From Tokyo to Dhaka

The 2010 WLN is done and dusted. Four hectic days of women (and some men) delegates, putting forward their agendas, networking, lobbying, networking, horse trading, networking and showcasing best practice in women's empowerment.  The Japanese ran it like clockwork and put on great cultural events, from Japanese drumming, to Japanese rappers and, what else, a fabulous kimono fashion show.

Yours truly was on the recommendations (to APEC leaders) Drafting Committee and also invited to speak by the Japan Association for Women's Education on Day 2 of the WLN meeting.  I tabled the need for women to have so-called 'meta-competencies' to give them the opportunity to develop to their full potential in the knowledge economy, yet also manage to have a fulfilling lifestyle (the proverbial work-life balance).

Ahh that work-life balance ~ easier said than done!  I see women of all cultures and ages struggle with this.  A friend once told me that she'd rather see me be an alcoholic than a workaholic (guilty!), although I'm unconvinced spending one's life in a blur is a good trade-off. Japan's women are still very much expected to put out the slippers for their husband at the end of his day. Those that opt for a career (such as the Shisheido exec panelist in the pic) appear to have to trade off career vs. marriage..

The WLN done and dusted, but don't want to leave you with the impression that it was all business..there were a few visits to the Sky Bar on the 45th floor of our hotel overlooking Tokyo. After a very late last night I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30 AM, got on an airport shuttle to Narita to catch a flight to Hong Kong and onwards to Dhaka. 

Arrived in chaotic Dhaka late last night  ~ a 180 degree change from Japan!



 

Leg One

Well, I am on the road. Initial travel legs are behind me. A domestic leg from Melbourne to Sydney and an international leg from Sydney to Tokyo, where I am attending my 5th APEC Women Leaders Network meeting. 

When I got to Melbourne airport the very kind airline lady decided to book me on an earlier flight from Melbourne to Sydney 'so I wouldn't have to rush' to make the international transfer. Wouldn't you know that the earlier flight had mechanical trouble and we sat on the tarmac for close to an hour. In Sydney I managed to hitch a ride with a nice indigenous bloke driving one of those airport buggies who decided that I flagged him down because I was buggered ('you must be buggered - I am').  

Arrived in Japan @ 6 AM today --my departed father's birth day -- without any further hitches and run into several women from the Australian delegation and we all get on the airport limousine bus together into town. Haven't been to Japan for two decades - two hours into central Tokyo later, I am newly impressed with the uber efficiency of the Japanese, if a bit cold to the touch - super clean street, super manucured parks. So much for my location on the google map, which would have you think I'm in the middle of the mountains rather than in a concrete jungle ..

Despite numerous emails requesting an early hotel check-in, the hotel manager is unmoved and won't let us check in until 2 PM, so we go down to the coffee shop -- where coffee is $10/cup -- and start our women's business...

anon