I am disappointed this morning. The hotel I was going to stay at is booked. I have a couple of alternatives, but I will need to have a Japanese speaker make my reservations. We also thought we would be done with our inspections yesterday, but at 1210pm, they asked us to do two more ridiculous things. One was a complete re-inspection of the Commissary, there was one, the report is complete, the store manager was ready to shoot us on site if we tried to come back to inspect. Did our POC try to talk to the manager for us? No. We talked them down from a complete waste of time and effort re-inspection, but they also added a whole new building. A big one with lots of offices, and built in 1946. The older the building, the longer it usually takes because of the potential for layers of building materials. So we had to start that yesterday afternoon. Not only that, but a threat was put out that if we did not do the building, future contracts would be out of the question. We fulfilled the contract 41 buildings, plus 9 extra buildings they tacked on during the course of our stay. But there are some dirty players involved on their side. Ah well, so another day of inspection, and cramming paperwork tonight and tomorrow.

Yesterday I was thrilled to see suzumebachi-the Giant Japanese Hornet. I had heard about this nasty devil, seen an entire NatGeo special on their lethal characteristics, I didn't think I would get to see one, and I was almost frozen scared as I am with most flying insects, particularly flying-stinging-strategy using guys. But I was fascinated. They are as scary as they sound. Giant, like hummingbirds, striped abdomens, moving with purpose, as if they know you're there, and you are lucky they aren't coming for you as you stare. My partner was freaked out. I made her pass me the work camera to snapa picture-at one point I ran into the boiler building we were inspecting, sure it was after me. But I peeked back from behind a blazing hot steam pipe, and saw it back at the tree we were observing it at. I ventured back and snapped a few pictures, then we got out of there. I had forgotten the japanese name for it, so my partner showed one of the Japanese workers the photo-to which he replied: "Ahh! Suzumebachi! DAYNJAH!" Oddly enough that was very thrilling for me, like catching a glimpse of a celebrity. Oh boy. I think I need to re-organize my priorities...