As I sit here at our trade day I am reminded of so many previous trade days. I have been to many tastings, festivals and trade days as long as I can remember and as soon as I was 18, I was pushed out the front and began my journey of sales.
My most favourite time was a trip to Japan when I was 15. My parents took me to Kobe International Trade Day with the WA Trade Dept.

 


We got out of the airport and needed to get to our hotel which was an hour cab ride to the train station followed by a short walk. When we got to the train station there was four levels of train maps, all with Japanese script. Dad let out a bit " Wooh.." followed by a huge laugh.." think we will find someone who speaks English." We did and got on the train to the hotel.
Now this hotel  is an English speaking business hotel....sort of?? or at least that’s what we thought? They had a person who spoke English for 1 hr a day and at a  particular time. Of course they weren't there we arrived. It took an hour to check in with a few language difficulties and then we headed to the elevator to go to our room. Once we were in the elevator the doors close and we look at the buttons to press floor 4. All Japanese script again! A little stunned we simply went  "ok...lets assume this is ground floor and 1,2,3,4...?" luckily we were right.
I love Japan.  As an Anglo-Saxon English speaking person it was great to be a true foreigner. It really brought home how much we rely on English. It was great.
We struggled with food. To go to a restaurant and order food wasn't going to happen. And everything was sooo expensive. One day we saw the golden arches, Maccas! ' Mum...Mcdonalds! I know it’s bad but let’s just do it!" I pleaded.
So we went in the Maccas and would you believe they had no pictures and everything was Japanese script. " Com'on! Big Mac?" So we order 3 Big Mac meals for $130 AUS dollars. I will never forget my Dad who probably had never had Maccas before. He had finished his meal and  said" well....that was bloody disgusting!" I don't think he had Maccas again. Please note that the Japanese Maccas was no different to any other Maccas in the world.  Just my dad was a Hungry Jacks man!!
The trade show was for a week and we met many expat who spoke Japanese and we began to eat like kings again. However we still had our moments. I went to a vending machine to get a can of soft drink like lemon squash.  As everything was in Japanese script I had to go with the packaging...ok...yellow and green, fresh looking, similar to Solo, let’s get that one. I open the can and threw my head back expecting the feel of sweet lemony bubbles. No..... I got cold, flat, green tea....not my thing!!
It was a funny trip.  As I was under 16 everywhere I went I got in at a child’s price with weird looks from the ticket seller.  When I went to the show I was telling people this and they looked at me and said " I thought you were 26??"  I guess I am tall??
Everywhere we went with Dad, and his huge red beard, people wanted their photograph with him. He was like a celebrity.  I hope one day I can take my husband Nigel, who is 6'4”, to Japan.  I think it would be a great experience for him and with his height he'd be a star!!
Galafrey has now been exporting to Japan for 16 years. Well Done!!