Tokyo Trip

Went to Tokyo this past weekend for our company's Christmas party. Very quick trip. Got there Thursday evening and left Saturday morning. Thursday night I got to meet Izumi, Yuko and Chihoko - 3 secretaries at various proficiency levels of English. But they were all good enough so that they understood most of what I was saying.

Izumi and I have been talking via email for quite awhile so I was excited to meet her. I wasn't sure what the custom was in Japan for introducing yourself. Handshake? Would she want to hug? I thought I'd wait for her to make a move.

Well, she sort of just stood there and I went in for the hug and then she stuck out her hand but I was already in there so then I kissed right by her cheek and tried to go to the other side because I've been doing that for the past month with all my Euro friends in HK.

It was the most awkward hello ever. I joked about it with her and told her I'm all messed up with the different cultures I've been encountering lately that I don't know how the hell to physically say, "Nice to meet you" anymore. We laughed.

They took me to Inakaya for dinner and as soon as we walked in I thought, "Waaaait a minute...I'VE been HERE before!" It's the same restaurant my cousin took me to 4 years ago when I visited him in Tokyo. Cracked me up.

Then Yoko Ono walked in!




This is my Blackberry picture of her. She's past the British dude in the white hat. I almost went up to her to introduce myself as Paul R. is good friends with her but I thought I'd just let her eat in peace.

Peace is what she's all about after all.








During dinner the girls and I were getting to know each other which meant that I was doing most of the talking as they can only ask basic questions in English and then I had to carry the conversation most of the time.

Izumi and I were getting along great and I thought, "we're not so different" until her reply to a question I asked slapped me in the face and made me realize that she and I are on totally different life wavelengths.

Me: "So do you always want to be a secretary or do you want to have another type of job?"

Izumi: [thinks for a few seconds, then] "Mmmmm...I think I'll stay secretary because it gives me time for my housework."

Me: "..."

I was so ready for bed by the end of dinner as I didn't get any sleep the night before but the girls wanted to get a drink. I couldn't refuse. They were so sweet and wanted to show me a good time. So we went to The Oak Door in the hotel I was staying in. That was quite the hip place. Filled with white banker boys that are only in town for a few days and are getting wasted. My ass was grabbed on the way to the bathroom. I slapped his arm and he called me fiesty in his British accent. I wanted to kick his little ass (he was only about 5'4").

Friday I put on my conservative suit and worked at the bank. My voice was almost gone and I was starting to feel like shit. Great. It felt a bit strange to be sitting in that office. Not just because there were various people on the phone at all times speaking Japanese but because I hadn't worn a suit to my job at a bank in about 10 years.

Izumi took me around to various offices and introduced me to a bunch of different people that I've been emailing with. She was such a trooper. Had to listen to me answer the same 3 basic questions about 15 different times.

Got dressed up for the party which started at 7pm. I really had no idea what to expect. I got there at 7:07pm...walked into a HUGE room (you could hold the Oscars in there - well, almost) and there was the Chairman of the company on stage giving a speech and EVERYONE WAS ALREADY THERE AND IN THEIR SEATS.

Oops.

I felt like such an asshole. I've never been to something like that where it starts at EXACTLY 7pm. Now I know. Be on time to the party in Japan.

I thought I'd stay in the background until he was done speaking and then he said, "Randy will speak about the funds..." and my cousin started to stand up. So I thought, "Here's my chance" and I started walking fast to my table (all the way up front with my cousin). I'm about half-way there and the Chairman says, "Just kidding, Randy. You'll be up in a minute."

Doah.

I had already committed so I just kept going and sat at an empty seat at our table. Turns out I sat in the Chairman's seat. Lovely.

I apologized to my cousin but it wasn't a big deal. Phew.

Listened to some financial speeches in Japanese. Then my cousin gave a speech and had a Japanese interpreter. I felt so bad for that chick because he gave her about 2 paragraphs of info about private equity funds with no time to practice beforehand.

They gave out prizes for a couple hours (I didn't win, damnit) and then it was over. They had photographers there so below are a few photos.

















Izumi, Me and Diaa. He's the head of the IT department and flew to HK to set up my computer. He's really sweet.

















My cousin Randy, the big wig, giving his speech (there were hundreds of people there)

















Akiko (she's hysTERRRRical), David Nishida (very nice guy - big wig exec), Yuko, Chihoko and Izumi

















Me and my new Japanese peeps. Every other picture from the party had someone giving the peace sign with their fingers. Hundreds of people there and I was the only white girl. I love it. When I walked up to get my name tag they shouted, "Ahh, Stacey-san!"

Had a great time. I feel much more connected to the company now. Their names aren't so foreign to me. I have a better understanding of how awesome my cousin is and how much he's really accomplished. Have had an insane cold all week. Am prayyyying it goes away by the time I fly home this Friday. I have a 20+ hour journey with 2 connections. Ugh. But am SO looking forward to being at home for 3 weeks! Yay! Christmas!