AntiNEC

This is coming a little later than I wanted...still been fighting off this cold.

So on the day of the reception, Nadu went to get her massive shambles of hair done up to look all nice. It's why she kept it so long for so long, for this one day. It ended up looking really good, so I guess it was worth the sleepless nights of her hair up my nose :P

I had a little surprise for her while she was gone. I told her and her parents that I was going to go to the local Jusco to shop for gifts for my family, since I had nothing to do. But really, I took the monorail across the city to Kokusai-dori (International Street) where there was a bookstore. A few days before, Nadu saw her favorite series of comics - 13 of them - but didn't buy them because they were too expensive. So yeah, I got em for her. I know, aren't I the nicest?

Anyway, we got to the hotel at around 5:00, just in time to have the photographers start harrassing us. It was already time to take pictures around the hotel. The head photographer helped me with my tie - I still have no clue how to put on one of those damned things.

Before you know it, we were in front of the reception hall greeting out guests. So many new people to meet, and so many more that I wasn't sure if I had met them or not. It was tough - Hajimemashite or not? I had about 2 seconds per person to make this important decision. I stuck with Konnbanwa for most people, just in case I had met them before :)





First up was Nadu's dad, who was the MC for the night. He did an awesome job, at least as far as I could tell. I couldn't understand a damn word he said. Usually I can pick up at least the just of what a person is saying when speaking Japanese, but that night I was just too tired to listen. Sorry Big Z.

The first thing was a traditional Okinawan dance performed by Nadu's mom, dad, aunt, and uncle. They had been practicing for well over a month, and I thought they did really well. Those dances are so precise, I can't imagine doing it myself. It was really awesome!






During the first part of the meal I played the Keynote I made of the Kimono photos. Everyone seemed very confused and suprised to see me at the controls of my Precious (my Macbook Pro laptop). I guess in Japan the hotel staff ALWAYS handle that stuff. Sorry, but Frank rule #1 - ONLY FRANK OR TRUSTED ASSOCIATES TOUCH THE MACBOOK. Anyway, I guess the guests thought it was pretty cool.

I didn't get to eat much of anything as I was busy either handling the laptop or taking pictures with Nadu with all the guests. I think the menu went something like this:

1. Some fish with asparagus?
2. Some beef with asparagus?
3. A soup..no idea what kind.
4. Wedding cake - oh wait, we didn't eat any!

Those who know me know I love to eat. The wedding cake thing really chapped my ass.
We did the normal cutting of the cake, which we go free of charge as we skipped a bunch of the garbage that normally accompanies Japanese weddings - Candle ceremony, bride wearing 3 dresses, etc. So right after we cut it, guests could come grab some. But could we? Hell no, we had to take more pictures. Dammit, I want cake!
So, at the end of the night, I see half the cake left. Score, right? I'm sure we can take that home. WRONG. They throw it away. I'm sorry, but what the hell is wrong with this picture? Arrgg....

Ok, sorry about that. Food wastage makes me angry. Next up were our speeches. It was the same as our wedding in Edmonton - Nadu has the emotional speech that tugs at your heartstrings, I have the one that lightens the mood, as I cannot be serious. I was required to get up there with Nadu as she was letting the water works loose.

Next up were aisa drummers. They were placed all throughout the room, and they kind of snuck up on us while we were taking pictures. I sit down and all of a sudden BAM!BAM!BAM! It was pretty awesome, probably my favorite part of the night.






Then was my mega-super-amazing-gigantic-godzilla-sized suprise. I got my speech out, with Nadu beside to me translate. So my first line is 'Konnbanwa honjistuwa goshuseki itadeki arigatougozaimasu'. The crowd is stunned. They cheer. They appreciate that my first line is in Japanese.
I follow up with more Japanese, and more. Holy crap, they realize I'm doing the whole thing in Japanese. Yep, I wrote my speech in English, Nadu the Translator turned it into Japanese, and I practiced that for about 2 months. It was fun to do, even though it took me forever to stumble through the more difficult parts.

I must thank Nadu for helping me with that. When I write something, I can write forever. My speech in English probably sounded something like this - 'Blah blah blah...infinity'. It was long. Nadu did a great job of trimming it down to something I could finish before everyone fell asleep.

So the night was a success - maybe a bit too much. In the receiving line when our guests were leaving, a bunch of people were blabbing to me in Japanese. Sorry, I still don't speak the damned language! But they sure believed I did thanks by my speech. Whoops. Smile and nod.