) all of them are so nice people. So, they turned pale and apologized to me. I knew I can't blame them. They didn't mean to bully me. They just didn't know what to do at such a big party!

But my frustration hadn't disappeared for awhile. Why am I so angry? I kept asking to myself. There was a problem inside me. I used to work as a professional wedding emcee, so I was surrounded by professional staff members. But at the party, there were no professional party staff, so I felt the big gap.
Why am I working hard as a volunteer? Toastmasters' club is very good extracurricular activity to improve in public speaking, but it IS an EXTRA curricular activity. Why isn't it my job? It WAS my job!! My ultimate dream is "being an English teacher on weekdays, and a bilingual emcee on weekends." For some reasons, I quit my former emcee agency and I started to get a medical treatment...
But isn't it an excuse not to follow my dream? I am not under medical treatment 24/7.
Some people are following their dreams even under severier situations. I may be able to do the same!

Since two days ago, I started to search how I could be a bilingual emcee.
I have been contacting some people in the field. ( I want to explain about that more, but I need to go to school to teach now!)

I had a very negative feeling after the party, but I've been trying to replace it to a very positive future. The party last Saturday will be a milestone of my life? or just a disappointing experience? That depends on me, and I want to "attract" my dream.
Most importantly, according to participants' reputations & the party's success, I realized I'm capable (I don't know yet, but please let me say so! I can't make my dream come true unless I believe in myself!) of professional emceeing.

...AND, also importantly, because of the Toastmasters' committee members' kindness, we've still been a great team even after my tongue became VERY sharp.
My tongue might kill someone, someday? ...Don't worry, "someone" is definitely not you!!