The Gateway to Japan

That's what they call San Francisco, which is where I spent my first day away from NYC. I was up at 5 a.m. to catch my 7:50 a.m. flight to San Francisco out of JFK. I met five other people on that flight who are also part of the same Japan Fulbright program. The flight was just a little over five hours which is nothing compared to what is in store today when I fly to Tokyo.

The whole day in SF was an orientation to the program and it was chance to meet the 199 other teachers who are also going. I met people from every state, who teach every subject you can imagine, who teach every possible age of student, and who are also thrilled, nervous and honored to be going on this adventure to Japan. It turns out that this is the tenth anniversary year for the Japan Fulbright program, which I didn't realize. The Fulbright Program has been in existence since the 1940's but this particular one, in which teachers go to Japan, was started in 1996. And since my group is the last group to go to Japan in the tenth anniversary year we were treated to a very special reception at the Japan Consul General's Official Residence in San Francisco. His home was very beautiful and it was in a very fancy part of the city, Pacific Heights. There was an amazing banquet there for us with all kinds of delicious Japanese food. I had a chance to meet and speak with more people who are going and already I feel like I have made some new friends.

Of course I could not sleep last night and now I need to get ready to leave the hotel to go to the airport for my 11 hour flight to Tokyo. I will write again soon. Sayonara!