(5/24) TOKYO

Today we are supposed to meet in the lobby at 1:30pm if we want to go on the company visit to the CEO of HBSC's home. Me and Hanuel definately wanted to go, but we wanted to try and go back to Nakkano first to visit the 525 yen store. We ate at Himalaya Curry (this is like the 5th time; everyone on the trip loves this place, plus it is close to the Olympic Center) and after that decided that we wanted to figure out how to take the JR line instead of the metro. Hanuel heard one guy buying a ticket speaking in English over the phone. "This guy is our only chance," she said, and so we stopped him and asked for help. He was very kind and generous with his time. He rode with us to the next station and set us up for success with maps and directions. Then I starting talking with him and discovered that he studyed abroad in America during High School in Ohio. He actually went to school at Heritage Christian in Canton; thats Crazy!!! Thats where I am from! No Way! What a small world. I couldn't believe it! We successfully shopped and bought cheap dresses! Next we had to rush back to change for the business visit/tea party.
We missed the group leaving for the visit, so we decided to call Charlie and get the directions. I knew we would somehow make it even though we only knew the metro stop and the address. Charlie said that the apartment was 10 minutes from the metro so we would have to find it on our own. We started in the direction we thought we should go and stopped people on the street or went into family marts to ask for directions. No one spoke English so we tried to follow their hand motions and just walk that way. Eventually, we passed over a bridge of water and came across the building that we were supposed to find! Yea! We somehow got through the security doors and told the lady we were Appalachian State Students and proceeded up to the 48th floor. Navin (the CEO) had an amazing place overlooking a lake in the middle of Tokyo. We had a perfect view of the Tokyo Tower which was beautiful. Navin gave us an unformal presentation, discussing the current economic situation, the real work world, and life in general. Navin is from India and is married to a Taiwanese woman that runs her own business (in fact, she makes more than he does). Navin is a worldly man that works in International business and as he was speaking I felt like a sponge, just absorbing every word he said. He gave us advice that I will use for the rest of my life. Confidence, Competence, and Candour. These three things are what Navin says he looks for in interviews and in people in general. I thought this idea was profound. Life can be this simple. Navin's temperment was so relaxed, wise, and controlled, he was an amazing person to meet and this final event was the end all for my trip. I was perfectly content; thankful that I got this experience and the chance to have this experience.