Where is Japan?

FeDex called me!

"You got a package!"    Wow!  It was fast.   My sister in law sent me a document package on 2/12 then arrived in Lilongwe on 15 th.    Good Job FeDex!

The next morning I walked down to the FeDex office where located 15 minutes walking distance from my place.  I got it and I could open it immediately at the FeDex office but I decided 'I dare not open it.'  I was holding it and went back to my place quickly.   I prayed!  Please do not make me disappointed.  It was a pamphlet I designed at Japan for my family's school.   

When my husband and I were in CA last October, my husband got a short term contract in Ethiopia.  I decided not to go along with him instead I visited my family in Japan.   My sister in law excited to have me because they were just thinking to order a new pamphlet for 2009 for the pre-school they run.  I was there for 3 weeks and she asked me to design it.   

"My laptop was too small and I did not design last 8 years........ "  I was looking for some excuses but my sister quickly bought a brand new big screen desktop for this project.  Wow!  No more excuse.  Just do it!

 I needed some time to catch up 8 years blank.    Well, at last I'd got going.  I worked day and night desperately! 

 In compensation for tons of papers and color toners, I finally finished 8 pages design.  I did my best.   Can't be better!  This is it!   Next day I had to leave Japan for CA.

I left my work with my sister in law.   She needed to work with a printing company for the final proof reading and picture edit etc.  

When I arrived in Malawi, She e-mailed me that it came out beautifully. 

But still I could not believe it until I looked at one by myself.  

WOW!   This is it!  I was so happy about the final professional print.   I was not disappointed at all.

I remember that 7:00 pm at the night before leaving Japan, I was till struggling with the small details on the pages in their office.  I had to save the files.

Finally I finished!   I screamed and showed the final printout to the staff working in the office.       

One lady said, "Tomoko-san, there is no Japan island of this world map."  

"WHAT!!!!!!!!!!"   NO WAY!!!!!!!   I used a world map which I downloaded from a web on the first page of the pamphlet.    She was right.  Japan was missing!   Who made this stupid map?  Damn it!  (Who chose this map? Me....)

I was shocked but I did not have time to fix it.  My family was waiting for me at the restaurant.   I gave up.....

My sister in law who is the principal of this pre-school said, "That is OK!   If someone found there is no Japan on this map, I would say 'Good Job! give you one point.' " 

The entrance exam of this school is already started. 

So, my beautiful pamphlet has a world map has no Japan islands.