Presto chango

This trip has been an exercise in flexibility. The nature of not speaking the language is that people often make plans for you without telling you. I can't tell you how many times we have just got in the car not having any idea what the day's itinerary was. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it means we didn't bring something we needed or weren't wearing the right clothes.

In every town we arrive, and with every new Rotary club, we have to kind of guess when the meeting is that we are to give a presentation. Thus far, we have gone on past experience, only to find out it is different in our new destination.

In Miyako, we gave our presentation the last night. In Ogawara, I think we were supposed to give it the first night, but never ended up doing it.

We arrived in Furukawa today at a hotel, dressed in jeans and tennis shoes. They led us into an elaborate dining room where everyone was in suits and ties, and sat us at a head table.

We were early, so went downstairs where they had left our bags to get more business cards. In a spit second decision, we changed into nice clothes, grabbed gifts and prepared for our presentation. It was like we were Wonder Women.

Not it's off to our new host families for the next three days.

Lesson learned:At least Wonder Women spoke the land's language.