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The anxiousness of participating in the Fulbright Program and the commitment to work for one year with teachers from another country, was quickly dispelled after meeting the 9 nine partners from Shotoku Gakuen Schools in Musashino-shi, Tokyo. The first 10 days of our acquaintance went by very rapidly and we all quickly became friends and coworkers.

Participation in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program (FMF MTP 2004) has been and throughout the remainder of the year will continue to be the experience of a lifetime. The following is a pictorial dialog of my visit to Japan and Shotoku Gakuen High School June11--July 23, 2004.

	The flight from San Francisco to Narita was uneventful and thanks to my bulkhead seat not nearly as exhausting as I anticipated. After a quick walk through customs, we were met by FMF staff and escorted to a bus for transport to Central Tokyo.
	Learning to get around in Tokyo by train was a crash course on Sunday. Myself, Maggie Benedict, and Catherine Rice outside the gate area to the Imperial Palace after our first subway ride and getting off at Tokyo Station.
	Next stop, Asakusa Temple. This temple complex is said to be the biggest tourist attraction in Tokyo and we were there. We even made a trip back later to spend time in the unique shops.
	What a contrast--looking over the roof an an ancient temple in Akasaka at the towering Prudential building.
	It was great to see Jun Hori again! At the technology meeting at orientation all traveling members were "reunited" with their technology partners whom we met in March in Washington, DC.
	A welcome bar none! All faculty and students were present for our welcome. There were welcome banners around the auditorium, students were waving American Flags, and the school band was playing as we entered with our teaching and technology partners. The most touching experience was when the Shotoku Gakuen band played the Star Spangled Banner in our honor. To hear one's national anthem played in a foreign country was awesome, to have it played specifically in our honor was truly an emotional experience.
	The first formal class visit was to a Home Economics class. On the day of the visit they were cooking spaghetti and baking chocolate chip muffins. I dawned the handkerchief headgear and apron and joined in for the period. It was good too! We got to eat!
	Ikenobo--an after school club. Ikenobo, the art of Japanese flower arranging is the basis of the flower arranging club which meets every other week. Students and their teacher Myako-sensei spent much time showing us the geometric patterns necessary to make an arrangement using the principals of Ikenobo.
	Catherine Rice and I participated in a Chinese Calligraphy class. It looks simple and it is anything but. We were able to produce a simple character--friendship. I was at the table with these boys...they were eager to show, help and encourage me. They seemed to get a "kick" out of it.
	It was great to participate in the biology class of my partner Egusa-sensei. This was a two period class and we had plenty of time to work with identifying bugs for the "Bugs and Soil" project. These are the students that will be working with St. Charles High students, through video conferencing, in the fall. Students worked diligently looking for insects and viewing them under the microscope. We were able to identify and classify several specimens. Just like girls everywhere, the squealed when I put a worm in my hand.
	We were welcomed to the city by the Mayor of Musashino-shi, Masatada Tsuchida and members of the Board of Education. We presented the city with a flag from the City of St. Charles, sent by our Mayor Patti York.
	Our pair project for MTP is centered around recycling so I was asked to do lessons about recycling in the United States. The class was with 55 11th grade students. I presented a PowerPoint presentation as well as a video clip about a recycling center in the States. Students were also asked to complete a short survey. This method of teaching was "foreign" to them as the primary way they get information is through lectures. When meeting with the Principal a few days later, he mentioned my technique and said that he would like to have more of that style of teaching in his classrooms.
	A weekend high light was visiting with Uncle Sam at the American Embassy, Tokyo, 4th of July bash. Thanks to Claire Tesh, MTP, Washington, DC for getting the invitation extended. After one week in Tokyo it was nice to have a little of "home."
	Another weekend highlight was a most cherished visit and dinner at the home of my technology partner, Jun Hori. All partners from our community team were present as well as Mr. Hori (Jun's father), his younger brother Dan, his nurse, and Mr. Sasaki's wife. It was a wonderful evening with great food, drink, and most of all good friends.
	Catherine Rice and I meeting with the Principal of Shotoku Gakuen Junior and Senior High Schools, Mr. Goro Kobayashi. We presented the school both the State of Missouri flag and the City of St. Charles flag.
	As a gift for all student and faculty, I collected Missouri Commemorative Quarters. I went to all home rooms to talk about Missouri and to tell them the significance of the arch and Lewis and Clark which are depicted on the back of the quarters. Here I'm explaining the quarters to Jun Hori's homeroom.
	All visiting community partners spent a morning at the Edo-Tokyo museum. We were escorted by a wonderful Japanese guide. He spoke English, although you had to work to understand and also "read" between the lines. What a wonderful way to gain an appreciation for the history of Tokyo. Maggie, Catherine and I in front of a portable shrine used in the Edo Sanja Festival.
	To Sendai: It was great to get out of the city for a couple of days to attend the MTP regional conference. Our first excursion in the "countryside" was to Matsushima. What a beautiful bay and the island formations were spectacular.
	Kiyokazu (my teaching partner) and I exchanged school T-shirts for the teleconference with fellow MTPer's in Hiroshima.
	Principal Goro Kobayashi is a scholar of Emperor Meiji and the Meiji era of Japanese History. He took Catherine and I as his guest to visit the Meiji Jingu which is in Central Tokyo, near the stadium and site of the 1964 Olympics. It is a wonderful oasis in the enter of a city with tall buildings and narrow streets. Mr. Kobayashi, myself, Catherine and Mr. Sasaki in the lobby of the Meiji memorial Hall.
	Let the games begin... I was asked to participate in the opening ceremonies for the track and field day at Shotoku Gakuen Jr. and Sr. High Schools. It was the hottest day since being in Tokyo and we were sweltering. Again they played the Star Spangled Banner as they raised the US flag along with the Japanese flag.
	The "Clean Center" is an incinerator facility located in the middle of Musashino-shi. The waste from Musashino-shi is collected and incinerated in three incinerators installed in this plant. These chairs were made from ashes from the trash burning.
	My first of four lessons to 10th grade students about the exploration of the west and the building of the arch to Commemorate the Lewis and Clark exploration.
	A wonderful five course Japanese dinner was shared with good friends at the Win Lakehill Hotel in Kawaguchiko-machi, located at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
	Fuji-san: This is as close as I got to the top.

	Meeting my partners the first day in our nation's capital was truely a great experience.
	The final day of our visit to Washington, DC. We've quickly become peers as well as good friends.
	Back in St. Charles--working in the computer lab at St. Charles High.
	As my school was not in session during the visit, we went to the Ft. Zumwalt School District to see an American School. All were made honorary graduates of Ft. Zumwalt West High School.
	Dinner at my home. All 9 Japanese partners from Shotoku Gakuen schools came to an American steak dinner.
	By now we were family and all chipped in to make the evening a great success.
	Touring the Dierbergs deli facility required "clean" attire.
	Shopping of course. The Galleria Mall, Clayton, Missouri.
	No trip to the St. Louis area would be complete without a visit to the Gateway Arch.
	Ice cream on Historic Main Street in St. Charles.
	Kioykazu was intriqued at the Butterfly House in Faust Park.
	And away we go. It was a short 10 days but we knew we'd meet again. Tokyo--here we come.