1st Visit to Fuji Plant - Osaka

Fuji Plant view from hotel(zoomed in).
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OMG(gosh)!!!  I need to write sooosooo much!

When I arrived at Fuji-Osaka (FSK) for the 1st time (for those of you that tuned in for the toilet story - it'll have to wait - my adrenaline is flowing - besides the toilet story got better - glad I didn't tell it yesterday!!)  Ok, ok, back to my arrival at Fuji. . .   the taxi dropped me off at the front gate.  Thank goodness he accepted American Express; my yen is running out.

Have you seen the Oompa Loompa?

Fuji Plant view from hotel.
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In true Jeff fashion, Wednesday night @ dinner he gives me the following instructions:

1.    Take a taxi to Fuji.

2.    Tell the guard who you are.

3.    Tell them you're there to see Barry Yamada - he's expecting you; it's no problem.

Presentation rehearsal.
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4.    You know how you usually go to the left, well don't.  Go to the right.  (usually??? I've never even been there!!!).

5.    Go inside & upstairs to the right or maybe he said left then right.  I don't know.

Hugh looked at me like 'I'm sorry he's making you do this.'   Jeff started over saying left building make a right --I don't know.  My anxiety was creeping up into my chest.  Why does he do this?  I think I have figured it out.....when Jeff says "It's no problem, just do it", he means. . . 'do it, but figure it out on your own.' 

Hold the microphone, click down arrow, turn pages, talk slowly & smile!!
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So, as we were leaving dinner Wednesday, Hugh says, "Just wait at the guard gate.  tell them this # 910334 and they will know to call Yamada-san.  I will call Barry to tell him to expect you around 1 - 1:30 p.m."

THANK YOU HUGH!!! What a relief.

Ok back to the story again.... the taxi dropped me off at the guard house.  I walked up to the window.  Before I could even utter a word, the guard said "You are Kristine!!"

I should have said No!  But I said "Yes, I'm here to see Yamada-san".  He was already on the phone.

Fuji store goodies.
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Barry walked down to greet me.  Good thing it didn't take long, because it felt like it was 90 degrees & I was wearing my black dress slacks & a polyester top.  My body was not doing a whole lot of breathing, but I was starting to sweat!

I won't bore you with the details (maybe I already have).  Barry took me around his floor.  He showed me several different rooms w/ special testing equipment & instruments.  I was introduced to about 20-30 people that I've never met before.  I saw a few familiar faces (people that have either visited or worked at Fuji in Sav'h), Mac, Steve, Marc & Mr. Nakao.

Fuji entrance.
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Then we went on an outside tour of the plant.  I was excited about this because I've always wondered what Fuji - Osaka looked in person.  My excitement soon faded.  Barry explains that we can't go into any of the production areas for safety reasons.  That's no problem, I completely understand. Then he drops the 'bomb' (just a little 'bomb').  I have to wear a uniform & hat! YES a HAT!!

Have you met me, I don't wear hats!  (ok well I've been known to sport a hat for a few minutes to take a picture w/ my boys-but that's it)

The beloved Fuji Chocolate Sticks!
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I was visualizing what I was about to look like in the white polyester pants (kind of like baseball pants, but worn very loose) w/ elastic around the ankles.  This is not good...I wasn't exactly wearing white panties!!  Oh crap!!

The top, well the top is a long sleeve white body (same material as pants) w/ bright Fuji blue cotton long-sleeves & must be tucked in (that might solve the panty problem).

The hat is like a railroad conductor's hat, but all white.  I really didn't care about the color of the hat.  I just knew my hair was about to look horrible.

Heading to Fuji.
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For those of you that have seen an FSK uniform, you are probably laughing at the visual of me wearing it!!!  For those of you that can't visualize, I'm thinking the Pillsbury Doughboy or an Oompa Loompa come to mind!!!

Off we go to find my uniform!  A nice older lady hands me the hat & the white folded clothes.  As I unfold it, I see that it's just a . . . . .long-sleeved white lab coat!  Cool w/ me.  Now I'll look smart instead of stupid.  I forgot for a moment that I have to wear the hat! Darn hat!

The FSK guards (I had permission to take this picture)
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There are no photos of me in the uniform.  No picture taking is allowed in the plant.  I would have taken a picture just for posterity!  There were several witnesses, but I will not name them.

I soon got over what I looked like.  As I said earlier 'it felt like it was 90 degrees & I was wearing my black dress slacks & a polyester top'.  So now with the lab coat over that, I'm REALLY sweating while we walked around several areas of the plant grounds for about 30 min.  I won't gross you out w/ the details, but just so you know polyester sticks to sweaty skin! YUCK!!

Fuji Uniform (sorry it's not me)!
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We didn't have a lot of time because I had to go to rehearse my speech after that.  That's right, go sweat for 30-45 minutes, then to rehearse in front of people. Nice!

The photo shows me rehearsing.  You can see how it's set up.  I didn't expect to have to hold the microphone, but I couldn't leave it in the stand in case I wasn't talking loud enough.  I guess since I'm tall, my mouth wouldn't have been close enough to the microphone.

So, lets see...I have to hold the mic w/ my right hand...click the arrow on the laptop on the left side of the podium (to change the slides)...while also holding my speech & flipping it's pages.  This is without knocking over the little booklight & mic stand.  All of this is expected of me while I'm reading the speech & concentrating on speaking clearly, slowly & not losing my place on the page.  Holy crap!  I'm gonna throw-up tomorrow!

There were only 5 people in the audience for the rehearsal.  Plus the camera man.  YES CAMERA MAN!  Not only will there be about 100 - 125 people in the room, they are broadcasting it live throughout the company on the monitors.  Gee, so only about 1,000 people will hear me!  Did I know about this before I got here?  I don't know.  Someone may have mentioned it, but I repressed it!!!

All drama aside, the rehearsal went well.  The length of our speech is supposed to be between 8 - 10 minutes.  10 min. is maximum.  My rehearsal was 8 min. 32 sec.  Hooray!!  All I need to do is slow down in a few spots (I talk fast when I'm nervous) - my goal is 9 minutes.

Whew, with that done, Barry took me to the Fuji store (hey FVO people, you know what that means?!?!).  Not much to say about the Fuji store.  It's just a small room in the main building w/ a little snack area.  They sell snacks, cookies, crackers, Fuji chocolate, drinks & other stuff.  I did buy a few things other that the Fuji Chocolate Sticks.

Then off I went w/ my sweets to the taxi back to the hotel to wait for them to pick me up for dinner @ 6.

All this train & taxi riding had me worried, but I haven't had any motion sickness on this trip.  Hooray!!

Sorry the photos don't line up with the text.  I'm trying to hurry!  Maybe I can fix it later.  See ya for now.