{News from Our Sister-City Osaki in JAPAN + Join NISSAN with Donation!}

• It was with great joy to receive an email in the morning from our YKK contact person who finally got through to the little town of Sanbongi, part of Osaki City. 
• In July of 2007 I had the honor being one of two chaperons with six students from Dublin, Georgia to Japan. 
• We have already contact since October 1998 and every other year we send students there or we receive students form our sister city Osaki. 
• It is such a great cultural exchange and after a stay in Tokyo we went to the north east for a stay with our host families. 
• That is so unique, far different from a hotel stay. 
• We did lots of sight seeing in the north east area, visiting gardens, shrines etc. etc. 
• The usual things one can enjoy in this great country. 
• Their courtesy and respect for others, for nature and for life in general is something we all can learn from. 
• They are an example to the world. Some negative news by the leftist media in regard to nuclear power plants should be put to rest too. 
• If all those people that talk about it and help spread those rumors, would do their own homework, they would soon learn that those levels are not life threatening. 
• On a transatlantic flight you get quite some radiation and nobody talks about that.  
• Nuclear energy is still by far the cleanest and safest energy there is! 

• This is the Miyagi Prefecture (State) with Sendai being the hardest hit. 
• Our stay was in Osaki, more inland and that's precisely why there was not much damage compared to the areas near the coast. 
• They did not have electricity for one week; that's why they couldn't send or receive emails prior to yesterday.

• View from the Tokyo Tower where we first went on our city tour and harbor cruise. It was rather hazy that day but nevertheless quite impressive.

• Here I am in front of Tokyo's Hard Rock Cafe, with a lady from YKK research. 
• We had dinner there and the group had a blast.

• On the roof  of the YKK research center in Tokyo before departure by train to the north to our host families. 

• Reading from Romaji and my co-chaperon doing the English version, that's how I presented the gifts for the mayor, the chairman of their International Association and later to the manager of the Tohoku YKK plant. 
• A dear friend who has worked and lived in Japan, provided me with this text and he did over-hear me before I went to Japan. 
• As I'm used to speaking for groups, having been an international consultant and giving training seminars, I didn't need a microphone.

• Here I present the gifts, that I'd purchased at our flagship department store Neiman Marcus. 
• They did provide me with their signature gift boxes as well. 
• Japanese do appreciate high quality items.

• Meeting my host. By the way, I got introduced as an energetic Mama...

• The Chef from a traditional Japanese restaurant in Furukuwa. I ate whale for the very first time. 
• With our boss, my husband and I have eaten several times Japanese at Sumire Restaurant in the Grand Hyatt Jakarta Hotel in Indonesia.
• We both love it very much. 
• Eating with chopsticks is no problem for me either as I did that for years in Indonesia, while doing consulting work and living there for about 3 years. 
• Japanese chopsticks are only shorter.

• Each of us had to say something about our stay and our experiences, or highlights, at the Sayonara party. 
• Also the host family got to say something about their guest(s) as some had two students and even three.

• One last photo with my host family and off we went in the morning, by train back to Tokyo. 
• Another adventure was that a Typhoon was striking Japan and our Delta flight was delayed by one day and the hotels in Tokyo were overbooked, so we had to split up our group. 
• During the train ride I made up my mind though, that we would depart that very day instead. 
• Delta airlines handled it great as we got it done over the phone and by mentioning that I had to get my six minors back home safely. 
• The problem was that there were two holidays in Japan, thus flights already overbooked. 
• Also the fact that the group would be split up was not something I liked. 
• We got out, running to the gate and having to skip lunch but that was okay. 
• The Typhoon hit and there was an earthquake with a mini Tsunami. 
• Nothing compared with this monster Tsunami... but who would know in advance? 
• Parents were all pleased to see their son/daughter back safe. 
• I'd emailed my husband Pieter and our YKK contact person who organized everything in the US as far as informing the families. 
• My last email read: 'If you don't hear from me anymore; that means we are in the air' and also forwarding our flight numbers to them...

• Back home in Dublin I could present our mayor with the new flag from Osaki as several towns had merged into Osaki City.

• Only one year later, in 2008, we could welcome a Japanese delegation back to Dublin. Under Police escort they are being met at the Interstate (Autobahn/Autostrada) and a big welcome sign is on the overpass.

• Here we are with our house guest; one of the chaperons.

• Together with two other members of the International Committee I did join these Japanese students  on a trip to Savannah and to the beach... HAPPY TIMES!

• Let me end this post with this nobel act by Nissan as they donated $ 1,000,000 and will match again the next $ 500,000 in contributions. Here is (was) the link for donating and I hope that many of you will join me! Thank you! ありがとうございます on behalf of our Japanese friends that need us more than ever...