The Rainbow

Now that the holidays are over, it’s back to the hard, hard labour I’m subject to on a daily basis. After a strenuous three days of work, it was time for another (sort-of) break – it’s time for our department’s yearly professional development excursion into Vancouver where we reflect on the hard labour of the past year and try to figure out solutions for the group to push on ahead for another year. As is my tradition, each year I blog about where we went, what we did – considering those things, this is my fourth PD blog! Have I really been working here that long? Yikes.

Regina, Brenda, and I carpooled in together mid-morning on Thursday. This year we were staying at the The Listel on Robson Street – my idea. Hope the hotel is nice or it’s my neck on the chopping block.











Not to shabby indeed! It’s no Westin in Ottawa or anything like that, but it’s certainly sufficient for my needs over the next 24 hours. Our meetings were held downstairs in the (duh) meeting rooms, so I dumped my junk and headed down there for lunch.








Deanna is just pretending that I’m not there, taking a picture. Nice try. It’s part of my schtick.





As you can see, I was a pig. Well, I was storing fat for the long afternoon ahead. Our workshop today was Colours. Have you had your colour done? When you do, you get totally pigeonholed into a specific stereotype and then you spend the rest of the day discussing how you are like your stereotype. Awesome. No really, I love colours.





As you can see, I’m the strongest in Orange, but Green isn’t far behind.

Orange

seeks change and variety
makes quick decisions
independent and competitive
extremely generous (I know, right?)
quick witted and funny
impatient with theory and semantics
may be pushy in seeking a decision (heh…heh?)
bend/break rules to get things done

Hm…well. What about green?

Green

logical and rational
quality conscious (and how!)
strategic thinker
innovative and ingenious
needs independence
requires private time
insensitivity to the feelings of others
provide information overload
impatience and lack of understanding towards emotional arguments/pleas
lack of concentration if disinterested
argumentative

Oi! It’s like voodoo.




Blue people. I know it might be difficult, but they are not to be confused with “Blue Man Group”.

Part of the workshop was to try to think like your least colour – mine was gold. Gold’s are really organized, dependable, prepared, loyal, helpful, narrow-minded, self-righteous, unforgiving, and pessimistic. Ha ha ha ha. It’s funny if you think about it. Anyway, I was the only one in my whole department, apparently, who is the least likely to be gold. I think that says something, but we can’t focus on that now. I was given $10, all by my lonesome, to try to run out and find a gift for the group of golds. I had 20 minutes, so I used the first 10 to dawdle and use the washroom, and the last 10 running like a chicken with my head chopped of.



I ended up buying them a giant pack of tealight candles because there were a lot of them and I didn’t want them to never forgive me for forgetting a person or two. Ha ha ha. The group of people buying for Oranges bought us scratch-and-win tickets. Yay! Us Oranges absolutely love money. And we didn’t win one thing. BOooooO!

We had some free time until dinner, so Brenda and I headed down Robson to do some shopping and eventually make our way to the Fairmont Vancouver for dinner.







The restaurant, Griffins, was also my idea. Call me selfish, but the only reason I suggested it was because of their bountiful dessert buffet that I knew would be included. But it all went over well – that place is great!













No late-night shenanigans this year…everyone just retired to their rooms and I got on the phone calling everyone far away as we had free long-distance. At least, I hope we did…I yakked for ages.

Ed. Note: I’m getting these things done finally! With this blog, November 2009 is done. Ha ha ha. I’ll be up to Christmas in no time…just in time for Easter!

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(Day 16) End of Days

At last my endless days of traveling for 2009 have come to an end! This day in Japan is my last, for now. I can’t usually stay away for too long. I packed up the last of my goods and donned my flying clothes…I always wear the same outfit flying in and out – I feel like it adds closure. Tomoko again prepared a sumptuous feast for my last meal – she’s such a gem.


Oinari-sama! I am so lucky to know Maya and her family.

In a completely unexpected move, they also offered to drive me on over to Tokyo station since I had so many heavy bags. To put it into perspective, they are a good hour away from Tokyo station by car and it would involve heading downtown. I am truly humbled by their generosity! It also gave me a good chance to chat with Maya one last time.







After bidding the Suzuki clan farewell, I juggled my bags onto the Narita Express train and zoomed through the city toward the airport in a nearly-two-hour journey. My last glimpses:





The airport seemed busier than usual and it took quite some time to check in. There was a very kind Air Canada lady that helped me with my bags and then it was off to the shops and my last snacks before the long fright (“r” used intentionally) home.




The goodie-sack from the Suzukis…I love goodie-sacks! What shall I have?





I don’t want to give any long wrap-up speech or anything, but let me just say it was a lot of fun for me, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it! Given that I live a little longer, I will come back (from the point of writing, it is roughly five months until I go back.) So…yeah. Did I answer the question that I posed on my first blog about why I love Japan? Mmm…I’m going to try to come up with a good, direct answer for next time.

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(Day 15) Painting the Roses Red

Dearest, magical-est, dream-like Disneyland. I know some people who I consider “Disney snobs” – people who don’t like Disney and, coincidentally, have never even been to a park to judge for themselves. I don’t understand those people. What’s not to like? When you walk through those park gates, you are completely consumed by the fun landmarks, attractions, and wall-to-wall Disney paraphernalia. Yeah, the latter isn’t so cool, but they aren’t forcing me to buy. Anyway, for the kid in everyone, you should go at least once per life. Today is my day (not my first, but I’ll pretend.)

Because this is Disney and the clock is ticking, we were awake at the ungodly hour of 5:30 AM on a Saturday. We wanted to catch the 6:30 AM train and Mayuko needs a little encouraging in the morning to achieve this goal. I left the house ahead of her and she caught up…urg…too early. And it’s raining! Worst.



The ride was a long one, the train nearly empty. After arriving at Tokyo station, it was another long walk to the next train line. While those around were chirping in little groups, Mayuko and I might have looked like the walking dead. Finally, we arrived in Maihama.



The swarms of people, so early, made me cranky (sorry Mayuko!)



The lines at the gates were starting to really grow and this just made me even crankier as once they were open, we were still stuck in line for 10 mintues while all the Fast Passes were getting taken. Noooo!





The rain was really gushing down by this point. Wet, hot, and crowds of people. Needless to say, I should not have worn my Gucci shoes. Why are they all here?!? It’s nearly a typhoon! At least the Christmas decorations were pretty.



We ran first to the Monsters Inc. ride and stood in a ridiculously long line in the pouring rain to get a Fast Pass. By the time we got there, we got Fast Passes for late into the afternoon. Geeze! As always when I first step into Disney, I have a strong urge to go ride something....anything. The line up for ‘Honey I Shrunk the Audience!’ (known as ‘Micro Adventure!’ in Japan), was quite short, so we headed there first.







I used a little earpiece so I could at least hear Rick Moranis in English. The whole film was very antiquated…and awesome! And kind of lame.

Next up was across the walkway at Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.





Yeah…not much to say about that. It was kind of a whatever ride. Next up was lunch. Can’t go wrong with food! We decided that the Hungry Bear Restaurant, or whatever it was called, sounded good because, frankly, I wanted tonkatsu. I was feeling like a hungry bear.




Oh! It was ‘Hungry Bear’. I have such a good memory.





The rain was kind of on and off throughout the morning and early afternoon. All the shops were selling these ridiculous-looking ponchos that I might have actually considered had they not been Disney-related, and hence, expensive. It didn’t seem so bad…





The Pirates of the Caribbean ride is a classic. Prior to Johnny Depp, the ride was already great! Now, well…it’s good, but I wonder how many times you hear “Dead men tell no tales” before the end of the ride? Like…far too many. But I love the ride anyway. Next time I go I want to eat at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, which is actually in the ride:





So the weather didn’t seem so bad when we headed into Pirates, but it seemed to have taken a turn for the worse by the time we got out. It was here that I welcomed my second Japanese typhoon experience. The roadways cleared out snap-quick as people ran for cover.





Just as quick as it started, it was over. People poured back out onto the streets and continued as if nothing ever happened. I had hoped that some of them would have left, but no dice.













After our post-typhoon wanderings, we decided to take a chance on Splash Mountain – the line was long and we had Fast Passes for the Haunted Mansion that expired in an hour. I figured it wouldn’t take so long so we got in line and waited. And waited. And then waited some more. And more. Once we got to the front of the line, it was only seven minutes until our Haunted Mansion passes expired. I hoped that Splash Mountain was only six mintues.

We hot-footed it straight over to the mansion – full-on running! Honestly, not a second to spare. Giri-giri~!







Even the Haunted Mansion get’s do’ed-up for Christmas. Yay!




These pictures just ooze Christmas spirit.


Some ghost pals.



The only reason I could actually take any photos at all on this ride was because we got stuck on it…like, it stopped completely. This actually tends to happen to me quite a bit on this ride, but I don’t mind. More ghostly stories for later!

My favourite Disney movie is ‘Alice in Wonderland’ – always has, always will. That’s why when I saw this restaurant, I squealed with glee:







Best ever. I want to eat here for dinner. But first, a snacku. I’d seen some girls eating these ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ cookies and I wanted to procure one for my own tummy. My search brought me here to the sweetest smelling café in all of Disneyland:




Nightmare?? These treats look more like a lovely dream to me.





As you can see from the picture above, the peoples began reserving their spot for the parade quite early. I wasn’t too keen on wasting my precious Disney-themed minutes sitting on concrete, so we headed to a café for a Mayuko-requested treat. Ps – check out that lady in the picture below, giving me the death-stare. Creepy!




Water design drawn on cement. I’m impressed.



Parade time!












My favourite was the dancing donut girl.

Next up, Star Tours. It was a good idea, in theory. What could be so harmless with a Star Wars simulation?





BLECH! We got so ill. What’s so great about a shaky little room, lurching about for 3 minutes? This is not a ride. It’s a certifiable nauseation machine.







Okay, we’re done with Tomorrowland now. Yeesh. One of my biggest gripes of the day (and trust me, there was more than one), was that ‘It’s a Small World’ was closed for refurbishment. What a tragedy. This was my favourite ride as a child and now I won’t find out if it is just as good, 20 years on. *cry cry cry*









There is nothing more magical than a Disney park at night. The people clear out, the lights go on, and…it’s beauteous.



Dinner came around and I headed straight for the Queen of Hearts.







Oh it was so lovely inside! It was also about 9-bazillion degrees inside so we left. Saddest dinner story of the day, by far. I want to eat in there! Grr. Also, their selections were a bit lacking. I think they sold a giant shank of ham. Random.

We headed down the road to the restaurant beside Splash Mountain, Grandma Sara’s. Omerice and a tiny wiener, here we come!







It was a cool underground tavern-type joint. Also, it was beside Splash Mountain, so we went to ride it…again.




There we are, third row back! Let’s zoom in for a closer look…


That poor little boy behind me never stood a chance.

From there, we just starting attacking the rides left, right, and center. The park was ours for the taking. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt was next.





After Snow White, Peter Pan, and Pinocchio, we planted ourselves for the nighttime fireworks show. Pretty things in store!








How nice!

We traipsed through the park one last time and Mayuko was kind enough to let me at Splash Mountain one more time… YAYYYYY!







After a turbulent day of weather, crowds, and badditudes, we stumbled silently towards the exit of this happiest space.





I love you Mayuko! I’m happy I had such a wonderful, normal, emotion-filled day. We really felt the cultural clashes today, but I think in the end we were all the stronger for it…maybe more appreciative and sensitive, too. Hooray for friends in other countries! What a wonderful world.

And thus concludes my daily Japanese adventures. Tomorrow is my last blog as I get the heck out of Dodge, so it will be brief…but is also essential. You don’t have to read it…but I’ll appreciate it you do! Goodnight for the last time in 2009, dear Tokyo!

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