November 13/14 - If only I were a munchkin or Flying the Unfriendly Skys

Today we departed the San Francisco Sheraton Airport Hotel at 9:30 AM for our 11:30 AM flight. The hotel was only five minutes from the airport which was fortunate because it took so darn long to clear customs. If I thought they were fussy in Chicago, San Francisco was 10 times worse. People were being pulled aside for closer inspection right and left. One of our group got yanked out of line for having too much shampoo in her carry-on bag. While they were grilling her about her Pantene Pro-V someone walked off with her computer from the TSA carousel! Fortunately some swift work by the San Francisco police and TSA recovered her computer.

I now discover something wonderful. Having a cane is a GOOD thing. The cabin crew board me early, lift my luggage to the overhead bin and give me an aisle seat. Unfortunately, the friendly skys stop there…. As you know, I am reasonably tall, a fact which airplane designers have not taken into account. I sit with my knees jammed into the seat in front of me, my elbows firmly wedged into Anne Marie, a teacher at Whitney Young. Sardines have more room that we do.

During the flight we will have:
Beverage Service
Lunch
Beverage Service
Snack
Dinner
Beverage Service
Each time food or beverages are served, everyone must clear the aisles so there is always a mad rush to the bathrooms when service is over. This is exacerbated by several bouts of severe turbulence when we all have to sit tight. My seat is next to the bathrooms so I get to see everyone, very, very often.

Sleep is impossible so I arrive at Narita airport at at 3:30 PM local time (12:30 AM in Chicago)bleary eyed and jet lagged. Things are about to get worse. We are sorted into ten city groups and pile into buses. The Tokyo airport is actually in the prefecture next to Tokyo. We have a 90 minute drive to the hotel. Sounds like the perfect time to grab a quick nap but no, We need to stay awake to receive instructions on how to function in Japan from our city coordinator Keiko Yoshizaki. Keiko san reinforces some of the lessons we learned in San Francisco. The Japanese people are very polite and she does not want us to embarass ourselves or her by being ignorant of local customs.

We learn that:
- tipping is considered rude,
- special shoes are worn inside of toilets
- shorts are very inappropriate
- blue jeans should only be worn when we are on our own time and that there will be almost no time to call our own.

We each receive a food allownace for those days when we need to buy our own meals. The allowance is 1,000 Yen for lunch and 2,000 Yen for dinner. Although this seems like a lot of money, in a city like Tokyo where a cup of coffee can run $10, we will need to watch our spending. As we pull into the Hotel Keio we have but one thought on our minds: sleep! But it is not to be. JFMF has arranged for former Japanese Fulbright scholars to meet us and go to dinner.

We meet our counterparts at a reception in the hotel. We are treated to traditional Japanese instrumental music, some desperately needed coffee and very friendly faces. My Fulbright scholar is Professor Takane Sukegawa Matushima, MBA, MPA and MUP who teaches in the Graduate School of Film Producing at Toho University. We are joined by two other JFMFers and head out for a sushi dinner at 7:30 PM or 4:30 AM Chicago time. Thus my first day in Japan is spent hustling from one point to another in a total blur. I collapsed in bed at 10:00 PM and was asleep by 10:01 PM.

Sunday, November 12th - The Journey Begins

Sunday morning I went to bed at 2:00 AM having finished last minute packing, updating of technology and retailoring a suit. All too early, my alarm clock went off at 5:30 AM. Although my flight to San Francisco wasn't due to leave until 8:00 AM, I had to be at the airport no later than 6:30AM. Since 9/11, security clearance at the airport has been greatly tightened. To go through security, I had to:
- take out my computer,
- remove my shoes, belt, watch and pocket change
- remove all liquids (hand lotion, bottled water)
- have my cane x-rayed (it's solid wood!)
- have my purse and brief case x-rayed
Having done all that I got to my gate just 10 minutes before boarding began.

The flight to San Francisco was uneventful. I spent my time getting to know my fellow JFMFers as we are called and trying to sneak in a nap. We were met at the luggage carousel in SF and loaded onto buses to our hotel. There was just enough time to drop my bag in my room before heading to lunch and the orientation sessions.

In the sessions we were given some basic rules about cultural differences and a plea to be respectful of those differences.

There are 200 of us going to Japan. At the second session we broke into small groups of 20. Each group is going to a different prefecture. I am going to Hiroshima. After introductions we headed to the third session which was a panel discusson by former JFMFers. They answered questions about their experiences. Following the panel we were given 20 minutes to change clothes for the big event of the day.

JFMF is celebrating its 10th anniversary so there are a number of special events to celebrate the occasion. The first event was a reception hosted by the Consul General of Japan. (In the picture I'm the tall one on the right.) It was held at the Consul's home, a beautiful Italianate mansion in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Along with the champagne, there was fabulous sushi, dim sum, sashimi and for some strange reason-potato salad. (I have since come to learn that potato salad is hugely popular in Japan. It has shown up at every meal.) To see more photos of the reception, go to http://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/photo/2006/1112.htm

We returned to the hotel at 9:30 PM local time- 11:00 PM by my body clock. I gratefully fell in bed.

Why am I going to Japan?

This spring I received a letter from the The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) Teacher Program, sponsored by the Government of Japan which said I was chosen to got to Japan in November 2006 to study the culture and educational systems of Japan. JFMF provides American primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with fully-funded short-term study tours of Japan. The program is designed to increase understanding between the people of Japan and the United States by inviting U.S. elementary and secondary educators to visit Japan and share their experiences with fellow Americans upon their return. JFMF participants travel to Japan with other outstanding educators, learn about Japanese culture and education, and return to implement a self-designed plan to share their knowledge and experience with their students, colleagues and community.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fulbright Program — a U.S. government-initiated project created in 1946 to foster mutual understanding through exchanges of university students, faculty
and researchers. More than 6,000 Japanese people have benefited from the U.S.
Fulbright scholarship program. Many Japanese recipients of Fulbright scholarships went on to become leaders in government, business, and academia and were instrumental in the post-war redevelopment of Japan. To show the Japanese people's appreciation for the Fulbright Program, the Government of Japan established the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund to invite thousands of American teachers and administrators to Japan.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program continues a tradition of dialogue and exchange between the United States and Japan. JFMF Teacher Program participants play a key role in educating America's youth and in developing future leaders who are informed
about both countries. The JFMF program's focus on primary and secondary education reflects the importance of internationalizing curricula at an early stage, and of providing opportunities for international experience to those who educate young people. (http://www.iie.org)

I hope to use part of my time in Japan meeting with other IB educators and identifying other IB schools that wish to partner with Trinity on a number of online activities. I leave on Sunday, November 12, 2006 at 8:00 AM to fly to San Francisco for a day of orientation and dinner with the Japanese Consul. Monday I fly on to Tokyo and the adventure of a lifetime!