The Serbian Ambassador's Daughter

Chaired the international conference on sustainable global development. Met with the minister of education to give him – and in no uncertain terms – my views on reforming the Japanese education system. Negotiated the release of 12 foreign nationals caught up in a week-long hostage crisis. Translated an international trade agreement that promises to bring Japan's slumbering economy out of the doldrums. And still found time enough to accept the advances of the visiting Serbian ambassador's rather foxy daughter. A fairly routine day in the life of a CIR at Kitagawa village. And all this before I even woke up...

It's a flash sounding title, but truth be told, a delightful but vanishing little rural village of 1550 in a far flung corner of the least developed of Japan's four big islands seldom has need for a 'Coordinator of International Relations.' The rice paddies outnumber the people about 4 to 1 and other than my predecessors and a couple of Filipino 'hostesses' there's scarcely been a foreign visitor in living memory. There just isn't much need for someone with my job description. Alternative, and altogether more accurate job titles would be 'Token White Villager,' 'Entertainer of Children,' or my personal favourite, 'Show Pony.'


thats me with the pretty mane

But I can't complain really. I'm well groomed, the stable hands are gentle (if the reigns a little short at times), and the hay is good.

-- Signing off for today, a well-fed pony, secretly pining for open pastures.