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March , 2008 Issue （No2） | ||||||
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March , 2008 Issue （No2） | ||||||
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Masako Endo San with RIFA membership has often enjoyed oversea travel to various countries. She is very used to traveling. What happened at her funny travel to Cuba | ||
| I got to Kansai International Airport early as planned. Even Though it
took very long time to check in at JAL counter, I was forced to check in
again at Los Angeles because of no baggage tag. I became aware of no voucher
of hotel in Mexico when undergoing baggage inspection and just saying to
departure from country. I was back to baggage inspection place and then
JAL counter. Lost article was not reached and there was nothing anywhere
!! < Hurried Departure> Time was less than 20 minutes before take-off. I could depart by all means as take off of my flight delayed by 15 minutes fortunately. Flight was changed at Los Angeles and I arrived at Mexico around 12 clock at midnight with stay for one night. I contacted hotel via phone to inform of loosing voucher. Action was successful and I felt relived. Voucher was found when going to Cuba at next day. What was my efforts at previous day !!!! <Arrival at Cuba> Afternoon, I arrived at Cuba(Habana City). I was refused to entry into country because of making no reservation at hotel. Note that I got tourist card at Cuban embassy expressly, but that action became meaningless. Socialist state might be troublesome !! I became very adhesive at immigration office so as to be admitted into country, and consequently could got their making reservation at hotel. I was strained for an instant being afraid that they might demand dirty money, when they asked me, "did you have money ?" I answered "I have Japanese Yen" even though having US $. Because I had such concern that they were unfriendly with USA and thereby might refuse me to entry into country. Against their reaction, "those were useless", I said " how about Euro." I felt that I might still be suspected when they were saying " Show and see". I showed remaining Euro in last travel. Consequently, I got their making hotel reservation at last. I did not forget to shrewdly request them to reserve hotel located in old part of city where was very convenient for sightseeing. Power failure took place three times in that meantime. Cry like scream sounded through pitch black darkness of airport. I had been relieved from one difficulty, but encountered another difficulty, drug inspection at customhouse. Dogs were brougt and , moreover, there were only two of us. Dogs smelled me so carefully. A crowd was made around us. It became profoundly interesting show. I wanted to say," Did not treat me rudely and Please look at my face carefully". However, I silently accepted customhouse inspection for my load so as not to be sent back. I could broke through that difficulty at last. <Let go to town!!!>  Hotel I stayed was ranked as four stars and it's room charge was in world average. However, temperature controller of air conditioner did not function. Room temperature went on falling once turning on, while room became sultry once turning off air conditioner. How old was air conditioner ??? Note that hotel was one of highest classes in country. I took dinner and ordered lobster at restaurant to which Hemingway resorted. Lobster was so big and grotesque like "Warage" in Japanese !!! Even myself could not eat it completely and carried back. I took a walk on town when backing to hotel, and dropped in public house being called to. I fully enjoyed in meantime talking noisily and dancing with members of band. Young waiter to who I presented lobster responding his request went away like a gust of wind. Cuban was very friendly and living cheerfully with music. However. Their life seemed to be extremely in want. Things that I usually got used to seeing seemed to be brilliant for me when getting to Mexico no my way home.Request for Your Renewing Registration for RIFA Voluntary Activities |
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| 2008 is year for renewing registration for RIFA voluntary activities. If you want to renew your registration, please fill in an application form and submit it to RIFA office. Registration is done every three years and your registration at this time will be valid until 2010. Your application will be accepted at any time. We would appreciate many people taking an application. Category of voluntary activities (1) interpretation/ translation, (2) teaching of Japanese, (3) home-stay/home-visit (4) introduction of Japanese culture, (5) others, except abovementioned. |
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| March, 2008 Issue（No2） |