5/31/2009

Back to the Desert

Near Saltillo, Mexico. A view from sky approaching the airport
I'm back in Mexico for the week. From what I hear, things are still crazy hectic at the plant. GM will be declaring its bankruptcy tomorrow, and I have no idea what that means to us. Personally, I'm hoping that it would delay the launch of the new model that I'm here to support so that it would give more time to catch up.

Poor Dawn is again all alone at home, but this one is half the duration of my last trip. She is going to do her best to keep herself busy during my absence. Gambatte, Dawn-chan! I'll be home by the weekend!

5/24/2009

Taste of Cincinnati

Pix from our participation in Taste of Cincinnati.
More photos available here.
Dawn & Hachi at Fountain Square, Downtown, Cincinnati, OH

Very good turn-out...

A band on the center stage in Fountain Square.

Dawn with Dawn Plus Power Scrubbers!!

Gyro!

We found a little sanctuary away from the crowd...

Winchester Farm

More Pictures from Winchester Farm are located here.

Small portion of Winchester Farm's 500-acre pasture


Owner Dr. Yoshida takes us on the tour around the farm on his "mule".


Dawn has this effect on animals.


Horse Whisperer Dawn


Many foals were at the farm.


Curious horses and Curious Mom.

5/23/2009

Looking Forward to the Horse Farm Tour

I'm pretty excited that Papa and Okaasan (Hachi's parents) signed us all up for a Tour at Winchester Horse Farm today! =D
http://winchesterfarm.com/

In collaboration with JASK (Japan-America Society of KY), I believe this Tour is designed for students learning Japanese, and will be given in Japanese. One of my former Japanese language teachers from college (UK) is supposedly bringing his students, and it'll be strange to see him again after almost 10 years. I doubt he'll remember me at all,...but I'm afraid to admit to him that I was his student, since I'm still not fluent. I may be relying heavily on Hachi's translations... I doubt I'll understand much on my own.

Hope it isn't cancelled due to the forecasted rain!!

5/19/2009

Dawn's First Attempt at Blogging

Well,...not sure if I'll remember to keep this up, but...I will do my best to contribute to this new Blog about me and my husband. Baby steps for now,...since I finally got re-connected to the internet, and it's already 1:11 AM. Wish me luck! =D

5/15/2009

5/10/2009

On Food

So, one of the things I enjoy about traveling to Mexico is food. Having lived in US for 22 years (:-O), I realize that it is seldom that I get very excited about food. Americans ridicule British food culture, but I don't think American cooking is much better (of course, I have never been to the UK, so I don't really know how bad it is...). I DO like eating. In fact, I practically eat anything that is served in front of me, and ,in most cases, like it. But, despite the popular belief, I do have sense of taste, perhaps, not DISCRIMINATING taste... I would like to think that I am open-minded...

So, I have come to Mexico this time, and I have managed to have supper most nights so far. Restaurants that I have visited in Saltillo, Mexico are Messa Rica, La Braza, Garufa and La Canasta. I enjoyed all of the restaurants. Since Spanish-speaking Ventura is traveling with me, we can venture out (no pun intended) to places where I wouldn't be able to otherwise.

Mexican servers are usually VERY attentive: you rarely have to call them over. You see them jumping on their feet as customers come through the door. Most of them spoke some degree of English, too, as my Spanish is embarrasingly limited. The service is no comparison to what you see in the mid-level restaurants in US.

Food is rich in variety and flavor. I don't do "Spicy", but it still leaves much room for me to explore many different dishes. It is rarely boring whatever you get. Even a hamburger that I tried at Messa Rica.

I often hear Japanese expats to US expressing how they miss Japanese food. Here I hear that former Japanese expats to Mexico express their sentiment for Mexican food after returning to Japan. I'm not sure how expats to other ethnic countries are feeling but I suspect similar (maybe not Canada. lol).

My international experiences are limited (Japan, Mexico, USA, Canada). I hope that we explore the world as much as we can, and seek as many delicacies as possible... hopefully avoiding gross ones...

5/06/2009

In Mexico... for next 10 days...

So I am now in Ramos, Mexico, on business, and will be for next 10 days. I hope to make this trip as productive as possible, but I'll see what I am getting myself into tomorrow when I visit the plant very early. Poor Dawn has to hold down the fort all by herself... Dawn-chan, gambatte ne!


5/04/2009

Can you see the turkey?

From 20090505


I arrived at work this morning, and saw a big turkey in the middle of the field. I don't know if you can see it, but I tried to snap it at the highest resolution of my phone cam... Sometimes, you see a herd of deer in this field, too.