CL <flothru@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 05/29/2011 10:20 AM, mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> > CL<flothru@yahoo.com>  wrote:
> >> On 05/28/2011 11:33 PM, mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> >
> >>> Actually, I did; I heard about it in the early 80s, when I first started
> >>> taking my studies of Japan/Japanese seriously.
> >
> >> I also learned about the Snow Festival in the course of my Japan studies
> >> ... somewhat earlier than Mike.  Unfortunately, my first chance to visit
> >> Japan after that was nothing more than a transit of Okinawa on my way to
> >> save the inhabitants of another Asian country by shooting them and I
> >
> > I *JUST* missed that trip.

> I would have missed it as well had they not discovered that I had 
> studied Japanese and Chinese in school.  How they expected me to 
> leverage that into learning Khmer, Lao, and Miao (Hmong) from people who 
> were screaming it at me while firing ballistic weapons in my direction 
> remains one of the great mysteries of my life so far.

In my case, I participated in the lottery, but was a member of the first
class that was not drafted. My draft number? 3.

> >>> Plus, Sapporo seems to be famous in Japan for its food, so even a bit
> >>> more out-of-pocket would seem justified.
> >
> >> Susukino is famous for many other things than just the food.  Some of
> >> those things can be discussed publicly on a family list.  I keep
> >> http://www.susukino.co.jp/ on my phone browser for clients who have read
> >> about, and want to try for themselves, those "other" activities.
> >> They're a lot more amenable to foreign (non-Russian) guests in that
> >> town, too.  I am constantly amazed at the number of in-store, take-out,
> >> and delivery-to-your-hotel-room options the local businesses offer.
> >
> > I bow to your knowledge of such things, sir.

> Were it acquired by direct experience, it would have been more 
> interesting to discuss.  Alas, I am but a procurer for others and it is 

Hmm, there's a name for that...

Mike