My journey to Japan began on June 13th in Philadelphia
when I boarded a flight for San Francisco. This is where I joined a group
of two hundred teachers who had traveled from all over the United States.
My journey to Japan began on June 13th in Philadelphia
when I boarded a flight for San Francisco. This is where I joined a group
of two hundred teachers who had traveled from all over the United States.
After checking into my room and having lunch, I met the eighteen teachers who would be traveling with me to Ueda City, Nagana. We had been emailing each other for several weeks, and it was great fun to put faces to the names that had been appearing on my computer screen.
After the long flights in and spending the afternoon in meetings, some teachers turned in early. Others, like myself, who had never been to San Francisco decided to see the town! We believed we would have plenty of time to sleep on the 11 hour flight to Tokyo the next day, but we were wrong! Most of us were so excited, we got very little sleep. We stayed awake talking about our good fortune and of our expectations of the trip. By the time we landed at the Narita Airport, most of us were pretty tired, but drowsiness gave way to excitement. We couldn't wait to get our first look at Japan.
We were relieved to see that some of the most important signs were in English.
Before we knew it, we were gathered into groups and assigned to buses to begin the hour and a half ride to the New Otani Hotel in Akasaka. This was to be our home for the next seven days. Each of us had an exquisite room with emerald green accents and an unbelievable view of the city. There were buffet breakfasts on the 40th floor, and hotel attendents who anticipated our every need! Outside was an incredible city waiting to be explored!
Days were filled with early morning walks around the Akasaka
Palace, and predawn visits to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Afternoons were crammed
with meetings with governmental and educational leaders, and with visits
to temples and shrines surrounded by lovely gardens. It seemed at every
turn there was another beautiful
garden to
lose ourselves in. The night lights of the Ginza drew us back for several
visits. While in the Ginza District, time had to be made to take in at least
a couple of acts at the Kabuki Theater. What an unforgettable experience!
In our spare time we did more shopping and sampled Japanese food in lots
and lots of restaurants.
There were so many decisions to make! There just wasn't enough time to see all that we wanted. So on our only unscheduled weekend, a large entourage headed off in buses to Mt. Fuji; a small group decided to take in the sights of Kamakura. Some took a train to Kyoto and others decided to do more sightseeing in Tokyo. I chose to go to Hiroshima with four others by bullet train. I must find a way to bring to my students what I saw and learned at the Peace Park and Museum.
Before we knew it, our first week in Japan was over, and
we were leaving Tokyo in groups to spend ten days in prefectures throughout
the country. M
y group was off to Nagano,
a land with majestic mountains and home of the 1998 Winter Olympics. While
in Nagano we stayed at the Tokyu Inn which is adjacent to the train station.
From our hotel windows we could watch the bullet train pick up and deposit
travelers.
Although our stay in Ueda City, Nagano was more relaxed than that inTokyo, we continued to keep a busy schedule. As in Tokyo, we did lots of sight seeing. We visited the Besso Hot Spring, a museum, Sanyo Electronics, and Medialand, a multi media center. An afternoon was spent in Juno Uno, an old town of inns which was passed through by Samuari soldiers on their way to and from battle. We all tried our hand at making soba noodles and experienced the art of making and decorating fans.
Being teachers, what many of us were the most anxious to
see w
ere the schools. We got our chance while
in Nagano, where there are sixteen elementary schools, seven junior high
schools, five high schools, two junior colleges, and four universities.
We had the opportunity to visit the best at each level. Interacting with
the students and sharing ideas with teachers, administrators, and members
of the PTA was truly a highlight of the trip for us.
Another unforgettable experience was our weekend homestay with a Japanese family. Many of us were nervous about leaving our group and going off individually into the homes of people who in some cases didn't speak English. We were so worried that we may unintentionally do something wrong. Not everyone had mastered the art of using chopsticks, the bath was a real concern even though we had been given instructions, and what if we forgot to take our shoes off?
It turned out that our worries were unfounded. Upon arriving
back at the Tokyo Inn at the end of our weekend stay, we all had similar
stories to share. Stories of taking hikes in the mountains, singing at Karoke
clubs, shopping at bazaars, playing games with children, watching TV, sleeping
on futons, taking wonderful warm relaxing baths, and of eating and eating.
There was more eating to be done during our stay at a
ryokan (old time inn) and a public bath to take. Even those of us who had
vowed to skip the public bath gave in and would have enjoyed taking another,
but there wasn't enough time.
Our stay at the ryokan marked the end
of our visit to Nagano. Leaving Nagano and the friends we made was a sad
time for us. Host families came to the train station to see say good bye.
As the bullet train whizzed past the mountains, and rice paddies, we reflected
on our visit and wondered if we would ever see our friends from Nagano again.
We hoped so. Now all that remained of our magical trip was a few more days
back in Tokyo.
Reuniting with our group of two hundred at the New Otani, seeing faces of friends made just two weeks before, helped to ease the sadness of leaving Nagano. Plans were quickly made on how to spend our last hours in Japan. There were meetings to attend and last minute sight seeing and shopping to do. The big question on our minds was, "How are we going to get all of treasures home?"
We said our goodbyes the night before our departure at a farewell banquet. There was much singing, laughter, and of course, tears.
The warm memories of my trip will stay with me forever. I am deeply indebted to the Japan-US Educational Commission, the Fulbright Memorial Fund, the Japanese Government, and the people of Japan for allowing Japan to touch my life.
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