For the next eight weeks, I'll be leading KLA-Tencor workshops in Asia.
I'll be sharing highlights in the form of stories, photos, and maybe even videos.
Strange how events align...
Yesterday, I received an email from an old friend, Megumi Tadenuma (Megurina, was our nickname for her). She's the one on the far right in the front row of the photo above.
I hadn't heard from Megurina in about 4 years, so it was a happy surprise.
Then, this morning, I received an email from Haemi Kaku (Haemi-chan is second from the left in the front row, in a powder blue yukata - a cotton summer kimono). Haemi is in Kumamoto, working with Grant (he's in the middle of the back row).
Haemi wrote to say that seeing Grant made her remember the day when this photo was taken.
Me too, as this was one of the best days I've ever had.
The day was a convergence of great weather; great friends; a fireworks (hanabi or 'fire flowers', in Japanese) show on the waterfront; a very generous supply of alcohol; pent-up expectations (Angie and I had staked out a prime spot the night before, and all of us took turns defending our desirable turf on the day of the fireworks); Haemi and Tomo's willingness to 'go native' in yukata; some slightly drunken private fireworks from our balcony (no one got hurt, though I think we all inhaled too much sparkler residue); and a lot of good fortune (Brent, Grant, and Jetsada all just happened to be in town).
It was the last time most of us were all together, and one of those days you wish you could bottle...
Here's my buddy and co-worker, Martin Woodrow, exploring Japanese culture...
We were in Yokohama last August to lead some classes. On the weekend, we stumbled on a matsuri, a Japanese festival.
In the hot weather, the festival participants tend to dress lightly...
Martin, an expert at learning, decided to get a closer look.
