EDMONTON AGAIN, DROP THE BAGS AND OFF TO PERU 1984
Upon our return to Canada after Japan we once again ended up in Edmonton. No reason for this other than Deysi’s little sister (Lalitas) was still there. We had left her there working while we were in Japan. On our return it was apparent that Lalitas was becoming at home in Edmonton and looking at her future there. We were convinced, by now. That a life of travel, following projects around the world, was going to be our path. After leaving Japan, my employer was trying to find me another suitable job. One that met our requirements for travel and that also included my family as part of the package.
Very early on we had decided that we travelled together and that we had not gotten married to live apart. I was probably a little naive at this time and maybe a little to full of myself and my value. What the hell, I was only employed by the largest Engineering company in the world. Why wouldn’t I be able to dictate terms? Well it took a while for them to find somewhere to place me. I was lucky enough that some senior people that I had worked for took an interest in keeping me employed. One of these was our Project Manager in Japan and his boss. It was decided that I might make a good fit in their head office. And so it was agreed that San Fransisco was our next destination.
We were quite happy. I did not look forward to another winter in the frozen north. The paperwork and visa that were required to get me admitted into the USA was going to take some time. Perfect I thought, now how about a little vacation in Peru. Once again we packed our bags and headed home to see Deysi’s family!Before I get on to our trip to Peru, I must digress and ramble on a bit about our preparation for return, from Japan, and some fond memories of it. Well maybe, not so fond for all.
At the completion of our assignment we were allowed, by the company, to send back unaccompanied goods (personal effects) in a small container. Filled up, to a weight limit in accordance with company policy. We had been away the better part of a year and had accumulated lots of things that we needed to live in Japan. Big items like furnishings (above the amount provided by the company on arrival), bicycles, clothing, a set or two of Noritake china , video equipment, toys and presents for the daughter, present for family, baubles, and trinkets. Well you get the picture. All of these items were allowed into Canada if they met all import requirements. We accumulated lots and lots of stuff, some of which we still have stored in our garage to this day, grrrrr.
One of our friends was returning back to the US and had purchased his and her motorbikes, brand new and top of the line. Well prior to leaving my bud spent hours taking these bikes apart and distributing the pieces throughout his personal effects. I expect in an effort to make the paperwork a little simpler on arrival in to the US. Wouldn’t you know it, his goods were selected for inspection and soon he was summoned to customs for an interview. Once there the customs people invited him to take all of the motorbike pieces in his container to his home, reassemble the bikes and then bring them back in for customs declaration and assessment. He was delighted!
Now he got to spent every waking minute and all of his spare time, figuring out how to put those motorbikes back together. His memories of their return from Japan were probably not as fond as ours. Ok now off to Peru and a few months of family and fun, good food, maybe a couple of beers and some relaxation. The party team was waiting.
