I'm in San Francisco for the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Orientation. Over 160 fellow teachers have gathered plus the IIE staff to share this wonderful opportunity with me.
I have met teachers from all over the country including a teacher from Alaska who teaches in a school with only 20 kids and two teachers. On the other hand, I also have met a teacher from Florida who teaches in a school with over 3000 students. We come from very different backgrounds, but we all will be sharing the same experience for the next month or so.
Today's orientation included listening to staff people and previous scholarship recipients who have already gone to Japan. We then ended the day with a dinner at the home of the Consul General Nagamine of Japan. The Consul General is a Diplomat, or a person who represents his country and makes sure their country has good relationships with other countries. He and his wife threw a party for all of us and served various Japanese foods such as sushi, sashimi, edamame, tempura, and Kobe beef. His home rests on top of the many hills of San Francisco and has a gorgeous view of the Bay.
