复活节

上周末是复活节。我们星期六去布龙菲县城举办的复活节寻蛋大会。所有的孩子按年龄分为3组。阿诺分在0到2岁组。

传说的寻蛋大典11：30开始。我们11点钟就早早等在那里，生怕去晚了抢不到蛋。正式的仪式12点才开始，孩子们早就等的不耐烦了。好像之前还宣读了一下复活节的由来故事，只是喇叭效果太差，我们什么也没听到。一声“开始”的令下之后，所有这一组的家长和孩子都蜂拥而上。草地上刚刚洒满了各种颜色的蛋，贴画，糖果等等小孩子喜欢的东西。只可惜2岁的小孩什么也不懂，不知道要去抓这些东东放进自己的篮子。最后只好是家长之间开始抢着抓，简直是一片混乱。

最神奇的是，那么一大片草地上撒的垃圾竟然在5分钟之内被洗劫一空。阿诺也小有斩获，抢到了很多贴画和十来个蛋。 我不是很热心抢蛋，因为蛋里多是糖果，小孩吃了对牙不好。美国的所有节日都是糖果商发财的好机会。从万圣节，情人节，到复活节，感恩节，圣诞节，最普遍的礼物是巧克力和各种糖果，真要命。

最糟的是，我们这次在日本见到萧江是他还送了一盒在荷兰机场买的巧克力。“你说，il为什么不送我们一幅牌，或者是钥匙链呢?”

“懒呗，”Biajee不屑地说。“而且这巧克力一定是他在机场买的，这上面有机场的基因。”

Staples

Staples has confirmed their bid to our company today and got firmly rejected. Now they're going to file this offer to the authority in The Netherlands by May 13th, 2008. And they'll pursue the shareholders directly for a hostile takeover.

It's pleasing that our CEO and Board are very confident that they could bring more value to shareholders and stakeholders. We only hope the shareholders have the same view.

It is with no doubt that acquisition of my company will help Staples grow their business in a lot of ways. They would, of course, reduce overhead and cut costs after the takeover.

People within my organization do not want to discuss this. If you try to talk to anybody, they'd give you an official answer so it's better not to talk about it at all. This is a weird situation at the moment, like the deadly calm before a war explodes.

大阪城 - Japan Trip (Day 9, Feb. 24th, 2008)

关山难越，谁悲失路之人；萍水相逢，尽是他乡之客。 -- 《滕王阁序》王渤

在日本的最后一天，我们一起去了大阪城。城外的梅花都开了，有许多当地人拿着专业单反相机在拍照，这简直是相机的展览大会。尤其是一起出游的老年夫妇，各自捧着一个最高级的相机，咔嚓卡嚓，不亦快哉。

大阪城有血惺的战争史。我们看了关于丰臣家族如何战败的纪录片，男人被屠戮，妇女和小孩被凌辱。战争太残酷了，自古以来都是成王败寇，“劝君莫话封侯事，一将功成万骨枯。”

下午我们在旅馆附近的餐馆里饱食了一顿火锅和寿司。晚上Biajee送我和阿诺去机场了，他自己得在日本无聊而漫长地等签证。我们开玩笑说他可以去做男体盛，多寄些钱回家来养孩子。实际上我内心的悲苦，又怎能说出来再给Biajee雪上加霜地添烦恼呢？

去年元月时，花市灯如昼。月上柳稍头，人约黄昏后。今年元月时，花市灯依旧。不见去年人，泪湿春衫袖。

我们享受了度假的愉悦甜美又复承受着分离的煎熬和等待。情，有时候是无怨无悔的守候。

离别的时候，我有一个小小的愿望：在我写完这次日本游记的时候，Biajee就会回到我们身边。他真的在上星期三晚回家了！害得我没有很快写完游记，还带了很多叮当猫的玩具回家。

Kyoto - Japan Trip Day 8 (Feb. 23rd, 2008)

Kyoto was certainly the highlight of our trip. Il was able to help carrying Arnold's diaper bag for the whole day so that Biajee didn't have to be that tired any more.

We took JR to reach Kyoto. By the time we got off the train, it was over 10 am and drizzling. We had to decide where to go in Kyoto because it had so many points interests that could entertain us for a whole week. Il and Biajee picked three shrines from the map that charged fat entrance fees and were packed with tourists. I told them I wanted to go to Inari to see the God of Rice months ago. Neither of them would take my idea seriously. Men can be stubborn animals from time to time.

We took pictures at the Kinkakuji where the pavilion was patched with real 24K gold. We sat in front of the stones in Ryoanji trying to figure out the zen in life - it is said you'd be a master of zen and life if you stare at them long enough. I didn't convert my soul successfully because it was just too cold for me to take my shoes off. After we finished Ninnaji Temple, it started snowing and was quite cold.

Il suggested that we walk to a JR station and of course we were on the wrong track. We wouldn't mind walking for the whole day at all if we were without Arnold, but holding Arnold while hiking was quite a challenge.

Finally Biajee decided that we should get off at Inari to visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine I laid my eyes on months ago. It ended up to have no entrance fee and was the best shrine we ever saw in Japan. Inari is the Shinto God of rice and foxes were his messengers. Statues of foxes were seen all over the shrine. The most famous and impressive part of the Fushimi Inari shrine is the thousands of torri gates lining up the mountains. It's a 2 hour hiking trail along the mountain. All these gates were donated by different people and organizations.

It was almost dark when we started the trail. Wind and snow started to fall. We had to abort the idea of hiking the Inarisan mountain. Of course I was a bit upset.

"It's all your fault." I said to Biajee. Biajee made a face to me.

"It's all your fault." I said to Il. "I didn't say anything." Il said innocently.

We'll have to come back at another time to hiking the mountain. There are lots of shrines and waterfalls along the trail. Fox Udon is also served at small restaurants along the hiking trail. I was pretty sure everything was closed by the time we got there. If only we had come here directly when we arrived in Kyoto!

Based on all my visits to Japan in the past 15 years, Fushimi Inari Shrine is the best shrine you could ever imagine. If you decide to stop by Kyoto, definitely pay a visit there. We strongly encouraged Il to donate a Japanese yen and make a wish to the Shinto God, who is supposed to be quite responsive. Il didn't take it too seriously. He may have forgot what he had wished for when he presented the yen to the God.

We then went back to Kyoto station and had the most expensive and veggie dinner for the trip. Biajee chose the restaurant so he ended up paying for everyone. But that didn't wipe away our lusting for good food. We only have so many counted meals that we could devour in Japan, yet he didn't pick out the right place for us.

I finally got over my jet lag, but it'd be time to go back to the US the next day.

神户 - Japan Trip Day 7 (Feb. 22nd, 2008)

诗万首，酒千觞，几曾醉眼看侯王？

我好像把日子记错了，不过我们确实去了神户的关西大地震纪念馆。在日本参观纪念馆很好玩，一定要按照他们为你设定的路线，谓之“顺路”。看纪录片时也一定要守时，早到10分钟时不让进的，迟到两分钟则更得被拒之门外。第一部纪录片是真实地震的模拟，阿诺被吓得大哭起来，配上背景声音十分传神，只可惜被小姐请出了放映室。

我的时差还是没有倒过来，每天下午三四点的时候就困得睁不开眼。Biajee好像没有时差，多么幸福啊。我们还去了神户的酿酒厂，白鹤。白鹤是日本的名酒，我们参观了以前的酿酒工具，真是一项体力活，非常耗费精力的。之后又发扬了我们购物的狂热性情，买了四瓶清酒和一些米做的化妆品。Biajee使劲劝我，“快买啊！现在不买，回美国要后悔的。”

匆匆回到旅馆等候il的到来。当晚我的日本朋友满田一家请我们全体在美美卯吃了大阪特色的海鲜火锅。他们的孩子们，满田龙一（由于是龙年生，所以取“龙”为名，又是长子，故称“龙一”）和满田夏旺（由于是夏天生，命名为“夏旺”）和阿诺很快就打成一片。满田义美是我在港龙做空姐时候的同事，我来美国读书后我们还一直保持联系。阿诺的所有奶瓶都是她在日本买好寄到美国给我的。算来我们已经有十年没见面了。义美说龙一是香港出生的，香港生孩子很贵，不过她先生满田进的公司负担了所有费用。当时那一年是“金龙”之年，传说非常吉利，很多亚洲女人都选择那时候生孩子，医院忙得不亦乐乎。

il和满田进天南海北聊了很多，可惜他们坐得离我太远，我什么都没听到。好像是说了许多关于关西机场的趣事。il的知识面真广呀，不愧是博士，响当当的大学问家。最后还多亏il帮我们照合影，下次再见面可能又得十年以后了。

日本人好像并不热衷让孩子学英语。义美说反正她的孩子们将来会在日本生活，懂不懂英语不重要，而且日本的高中里才开始教英语。

好酒，好菜，好朋友，真乃人生一大乐事。

ShinSaiBashi Shopping Arcade - Japan Trip Day 6 (Feb. 21st, 2008)

"We haven't shopped since we got here." I complained to Biajee. "I've committed to Nancy I'll buy some bath cloths for her. And I'll buy a Gundam for her son." So we went to the famous Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade by subway.

There were so many shops in the Arcade that we had to walk along everyone. It was actually very close to Dotombori, the famous eating places where a lot of restaurants were located. All these were within walking distance of our hotel, but we couldn't take the liberty of walking with Arnold in our arms.

Arnold is at least 30 lbs now. It's very strenuous to carry him around all day long. He knew how to walk, but he either wouldn't walk by himself or would walk to a different direction from your will. Hence, he had to be in our arms most of the time.

We bought the bath cloths after searching through a few stores. Shiseido is a lot cheaper here than in the US. There are all kinds of skin care products on the shelf for us to pick. The Obagi line, which is sold only in professional spas in the US, is on the shelf in a little department store.

We can't believe how ill-treated we are when we live in the States. We have to pay more than we pay for it in Japan as well.

姬路城 - Japan Trip Day 5 (Feb. 20th, 2008)

一砂一世界，一花一天堂.

姬路城的评估很好。我们一大早就和赶去上班的人群一起坐上了日本铁路大阪环线。在大阪站换车去姬路。Biajee 后来发现如果不坐铁路坐地铁会省很多时间，而且不会那么挤。阿诺的一只鞋子在大阪站被挤丢了，很可惜，是爸爸从中国带来的最好的一只鞋。

姬路城是我们此行见过的日本城堡里最好玩的一座了。此城建於18世纪，保存十分完好，分内城和外城。我们去的时候，外城有小学生们在举行跑步比赛。护城河及各门都非常险峻，易守难攻，城墙上不同高处布满了放滚木雷石的洞洞。城门附近的城墙超过一米厚。

千姬公主曾在此处住过，不过她的宫苑离天守阁很远，充分体现了日本重男轻女的历史。千姬公主与德川家族和丰臣秀吉家族都有亲缘关系。丰臣家族曾一度控制日本的军政大权，后来丰臣家族衰败之后，经过几场血腥的战争，德川家族夺权成功，显赫一时。

姬路城内道路蜿蜒曲折，真有一夫当关，万夫莫开之势。据史载，此城从未陷落过。我想如果有人献城投降，也得先提供一份详细地图，否则要攻破城内的重重机关，势比登天。

站在城的最高处天守阁顶可以眺望姬路全景，美不胜收。

不幸的是我们坐慢车道达姬路，路上花费的时间超过两个小时，下车后又步行一公里，所以只在城里逗留了两个小时就得匆匆赶往淀屋桥的美国领馆递交文件了。没有在姬路吃午饭，也没有买任何纪念品。

Visa Application - Japan Trip Day 4 (Feb. 19th, 2008)

This was the most depressing day in our trip. Biajee had an 8:30 am appointment to apply for H-1B visa back to the US. We all went to the US Consulate in Osaka. The officer was kind enough to let me wait inside the building with Arnold.

The visa office is on the 3rd floor of the building. Biajee came out at around 9:30 am and told me that he got security checked. I think the reason was he mentioned non-destructive testing. Anyway, the lady told him it'd take about 2 weeks.

We were shocked. Arrangements had to be made so that he could extend his visa in Japan in order to wait for US Visa. I had to be prepared to come back to US with Arnold alone. We had to email and call his boss in the US to fax over the documents required. The most important document was I-129, the petition form for H-1B visa.

He got a phone call from the US Consulate in the afternoon when we were resting in our room. This time it was another lady telling him that he need to apply for extension of stay in Japan from the Immigration Office in the airport because the security check could take 3 or 4 weeks. Then he need to rent a cell phone so that the Consulate could reach him at any time.

The regulation is that nobody can call the US Consulate. They can only accept FAX as the communication method. If they feel necessary, they would contact Biajee.

We emailed Biajee's immigration attorney in Atlanta requesting for the documents and then faxed to the US Consulate indicating that Biajee would need his passport back in order to apply for extension of stay in Japan.

The US Consulate asked Biajee to drop off all the documents he had on hand the next day at the office, including the I-129. They suggested that we drop the files off between 11 am and 2 pm when they were not interviewing applicants for visas.

I cannot remember what we had for dinner that night. All I know is it completely ruined our day. But we decided to go to Himeji the next morning before we drop off the documents at the US Consulate.

If you're interested in this at all, Biajee is still in Osaka as of today waiting for his visa. I'm nursing my wound by taking care of Arnold on my own.