Mayor of the City of Muncie

Went to the train station today to convert our rail passes to tickets.   The station is so large they are still working on the remodeling that was going on when we were here last June.  No english anywhere.  Once again another reason why Larry is so necessary. 

Today is a “good luck” day here in Japan.   There were several weddings going on here at the hotel.  Interesting that the most practiced religion is Buddhism, yet families pay lots of money for extravagant American-style weddings. 

We met with an English-speaking Japanese business owner for lunch today here at the hotel.  He is looking to diversify his business and recognizes that alternative energy may be a way for him to do so.  He currently has plants in Japan and Vietnam and has a customer in Indiana.  We will be assisting him by providing information regarding Brevini and other  possible supply opportunities and have invited him to visit Muncie.

Had a couple of hours to window shop in the Ginza, which is the shopping area in Tokyo.  Fun to see the latest fashions and people watch.  The men and women are all very fashionable and each have their own sense of style. 

I finally figured out how to get CNN in English today.  Last evening it was being translated in Japanese over the English-speaking  announcer and I was reading the ticker tape running along the bottom, which was in English, to get the news.  It doesn’t take long  to figure out you’re not at home.

A friend of Larry, who I had the opportunity to meet last year, hosted us for dinner.  We had appetizers at a street restaurant, small stools with tables made of wood on plastic crates, next to the rail system.  The food was wonderful, made by the owner on an open grill. 

Then we moved to a more formal resturant and had a Korean-style dinner.  Did not like the pickled vegetables!!  Amazing that we dined right next to the rail, could see the trains passing by and we could not hear them.  If only we could pull that off in Muncie!

Tried to find a church to attend tomorrow.  Thought it would be nice to worship with others of the same faith in another country.  Sadly, nothing in the hotel booklets.

I was on my way to the Indianapolis International Airport by 7:00 a.m on Thursday morning.  Once I was checked in I spent some time returning phone calls  that I was unable to do before I left for Japan.  Larry Ingraham, our consultant and translator , and I departed Indianapolis on United Flight 7659 at 10:38 a.m. and arrived at Chicago-O’Hare at 10:48 a.m.  (note time change!).  We were scheduled to depart Chicago-O’Hare at 12:13 p.m.  but had a delay due to a mechanical malfunction in the cockpit.  A little alarming to see the mechanics board the plane!  Shortly thereafter we departed for Tokyo-Narita Airport.   We flew on a Boeing 747-400 with a capacity of 347.  The flight time was scheduled for 12 hours and 47 minutes.   The pilot instructed us that we would be traveling a littler faster than ususal in order to get us to Narita Airport on time.  Once we arrived at the airport we were met by Terry Murphy who had flown in from the Phillipines.  Terry shared with us that the arrival screen at Narita Airport showed our flight was late.  ONE MINUTE!  

The total miles flown was 6,486.  I left home at 7:00 a.m. on Thursdayas I mentioned earlier and arrived at the hotel in Tokyo at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.  Yes, it does take 23 hours from leaving my house to arriving at hotel! 

I read a book given to me by Larry a couple of weeks ago entitled Dave Barry Does Japan by Dave Berry.  It is better to read the book after you have traveled to Japan once.  It enables the reader to relate to Dave and his family’s experiences.  Very funny book!