Impromptu short speeches about expo

I have a Toastmasters' meeting tonight and I ain't a prepared speaker.
That means, I have lots of possibilities of "assigning" to be an impromptu speaker.
Today's theme is expo, so, I just want to be prepared for possible questions!

1. Do you have any memories about expo?
Unfortunately, I haven't visited a world exposition so far. However, impressive expo to me is the last one, the world expo in Aichi in 2005. At that time, my husband and I lived in America, so we watched the expo's news with some nostalgia. My in-law's house is in Mie prefecture, so the expo's venue was very near there. We talked, "we wish we lived in Japan! We could visit the world expo, the biggest expo in the world!" I remember, when my husband visited Japan for his business trip just after the expo, he bought cell-phone straps of the expo's characters, Morizo and Kikkoro. In those days, we got tired of living in a foreign country, so everything from Japan looked excellent to us. We said, "Wow! How cute they are! We really miss Japan!!"
However, in 2010, the world expo in Shanghai is being held. I heard the character looked like an American character, then I became feel like I really miss America.
Whenever I hear the world expo's news, what I learn from it is "the grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence."

2. Have you visited an expo except for the world expo?
Last year, my friend asked me to go to "the world beauty Japan expo" together. It was held at Makuhari Messe. The expo was basically for people who worked for beauty industries, such as hair stylists, aestheticians, nail stylists, eyelash stylists, and so on. My friend didn't work for a beauty industry as well as me, but her nail stylist gave her two tickets. So, we pretended to be nail stylists, and sneaked into the expo. The expo was so gorgeous. There were so many vendors who introduced top-of-the-line, the latest skincare products, hair styling products, make-up goods, and they gave me samples! We were really excited to get those samples, but the vendors intended to sell those products. We had name tags, and they said we were nail stylists. So, we were asked "hey, you are a nail stylist? Would you like to use our product in your nail saloon?" all the time. When we visited a nail corner, the thing got worse. We couldn't resist to try "gel-nail free trial." But during the time we got free nail art, the "real" nail stylist asked us about professional questions all the time. In exchange for free nail art & free samples of beauty products, we were exhausted by lying and we learned a lesson. " We are supposed to pay much for just one lie."

3. Do you have an idea of invention for an world expo?
Of course I do. I want someone who is very clever to invent something not to... forget.
I am very careless person even though I try not to be. I often leave something on a public space, especially, an umbrella. The pattern is always the same. On a rainy day, when I'm tired, I get on a train. I take a seat, hang my umbrella on a rail, then I fall asleep. When I wake up, I have to dash to get off. After the train leaves, I realize my umbrella is in the train!
I really appreciate if someone can invent a clever tool not to be so forgetful. However, there is one thing I shouldn't forget from the incident. That is the fact I always get my umbrella back. Because Japan is still one of the safest countries in the world, nobody takes my umbrella even I leave it in a train. Also, Japanese station employees are so well-trained to find lost and founds.
I know we can see many update inventions at the world expo, but things human being can't invent are safety, well-trained employees, and maybe positiveness even when I repeat same mistakes.

4. Do you have any thoughts about the world expo in Shanghai?
Yes, I do have some thoughts about it. When the world expo in Shanghai started, my husband and I were in Guam. It was the beginning of Golden Week holidays. We heard there were so many people that they had to get in line for three or four hours to enter a pavilion. We talked,
"Wow! We don't want to visit such a crowded place!" Then, after we came back from Guam, we planned to go to the Gundam Cafe in Akiwabara. As many of you know, Gundam is a very popular animated show featuring a giant robot called "Gundam." Gundam Cafe is just opened a few weeks before, themed the animated program. Like other guys in his generation, my husband really loved Gundam, so he was looking forwarad to having "Amuro ray's pilot lunch" and watching many exclusive plastic models of Gumdam. I followed him to Akiwabara, and we found the cafe...but we also found there were three long lines around the cafe. One is to enter the souvenir shop, another is to buy Gundam-yaki (pancake,) and the other is to enter the cafe and order lunch or tea. The cafe's clerk said, "it must take more than three hours to enter the cafe!!" We were completely overwhelmed to see so many people around the cafe, and my husband was saying, "Where are we? Is this the world expo in Shanghai? So many people from different countries!" Because Gundam is so popular worldwide, we could see many international people waiting for the pavilion...I mean, cafe. So, probably you didn't know, but we have another "world expo" in Akiwabara.

...Sorry for silly answers!!

Greenery Days

People wonder which one they should live (or buy), a house or a condo...but I, who have lived both, think both of them have the pro and cons. I mean, totally different!!

Let's focus on the pros today.
Living in a house;
・Having your own land.
・Having the variety of house plans.
・Usually, there are less restrictions...for example, in a condo, basically, you can't have a class in your room or you can't smoke, but you can do anything in your house if your family allows!
・Your parking would be closer to you! Our condo is HUGE, so it takes time to get to our parking space!!
・You don't have to pay service charge or repair savings for a condo.

Living in a condo;
・Nicer seanery if you live in a upper floor. We enjoy seeing Mt.Fuji every day!
・Usually, the proximity to the stations is better than houses in big cities.
・Having various facilities. Our condo has a theater room, a study room, guest rooms like hotel rooms, party rooms, a Japanese tea ceremony room, a sports gym, etc, etc...you can't have so many facilities in your house unless you are quite rich!!
・Nice community, and you can chose to join it or not. If you want to get involve in the condo's community, you can. Even if you don't want to, there are so many other people, so you don't have to! I belong to a French study circle, and I enjoy the activity & socializing people there.
・Better security. Guard men look around a condo all the time, so you feel safer.

Also, another advantage of living in a condo, which I feel the best in this season is...
having huge green space & having people who can take care of!!
Now, it's the season of fresh green. Because our condo's nickname is "greenery mansion," whenever I'm around my condo, I can enjoy seeing various trees & beautiful flowers.
Then, I feel very grateful...for professional people who take care of it. I don't have a green thumb at all. I would say, "I have a gray thumb" cause I tend to kill plants easily. I try to take care of them well, but maybe, I'm a too indulgent mommy? ( I mean, I water them too much??)
My green plants become gray soon, even though it's cactus...

We pay for the service, that's why "green-thumb" professional people take care of our green very well. I know that, but if I live in a house & take care of our garden by myself...it would be an awful garden!!!

I'm not a "girl scout type" girl since I was a kid, so I don't stay outside for a long time usually...
But now, once I step out of my home, I inhale deeply, and feel the green's energy.
Even though I live in a big city...I can be with nature. Frankly speaking, my area is actually "nature area" even it's in Tokyo!! Not only my condo!!

Ghost Whisperer

Every Friday night, I can't help weeping...
Why? Because I watch "Ghost Whisperer!" http://www.cbs.com/primetime/ghost_whisperer/about/

Ghost Whisperer is an American supernatural TV drama. The main character, Melinda, is a young beautiful woman who owns an antique shop. She might look like you, but she is special...she can see spirits! She can talk with ghosts!!

Every ghost wants to tell something to people alive, that's why they are still roaming in this world. Melinda thinks it's her mission to listen to them, and tell their words to people who are related to the ghosts. Doesn't sound scary? But, just imagine! If your loving person (your boyfriend, your husband, your mother, etc...) died accidentally, don't you think s/he would have something to tell you? Don't you think you would like to hear that?

Sometimes people talks Melinda is crazy, but she is strong enough to go on her mission.
She is always brave, generous, and has a great sense of humor! I'm always impressed by her determination, and I'm also impressed by...how her husband, Jim, is a nice guy!
Not only handsome, he loves Melinda so much that he supports her "ghost" mission.
He is a heavyset paramedic. So, he can help her physically & psychologically!

If you watch the show, you may understand what I'm talking about...
First, the ghosts are really scary. But as the story is going on, I get to know the ghost's life. Then, I start to kind of sympathize them.

Last night, ( it was episode 4 of the season 4? by FOX channel of Sky perfect TV,) the main ghost was a vindictive young woman. She wanted to revenge her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her when she was alive. But it turned out he didn't cheat on her, and still loved her for a long time.
Sounds cheesy? Yeah, maybe...but, like me, many people have been impressed by the drama, that's why the drama has been aired "season 4!"

I've been totally behind American TV shows since I came back to Japan, because there is a "time lag" when it comes to watch American shows in Japan.
However, still, I enjoy watching them...Right now, what I watch on (mainly) Sky perfect TV channels are (besides Ghost Whisperer 4,) Glee, http://www.fox.com/glee/ Desperate Housewives 4, http://abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives and...oh, it's a "reality" TV show, American Idol! http://www.americanidol.com/

...Oh. That's it? Just few!! I should watch more!!!

Book-hunting, Dress-hunting

On June 5, the Toastmasters Club I belong holds 10th anniversary party at Midtown, Roppongi.
http://keyforce.org/
If you're interested in...please join us!

The KeyForce Toastmasters holds big biannual parties. But this time, it would be huge & different. We have more guests, and the venue is a gorgeous party space for (usually) exclusive use of Roppongi Hills' residents.

I was assigned as a MC of the party.
Lately, I've been busy with preparation for the party...
We've decided to welcome a popular translator of a recent best-seller book, "the Secret"(The Japanese title is "引き寄せの法則,") Miyoko Sano,http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/thesecret/
as a keynote speaker.
Yes, she translated a VERY famous book... Many of my club members said they've already read the book( I introduced two blogs of the members,) but I didn't know about the book!
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/lucida_of_blog/e/14a40ef049ecc703315179d90792850f
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/mahlersymphony8
I should introduce her as an emcee at the party! I need to read it & get to know her!

I wanted to get the original English book and the one she translated. I should go to a big bookstore which has English books, I didn't have time to go there.
So, I opened the Web-site which I hadn't visited for a long time.
Amazon.com!!
When I lived in America, I often visited there. English textbooks of college classes were very expensive, so I bought some used ones from this site.
However, since I came back to Japan, I hadn't used the site because I didn't know...they have TONS of foreign books!!

I clicked to order "used-but-good-condition" books I wanted. I saved my time to stop by a big bookstore & ask a clerk where the books are, and also saved money for getting used ones.
Hey hey, it's amazing!! I just "believed" Amazon.com came in handy only in America to buy Western books...but many Japanese people bought English books abroad, and sell them on line!!

The books will be delivered tomorrow or so.
My first preparation of a party emcee has been done, and I set about the next preparation.
A DRESS!!! Which dress shall I wear at the party???

I intended to wear my used Anna Sui's orange dress. To get a new one for just one party didn't sound reasonable. ...However, a few days ago, one of my closest friends invited me to her wedding!
WEDDING!! I had been a "wedding emcee" even at my friends' wedding receptions, so I used to wear a suit. It's been a long time since I was "a guest" of a wedding! What does a guest wear at a wedding reception?? But, I had some ideas.

My favorite American designer, Betsey Johnson's dress would be gorgeous enough for any parties!
If I can wear it at least for two parties...why don't I get it?
I was looking for the dresses in Guam. But they didn't have an original shop there (Last year, when I visited Maui, they have a shop in a fashion mall, so I could get the one!)
They just have "a few" in a select shop, so I went to the shop in Japan, at Omotesando Hills.

Many of the dresses were very attractive to me.
I wondered & wondered, changed & changed dresses...after almost one hour later!? I chose a sugar pink one.

I ordered the books of the keynote speaker. I got a dress. Thus, am I SO ready for the party??
NO!!! I haven't prepared for my most important job, "talking!!" My job is not dressing up!!
I have to write the script & practice!!!
Even speaking of the books & dress... Can I read two books (English one & Japanese one) until June 5?? I am such a slow reader that I always read one month ago's weekly (English)newspaper
!!(cause I can't catch up with the latest one!!)
About the dress, I can't gain even one pound of my weight!! ALso, do I have a chance to wear it after my friend's wedding?? Can I fit the dress?? I don't know about the future!!
Just enjoy the moment. That's what I do, always...

Relation between Loneliness and Friends

When I was a teenager, I was so shy that I was not good at making friends.
I guess I was not a very unusual girl. I was just a common girl. My first impression was always good(I heard so;), so it was OK to meet new people & be acquainted...But, I myself, felt awkward when I hung up with my friends.

When I was in my late teens, I noticed friends were not people who covered my loneliness.
"Depending" or "leaning on" relationship helps nothing. Basically, we're living alone. But if we are compatible, or have a common thing, we can help each other. Not only help, but we can refresh & relax each other, or sometimes improve each other.
When I noticed the healthy friendship was a mutual relationship of independent people (Not a one-way depending or something,) I became able to make true friends.

Also, I learned (mostly, from classical literature or psychology books) "loneliness" means nothing to me. I had (still, but I'm talking about when I was a late-teenager!)a wonderful family and I didn't have a major unhappiness. "Why do I have to feel lonely? Instead of this useless lonely feeling, I should have a positive happy feeling!"
...Since then, one of my philosophies has been "Don't worry about I don't have to worry."

As I get older, I noticed what I want from my friends.
Some people hang out with their friends often, but I've not been that type.
There were eras when I met same friends three times a week or call often & talk for a long time...
But, after we got married, we started to share a lot of time with our families.

Then, recently, another question came to my mind.
"Family members share our lives. But friends...I can chose the distance between them. How much distance should I keep?"
Because the loneliness of my teenage days hasn't disappeared completely in the inner myself.
I have no idea what triggers to me...but sometimes, suddenly, I really miss my friends or feel like I should make new friends.
I know I should do care for my friends more if I need to be cared from them...but how selfish!
Usually, I just think about myself, but sometimes I really want my friends to think about...me??
I don't know...

Probably, one song describes my "ideal distance" between my friends.
It's sang by Japanese R&B artists, DOUBLE and AI. The title is exactly "friends," as I remembered... They sing, "We can't meet often, but I often think about you. When I meet you, you relax & inspire me. When I don't meet you, your spirit makes me drive. We don't need each other all the time, but when I need you, you help me. When you need me, I'm with you."
I want to be strong enough to light my friends. To be so, what I can do now is to open myself, widen my horizon, and try to understand the world & people...probably.

Likable, capable, & unbelievable!

When people describe him, there are lots of adjectives are used, like I used as a title.
He has SO complementable...no, complementary skills & lovable personality.
He name is...Ryo Ishikawa.

If you live in Japan, you absolutely know him.
Even if you aren't Japanese, you would know him if you like golf.
He is a 18-year-old professional golfer, who already won seven Japanese titles in his career.
He just made the lowest score in a major tour event ten days ago. This brilliant news appeared as a top sports news, not only in Japan, but also on American Yahoo screen page.
...I would say, he's a"superstar." Not "a professional golfer!

Although he is still a teenager, he was the top at the money list of Japan Golf Tour Organization last year.
Also, he is VERY popular because of his courteous & friendly attitude.
He's assertive, honest, but never offends someone or something.
Whenever he talks, people signs with admiration, and whispers, "Why is he SO perfect?"

Yesterday, when I watched show business news( Ryo Ishikawa is an athlete, but he is so popular that he appears on "show biz" news!,) he was asked "whose concert do you want to go?"
He answered, "AKB because we're in the same generation, and they work really hard."

AKB is an idol group of young girls. If a common 18-year-old boy said, "I want to go to AKB's concert," he would sound like a fan boy 0r groupie. It's so cliche that "a young boy likes young cute girls' singing group."
However, when Ryo Ishikawa said so, he sounded as if he said, "I want to go to Chagall's exhibition."
What I want to say is...he sounds so sophisticated & nice whatever he says!
Look at his words! Because he didn't just say, "I want to go to AKB's concert." He added,"because we're in the same generation and they work really hard."
It's not his "trick." Since he is a really nice guy, he cares for those young girls as well as he always does to other people.

I've admired him since he became famous. On my "inspiration corner" of my pocket book, there are many of his articles.
I would like to follow his inspirational achievements...but he is too great for me to follow.
So, I decided to follow one of his daily customs.
That is...sleeping eight hours every day! He said,"Even when I'm really busy, I sleep for eight hours. That's why I can keep up with my performance."
I was a complete night owl (as you can see the time I published articles of my blog!)
But recently, I've tried to go to bed around 11:00pm. I need to wake up 7:00 in the morning, so I can sleep for eight hours, not including a nap!
I studied & wrote this blog at night, but I've convinced myself,"Night is the time to sleep! Daytime is the time to work!!

...Nobody sees it's related to a superstar golfer, but to me, it is.

PRIVATE; No Entry!

It was around 10:00 at night, on a train.
I was on the way from work, standing, and reading English newspaper.
Then, I noticed the young guy who was standing diagonally to me, was talking on the phone.

"Yeah...but it doesn't mean I don't care you. Why don't you say so?"
He was obviously arguing with his girlfriend.
Why is he talking on the phone in a train? I frowned, but then, his next words ignited my curiosity.
"Giving the birth or not is your decision...I am trying to do what I can do for you right now...Why don't you understand me?"
WHAT!? The guy looked a college student. He seemed in his very early twenties or perhaps teenager. But, is his girlfriend pregnant!???

I was reading an article about the difference between the reality and the academy-awarded movie, The Hurt Locker. However, I couldn't concentrate on the article anymore...because the young guy in front of me, was treating a bomb-in-his life!!

I'm sure people around me also thought the same thing.
A business man who was next to me was reading physics or science papers, but he looked lose his concentration, too. He read about gravity or something, but the college student (maybe) was losing his gravity right now!!
The troubled young guy was speaking with very small voice, so we strained our ears for his voice...

"I always care about you... At that time, you were one week or two week (pregnant!) That's why you were unstable... And I did what I believed it was right... Both of us care each other, but we didn't just connect at that time, that's it. Right? "
Even though there were a lot of people going home, we became so quiet. Therefore, we could hear girl's talking something from the phone!
He answered, "What? Are you still complaining that? It was over! Nothing helps you if you keep complaining that... OK?"

What happened? How is he going to make it up with her??
We (at least, I,) became restless, but the young guy got off the train, still talking...

The guy's private talking on the public reminded me of my hubby's story.
It was almost two years ago, just after we came back from Japan.
He was also on a train. It was in the morning. There were so many people commuting, so the train was full. My hubby was stuck with a middle-aged guy's back. The middle-aged guy was writing a text message. Since the train was so full, my hubby was so close to the guy that he could read his text message!
The message said, "I love you, Miyuki! We had a great time last night... I'm sorry I couldn't be with you all the night! My wife has been really harsh recently... I can't wait to see you tomorrow! See you. Have a nice day!"
Then, soon he got a response from Miyuki. She wrote almost the same thing as him (except for the wife thing.) I do him the honor of sayng, my hubby didn't want to read his private text messages. He just couldn't turn away his face from the guy's phone because the train was so full!!

After the guy finished reading her message, the phone monitor changed to the screen. My hubby was astonished...because the screen was her photo (he could see it was Miyuki, his mistress..,)
wearing nothing!!
The middle-aged, half-bald guy, petting her photo, dearly...

"I was almost THROWING UP!! What's going on people in Tokyo!? It was a PUBLIC space!! Not even "walls have ears," I AM A PERSON!!!"

Yes, exactly... Same as the young guy I met last night, some people living in a big country are so careless about revealing their private lives. They believe people don't know them.
That might be true, but it was very risky!

However, last night, it was true that passengers (including me) around the young guy felt like they became a part of his drama. Good luck to him!

Motherly Love

Believe it or not, I have FOUR mothers.
1. My biological mother.
2. My mother-in-law.
3. My aunt, Kyoko. She is my mother's younger sister.
4. My aunt, Masayo. She is a wife of my uncle.
Of course I owe so much to my mother and mother-in-law, and I really respect them.
Today, it's Mother's Day. It's a great opportunity to show my appreciation to them...
But I need to show my thankfulness to two aunts as well.

Kyoko is single and very close to my mother, so she treats me as if I'm her own daughter.
When I was a kid, my mother said to me, "I raise you, but do you want to know the truth? Kyoko gave the birth to you. If you consider how she loves you, you understand the truth!"
She was joking, but actually I believed that;)
She was a successful dietitian & very fashionable person... I would say, the half clothes in my closet was bought by her. She loved shopping with me!

I remember when Masayo got married to my uncle. She was a very beautiful bride, and I was very proud of my uncle. They didn't conceive a child, so Masayo also treated me like her kid.
Not only me, but also my brother and my cousins! Therefore, whenever we got married to someone, we brought our partners to Masayo's house. Now, whenever my hubby and I visit Sapporo, Masayo holds a welcome party to us.

I am very grateful to have great mothers and aunts who show their motherly love to me.
However, when it comes to "motherly love," I realized I've felt that not only from my relatives.
From my friends, my co-workers, the members of the Toastmasters...
Maybe, many women have the talent of presenting their motherly love. I really respect those who can do, and I would like to be one of them someday.

Cartoon's Power

As I wrote in the article, "Cradle to Grave," I had been in a trouble with handling three-year-old kid class because they missed their moms so much.
Then, I decided. I decided to ask help. To...him. He is loved by all kids so much, he is a great hero, and probably all Japanese kids follow what he says.
His name is...Anpanman!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anpanman

I knew I'm all thumbs, but I made the Anpanman's doll in the photo.

At that time, I had to teach "Stand up! Sit down! Run! Walk!!" So, I used pins which divided into two at the end, to fix papers at the back. These pins were called "Wari-pin(divided pins)" in Japanese. Look at the photo! All joints of his body has gold pins! Therefore, I can move his body like the photo in the right!!

My strategy went on very well.

The kids didn't listen to me, but they listened to what Anpanman said. I was like a puppet master. When he appeared in front of the babies, they were very excited. Behind the hero (Anpanman,) making Anpanman's animated voice, I (Anpanman, they believed...)said, "Hi, kids! I'm Anpanman! I was looking forward to having fun with you in English! Come to the classroom with me!"

Then, they followed him, without missing their mothers!

The class was conducted very smoothly.

When they left the school, Anpanman (I) said, "Bye, kids!! See you next week!!"

Then, my kid students said, "Bye, Anpanman! Anpanman, see you!!"

They waved their hands, not to me, but to Anpanman...

If they listened to me, I would become anyone else even the notorious new villain, Zebra Queen!!

Guam and Gundam-My Golden Week-part two

Two days after we came back from Guam, we visited Gundam Cafe in Akihabara.
Gundam Cafe is just opened a few weeks before, themed by a popular animated action drama, "Mobile Suit Gumdam."
http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/drink/2-new-animethemed-establishments-gundam-cafe-and-evangelion-lawson-005728

My hubby was not exceptions who don't beat fast with excitement when he hears, "Gundam."

Like other boys (former boys) in his age, he really loves the animated drama!

Their actions and human dramas have been attracted fans all over the world.

When we were in America, we often saw Gundam's DVDs were sold. Actually, once, I gave some to my hubby as birthday presents...how old did he turn at that time???

Anyway, we had time during the Golden Week, so we were thrilled to go there.

In the cafe, we were supposed to eat "Amuro Ray's pilot lunch" or "Char Aznable's pilot lunch."

Yes, we "were supposed to..." but we couldn't.

When we got to the cafe, there were three lines around the cafe.

1. To buy "Gundam-Yaki(pancake)."

2. To ENTER the souvenir shop.

3. To enter the cafe and have tea or lunch.

No.1 was the shortest line, so we got in the line. After 10 minutes, we could get "Gundam-Yaki."

Eating it, we got in the line No2. It took 20 minutes to enter the souvenir shop, but clerks said there were many items sold out. After we got some souvenirs like "Gundam Ningyo Yaki( Gundam-shaped pancake with bean paste,) we wanted to line up the last line, but we gave up.

Because there were SO many people, and a clerk said,

"If you wait in a line, you can enter the cage MORE THAN three hours later!!"

My hubby said, "Where are we now? Are we in the Shanghai World Expo? SO MANY PEOPLE!!"

I kind of expected that.

In the morning, I watched an information TV show. The host was saying,
"We're going to introduce the busiest spots on the Golden Week...

The first one is, the Gundam Cafe in Akihabara!!"

Some people were interviewed, and they said they came from Miyagi or Hokkaido, just to visit the cafe!! Surely, they HAVE TO get in a line even though it takes so much time!!

After this frenzy is gone, we will try to visit the cafe again...

However, even though we couldn't make it, "Guam and Gundam" are our main memories of the Golden Week, in 2010.

Guam and Gundam-My Golden Week-part one

Since we (my hubby and I) came back to Japan, our vacation schedules have almost been fixed.
Christmas; to my in-law's house in Mie.
Summer; to my parent's house in Hokkaido.
Golden Week(Japanese long holiday from the end of April to the beginning of May); to a tropical island-our getaway!

Last year, we went to Maui, and it was a perfect getaway.
This year, we chose Guam because it's closer, cheaper, and having less time difference than Hawaii.

Guam is not one of the 50 states of the Unites States, but an "incorporated territory" of the country, like Puerto Rico. Therefore, we thought, "Guam is the nearest America from Japan! Why didn't we go there?"
...However, the more we spent the time there, the more we were confused which country we were traveling!

When we arrived at the airport in Guam, we were very happy to see the sign of "Welcome to Guam!" The flight time was only three and a half hours, and the time difference was just one hour from Japan. We were less tired than traveling other areas.
But soon after that, we felt something weird there.
The airport was VERY quiet. The wide hallway was separated by huge partitions, but we didn't hear anything from another side. It meant, passengers in our flight were only customers right now, at the airport. There were many shops and restaurants at the other side from the partitions, but they were closed. Not "closed today," they seemed to have been closed for a long time.

We understood why it was later.
Maybe, Guam became less popular these days because Hawaii or other places have been getting more popular. Even though we found out that, this Japanese Golden Week season might be the most popular season in Guam...so, every local service people seemed desperate to catch (Japanese) customers during our trip.

Anyway, our "Isn't something weird here?" feeling still went on after we got in the bus to our hotel. The guide was a local Micronesian young guy, but he started to speak in fluent Japanese.
"みなさんこんにちは、ジョンといいます。　日本語を勉強しています。　今日はよろしくお願いいたします。(Hello, everybody, I'm John, I study Japanese here. Nice to meet you!)"

...Again, later, we found out that "the local Guam people may not be able to survive here unless they speak Japanese...because sightseeing from Japan is the principal industry there!"
When I went to a duty-free shop, I asked a Micronesian young female clerk,
"Where is the restroom?" Then, she answered to me in perfect Japanese.
"まっすぐ行って、突き当たりでございます。(Go straight, the end of it is the restroom.)"

We thought we visited "the nearest AMERICA!" But where is here? Even every sign was written in "Japanese" first, then in "English!!"

When we entered the hotel, we were not surprised to see almost every guests were Japanese.
We were supposed to have a "getaway," from our Japanese daily lives. However, people around us were all Japanese, and the official language seemed like Japanese.
Because Guam is easier to access than other foreign countries, many people brought babies there... So, we were surrounded by Japanese babies' crying voices all the time.
In the flights, restaurants, hotels, at the beach... I love kids, but honestly I thought, "Give me a break! I hear kids' crying all the time at school, so I don't want to hear them now, during the romantic?? getaway!!"
Of course, it was apparent they didn't have a fault.
I felt like I heard a voiceless voice..."If you want to feel like America, go to America! This is a "half-American, half-JAPANESE island!!"

...However, "very Japanese-like" was convenient to us sometimes.
When we played golf, (the golf course was also VERY Japanese. They displayed Japanese celebrities' autographs all over the walls! How does Miwa Akihiro play golf??? I was curious...) we had lunch there.

The menus were completely Japanese... I ordered Hiyashi Chuka(cold ramen, not with broth, but with sauce.) Then...I was surprised to see the one! Look at the photo!

It was beautiful, nutritious, and VERY delicious. I have never had such a wonderful Japanese dish abroad! (Oh, Guam was a half-Japanese to me, though.)

If you are interested in, check the golf course's Web-site. It's written in all Japanese...
http://www.starts.co.jp/guam/index.php

Even though Guam's economy relies on Japanese tourists nowadays, I couldn't forget we had a harsh history. When the Japanese army occupied the small island, in 1941-1943, I heard our ancestors did many atrocities like torture, rape, or beheading.

Also, numerous Japanese soldiers suffered, died, or committed suicide in Guam, just before Japan surrendered to America during the World War Second.

The famous and the last Japanese holdout of the World WarⅡ,Yokoi Shoichi, had been hiding and secretly surviving in a small cave, in Guam, for 28 years because he thought the war was still going on!! (We visited the actual cave later. It was unbelievably small cave. However, even the historical cave became also a commercial spot...at the Yokoi shop, the local people were selling Mr. Yokoi's postcards to Japanese tourists!!)

At the first night in Guam, actually I couldn't sleep well because I thought about the war, tortured local people, and suffered soldiers. (Wasn't it a romantic getaway!?)

Then... someone opened the lock of our room, and came into!!

I screamed, "AHHHHHHHH!!!"

Then, I found out the "burglar" was a young hotel clerk. He said, "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" and closed the door again.

No wonder he could open the door because he worked for the hotel, but what was his business?? It was 4:00 a.m!! Then, I heard the clerk's voice, speaking in Japanese.

"こちらのお部屋は空いておりませんでしたので、コネクティングルームはお使いいただけません。向かいのお部屋をご利用ください。This room is taken, so you can't use it as the connecting room. I'm sorry, but you can use the room in front of."

OK, I got it... Some Japanese tourists arrived at hotels after midnight because the flights were cheaper... My hubby and I were supposed to stay at another room, but next to the room was a boiler room, so it was so noisy. Then, we asked another room, and moved...Maybe, the Japanese tour desk at the hotel didn't know that.
I thought, a ghost from the World War Ⅱappeared!! But, it was a long time ago, and I don't have a talent to see spirits. I realized, decided to enjoy the commercialized tropical island, then fell asleep soon.

(BTW, my hubby was completely relaxed & didn't notice the guy opened our room's door!

I was the one who talked with the guy!! Although it was supposed to be a "romantic getaway," "my husband is protecting me!" secure feeling was an illusion, that's the reality, baby...)

Oh, I think I should talk about "American side" of Guam.

The beach was beautiful! The sand was completely white, the sea water was very clear. We could see many small beautiful fish, and corals. At the hotel beach, we paid 40 bucks to local people to use beach parasols, floats, kayaks, and other small boats. As you can see from the photo, there were many boats...but most of them seemed like for children.

When my hubby and I enjoyed pedaling a swan boat, I saw a four-year-old boy ( maybe) and a mother were riding the same one, too...

No wonder there were so many kids! Even we went far away from the beach, the sea was very shallow. I have never heard somebody drowned in Guam,and I got it at that time.

Another "American-side" was the Lost and Found matter.

As I told you before, I often left something at a public place, like in a train or bus, but I always find them in Japan because nobody takes it.

But in America, we even could leave our old furniture in front of our house if we don't have time to take it to the waste treatment center, because somebody was supposed to take it!!

The next day I played golf, I noticed my patter (a kind of golf clubs) was missing.

Oh my God, I left it at the course! I called the course in English and asked to search mine, but they said there was not.

"OK, I forgot here is America, and I was careless as if I was Japan...but it's America! My patter doesn't come back!!"

I felt sad, but I found my patter was hiding in a small space in my golf bag, after I came back to Japan.
What I learned from this? Careless people are always careless wherever they are!!

Before we flied back to Tokyo, I was looking for a newsstand in the airport.

I wanted to buy some American magazines, but I couldn't find them around my hotel, maybe it was because Japanese tourists didn't buy American magazines!!

I found a small newsstand, and got some.

When I enjoyed reading In-touch magazine ( a weekly star-gossip magazine,) in my flight, I noticed... the issue was not the latest one! It was one month before's !!

...Didn't we go to America? or Japan?? I couldn't' stop being confused again, and laughing...