Last Blog

10/28/08
Well, the trip is coming to an end. On one hand I can’t believe how fast the three weeks went by,but on the other hand, when I think about things that happened yesterday, it feels like a long time ago. I am already missing the New Otani Hotel and its exquisite garden.


My first seminar today was on environmental education presented by Hari Srinivas from the United Nations. Mr. Srinivas is from India and spoke with a heavy accent. He is an expert on Japan’s environmental education. The Japanese are avid recyclers. It was very interesting to listen to an Indian expert on Japan speak to a group Americans in Japan! Questions on how to get Americans to buy into recycling to the degree the Japanese have was asked. Mr. Srinivas said the easiest way for a man is to marry a Japanese women….They will set you straight! That’s what happened to me. He was pretty funny.

10/29/08
Today was the presentation on Takeo, our host city. We practiced, it covered the necessary information, shed a positive light on Takeo and just as important, it met the time requirements. The Japanese are very punctual time driven people. It was interesting to hear about the other nine group’s adventures. In our final wrap up, we turned in all our official documentation. The Takeo city official and our guide enjoyed our PowerPoint presentation, speeches, stories and items collected on our visit. We were thankful to Takeo and wanted to do a first-class job for them.

A group of us hurried out for one last experience. We took the subway to a section of Tokyo know as the fabric district. We went in hopes of finding used kimonos or kimono jackets. I was able to find a few suitable items and then we made a mad dash for the subway to return for the Sayonara Banquet. The evening was bitter sweet. Many participants were anxious to get home to their families but were sorry to be leaving Japan.

It was a particularly sad evening for the JMF staff. This is to be the last group of participants in the program. The Fulbright Teacher program was originally approved for a 5 year run paid for completely by the Japanese government. The program has been funded for 12 years but must end due to budget cuts. I will be writing numerous thank you notes and the Japanese government is at the top of my list. It is my understanding that the study program costs about $20,000 per participant. Thank you for this amazing opportunity, Japan (the government and its people)!

Ryokan

Emiko, Ty and Kazuko walked me to the ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn that I was to stay at Sunday night. I became attached to my hosts very quickly and was sad to say sayonara to them. They have a very busy life which includes working six days a week yet, they gave me the gift of their time. It was hard to sufficiently thank them for that.

A banquet was held for the FMF group at the ryokan. The room had tatami mats, low tables and chairs with no legs to sit on. I believe it was at least a 10 course meal. The Japanese serve their food in separate small bowls. If you are one of those people who do not like your food to touch….Japan is the place for you! The dishes for my meal alone would fill a dishwasher! After dinner we had a great time with karaoke.

Ryokans are known for their hot spring baths which are called onsens. Onsens are a part of the Japanese culture. At the ryokan you share a room with others of the same sex. My three roommates and I slept on futon mattresses on top of tatami mats. It was like a pajama party!

The school superintendent, board members as well as city officials came to say sayonara to us. They lined up outside the ryokan doors and waved as the bus pulled away to take us to the airport. How nice is that! We took a two hour flight back to Tokyo and then drove an hour to our hotel. I used the travel time to work on the presentation for the Japanese officials on Wednesday. A Takeo city official will fly to Tokyo just to see our presentation on their city. No pressure there, right!

You are not going to believe what I did that evening. Do you see the picture of the maiko (a geisha in training)? Guess who it is!!!!

Home stay in Takeo

My host family, Ty (8 years old) and Kazuko (Ty’s grandmother) picked me up this morning to bring me to their home for the weekend. We walked from the hotel to the grocery store, stopped at the bakery, and then walked to their house. Emiko, Ty’s mother, was working. Emiko teaches English from her home six days a week in the late afternoon and evening. Kazuko teaches koto, a Japanese string instrument and is a professional kimono dresser. Kazuko helped me make origami.

Emiko and I walked to a Shinto shrine. They purify their hands and mouth with water before going up to the shrine. She explained that they purchase a fortune sheet to see if they will have good luck. Then they tie any bad fortune sheets to a tree. The wind will carry the bad fortune away. The Japanese toss stones at the horizontal beam of the gate. If the stone stays there, they will have good luck.

Emiko and Kazuko practiced the koto with their students for an upcoming performance. The music was beautiful. Justin, an English teacher from Chicago, came to hear the music. It turned out; a group of us had met him at the festival. This added to the small town feel of Takeo.

I slept in a traditional room with tatami mats (thick wicker flooring). They placed a futon mat on the floor with a down comforter over it for me to sleep on. I was very comfortable. I noticed that they had one western style bed and a kitchen table and chairs set in their home. In the traditional room, they had the low table with cushions for you to sit on.

The city chime rings and then music is played over loud speakers in the street at 8 am, 12 noon, and 5pm. One the chimes let me know it was time to get up, we had breakfast (clams, rice, salad with squid, and raw salmon). Then Kazuko dressed me in three different kimonos and took pictures. I hope I can dress myself in the kimono I bought when I get home.

The home stay part of the program showed me how a typical Japanese family lives. I am very grateful to Emiko and her family for the generosity they showed in opening their home to me and sharing their culture.

Takeo Junior High School

I had an awesome day! The weather was beautiful. Today we visited the junior high which consists of grades 7, 8, 9. I think we saved the best for last. This was my favorite school visit. First, we were introduced at an assembly. All 700 students were standing and clapping for us as we entered. I have to show you the video. Then, the group met with the principal who explained basic information about the school. After that, we
visited different classrooms. There were about 40 students in each class. The teacher stands on a little platform so everyone can see her (or is it so

she can see them!). The teachers played tiatako

drums, the koto (the string instrument pictured), and the shakuhachi (a type of flute) in the different music classes. The flute was the most difficult for me. I also had an opportunity to paint in art class and watch students build powered models.

We each had lunch with a different class. Everyone eats the same school provided lunch. Once again, the students served the food and cleaned up afterwards. It was quite a production. The students slid their desks together and placed table clothes over eight desks. Every student knew what their responsibility was. The Japanese are very serious about recycling. Paper trash goes in one bag, food scraps go in a pot, milk cartons are collapsed, and containers are stacked.
After school, the USA teachers had a question and answer time with the Japanese teachers. It was interesting to hear what their concerns were and to hear what their education system is like. I found out students are never held back up through junior high school. However, they may be retained in high school.
All students are involved in clubs after school. I observed the kendo, judo, and souran-bushi (dancing) clubs. I had never seen kendo (pictured) before and found it quite interesting, scary and LOUD!

Tomorrow I will go stay with my host family until Sunday evening. I am a little nervous but I am sure it will be a memorable experience to see how a real Japanese family lives.

Takeo Senior High School

Today we visited Takeo Senior High School which has 756 students. There are 42 male teachers and 8 female. Isn’t that different than the USA? Why do you think that is the case?
You do not wear your shoes in the school building. When you arrive at school you place your shoes in a cubby and put on slippers. In some of the classrooms, you take off your slippers before entering and just walk in your stocking feet.

As a joint project, the high school and Space and Science Museum constructed a cell powered car. They also built a robot. All students except seniors stay after school for club activities (extracurricular activities ie. sports, band, etc.). Clubs include judo, ping pong, kendo, basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, tennis, archery, brass band, tea ceremony and photography.
We participated in the home economics class and played badminton in PE. We were paired up with a student for lunch so they could practice their English and we could ask questions. At the end of the day, we listened to the student council give their election speeches and observed the students cleaning the school. Yes, you read it right. The students clean the school inside and out! Just like at the elementary school, everyone had a chore. Great idea don't you think?

Mifunegaoka Elementary School visit

Today we went to the largest elementary school in the area with over 700 students. A welcome assembly was held and the 6th grade students played instruments and sang for us. They practiced for 2 months for our visit. They did an awesome job!

The American teachers observed in different classrooms. There are up to 40 students in a class. The classrooms were very organized, structured and consistent.
The students serve lunch to their fellow classmates in the classroom. Then there were a few minutes of recess, followed by cleaning the school. Every student had a cleaning assignment.
The Japanese and American teachers met to share information and ask one another questions. I was surprised to hear that most Japanese teachers work until 7 or 8:00 at night!

In the evening, we went to a fall festival. There were tug of war contests, dancing, and drum performances. I ate corn on the cob and chicken on a stick. Several of the students from the school that we visited came up to us or waved at us. A good time was had by all.

Hiroshima survivor

My first session today was on Peace Education. Kenijiro Matsushima is a survivor of the atomic bomb attack at Hiroshima. He was 14 years old and at school at the time the bomb was dropped. His description of the event, its aftermath and his personal story were very moving. You could have heard a pin drop in the room. I am bringing home a copy of his story and purchased a DVD.

Tomoko Yanagi is the daughter of a survivor. She said that most survivors do not want to talk about it and that many feel guilty for having lived when so many died. The Japanese people discriminated against the survivors. They were looked at differently. It was hard for a survivor to marry for fear of problems having children.

Hope is what helped people move on. A baby was born the day after the attack. The baby was a symbol of hope. No plants grew in Hiroshima for 60-75 years after the atom bomb. When they saw buds of new growth, they had hope for the future.

Kabuki theater
We learned about Kabuki Theater in the next session. Clips of different styles of traditional dance and theater were viewed. The presentation ended with a group performance of traditional dance and music.

Garden Chapel

10/16
Our hotel has the most magnificent garden. I have my meals overlooking the garden as often as possible. The peaceful garden is shaded and contains a waterfall, stream. statues, lanterns, and a beautiful bridge. One morning someone told me that there was a chapel located in the garden. I went in and a wonderful missionary, Mike Crouse, shared from Matthew 7 with us. He had been a fighter pilot in the war and has been witnessing in Japan for 40 years! I was happy to see that even though most of the population is Buddhist or Shinto that a Christian would be given such a perfect place to share God’s word. It was a true blessing to meet him. I saw several of the teachers with him throughout our days there.

Tsukiji Fish Market, Sightseeing, Welcome Reception

10/15
A group of us met at 5:00 am to take a taxi to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market. This market, which is one of the largest in the world, has been featured on 60 Minutes and other programs. The auction begins at 5:30 am and is quite lively and interesting! We had to be mindful of every step we took. People are moving huge amounts of fish, using large knives and other dangerous tools, and they zoom around in carts in every direction.

FMF took us on a sightseeing tour of Tokyo. We visited the Diet Building. The Diet is Japan’s legislative branch of government. We drove by the Imperial Palace. The group was treated to a traditional Japanese lunch. We sat on mats on the floor and ate rice and tempora (battered and fried fish). We also learned about Kyogen, traditional Japanese theater.

In the evening, we attended a welcome reception. I tried many different types of food. The Japanese eat a lot of fish and vegetables. There were several former Fulbright Scholars (Japanese that studied in the USA). I met one lady who attended Chapel Hill. Her husband is a Methodist minister. They run a church preschool program. I asked her if she felt that they enjoyed freedom of religion and she said yes. They could worship as they saw fit.

We have arrived!

Date 10/13
The flight to Japan took 10 ½ hours. I was sooooo ready to get off the plane when we landed! We took a bus another 1 1/2 hours to get to our hotel in Tokyo. Once there, I was met by a college student volunteer, Kohei, who took John (another teacher) and I out to dinner. I asked him a lot of the questions you gave me. We ordered dinner from a vending machine in the restaurant and then gave the slip to the waiter. That was a little different….I am definitely not in Raleigh any more. It was very nice of Kohei to come and meet us. He traveled an hour by train each way! It felt good to crawl into bed at 12:00 that night.

The BIG Day

I typed this up last week but was unable to post it. I am having much better luck with technology in Takeo. I hope to Skype with my classes today. Here is my first posting after I left Raleigh.

Today is the BIG day! I woke up at 2:15 am and left the house for the airport at 3:15 am! Yes, I said AM. I was the first person to check in at the airport this morning. It was strange to see no one around. I met Marilyn Palmer, another NC participant, as well as several other participants from different states during my layover in Chicago. We arrived at our hotel in San Francisco at 2:00 pm (3 hours behind of NC) just as the first meeting was beginning. They provided the “late arrivers” with a boxed lunch to eat while we listened to the speakers. Boy was I thankful for that lunch….I hadn’t eaten since 6:30 am!
I checked into the hotel, changed clothes and was on the bus to the Consul General of Japan’s residence in less than 20 minutes from the end of our meeting! The home was beautiful and overlooked the water. Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine and his wife were very gracious people. We had our first authentic Japanese meal and enjoyed getting to know one another. Several people recognized me from the social forum that JFMF provided. I had shared information about a trip to Kyoto and Nara so I had talked to a lot of different people or they had read my research.
By the time I went to bed Sunday night, I had been awake for nearly 24 hours. It was a very long exciting day! Tomorrow we fly for 9 hours to Japan. I can’t believe it….tomorrow I will be in Japan!

Sayonara meal with friends

My friends had a wonderful Japanese dinner party for me. One of them has been to Japan so they used her dishes, bowls, and chopsticks. They even had a kimono for me to wear! The meal included rice crackers and cheese, sushi with wasabi (quite hot!), shrimp, a chicken noodle dish, pot stickers, green tea and of course rice. The food was truly delicious! The fellowship was even better. I am very blessed to have such special people as friends. They’re the BEST!

One week before departure

There are sooooo many things to do to be ready for the BIG day, Oct. 12! I am making a list and checking it twice to make sure I have everything. I will pack most of my stuff this weekend so I have time to purchase anything I am missing. The teachers and students have submitted questions for me to research about Japanese culture. I put all the questions together and organized them by topic. I also packed a small photo album of WCA, my students and classroom, and of my home and family to share with the people in Japan. I want them to see what our life in Raleigh is like.

My students have been learning a new Japanese word each day. This has helped me also. Students in each class learned how to use Skype so that they can assist the substitute if I have an opportunity to do a live web cast from Japan. We did trial run and are set to go! The students have visited the Traveling Teacher blog and have enjoyed the different links, especially the one that tells you your name in Japanese.

They sent me information about the family I will spend 24 hours with in Japan. The family consists of Emiko (female, 30 years old), Tayo (her 8 year old son), and Kazuko (Emiko’s mother-61). I was very excited to hear that Emiko is an English teacher! Thank you Lord! I have learned some Japanese but not enough to hold a conversation so I am thankful that Emiko speaks English.

On Oct 12, I will leave in the wee hours of the morning for the airport and travel to San Francisco. There will be an orientation meeting that afternoon. In the evening, we will go to the Consul General of Japan’s residence for a formal reception. Then on Oct. 13, our journey to Japan begins! Wow! This is going to be quite an adventure!

Meibutsu

A volunteer family in Takeo will be opening their home to me. Their generosity will allow me to experience an ordinary Japanese life for one night. The Japanese are very gracious people and enjoy giving gifts. When they travel they buy meibutsu (the handicrafts or delicacies special to a locality) for friends and family. A coffee table book (picture book) of North Carolina and a t-shirt from WCA will serve as a hostess gift. I will also take pictures of Raleigh, my family and house, WCA and my students. I think this will be a nice icebreaker to help them get to know me. I am looking forward to this special opportunity but I must admit to being a little nervous about this visit! There may not be anyone in the home that speaks English! I intend to keep my English to Japanese dictionary handy!

Ning

IIE (the folks who are organizing this trip) created a social network for the teachers and administrators on Ning. The network has helped us to get to known each other, share ideas, and make plans before we head off half way around the world together. A lot of good information has been shared. Discussion group have ranged from packing and what to wear to what projects we will work on when we return from Japan. I started a discussion group to see who would like to travel to Kyoto and Nara on our day off. It looks like I ವಿಲ್ have some traveling companions! I’ll say more about that excursion later.

Less than a month to go

I am looking into using Skype to web cast from Japan. If everything works out, I will see and hear my students and they will see and hear me! This could be tricky with the 14-hour time difference and the uncertainty of service in Japan. I will give it a try! I am also putting together a plan for a web site. I will post the link here when it is ready.

What else am on working on…..Oh, yes packing. I must fit three weeks worth of clothes and stuff in one suitcase! Yes, one suitcase. This is going to be interesting! I think I will do a practice run on packing this weekend. The Japanese dress more formally than Americans. The women teachers must wear suits, hose and closed toed shoes everyday. We want to put our best foot forward. So see …..WCA’s dress code is not so strict after all!

The Japanese do not wear shoes in their homes, schools, or many other buildings. Before entering the building, they take off their shoes and put on slippers. This helps to keep the interior of the building clean. Makes sense, doesn’t it! How many of you take off your shoes at the door when you get home?

How I started down this path….

For the past 5 years I have taken a group of students to Europe in June. While on one of these trips, I met a gentleman named Rick who was a former JFMFer. He encouraged me to apply for the program. I applied in December and found out I was accepted in March. While in Europe this June, I met another former JFMFer named Jeff. This was my golden opportunity to ask questions about the program! Jeff was very patient and kind and answered all my questions. I am very thankful to Rick and Jeff for getting me started on the adventure of a lifetime!