The Washington D.C. orientation offered a variety of opportunities for educational growth. Of course, meeting my new partner from Miyagi Prefectural Kesennuma High School and renewing my friendship with my previous partner was the highlight.


The day of sightseeing offered inspiration as Dr. Jones brought insight to the educatioinal foundations of U.S. education as we visited the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials. This year's weather was wonderful but we were still a few days too early to see the cherry blossoms.

In the afternoon the Callisburg/Kesennuma group visited the office of U.S. Representative Dr. Michael Burgess where we explained the importance of the JFMFMTP to our schools and students.

Visiting Bell Multicultural High School provided a glimpse into the stark differences between inter-city schools and rural schools in the U.S. Callisburg High School is a small rural school about 70 miles north of Dallas. We have very little cultural diversity. Visiting classes and meeting students gave me a renewed sense of purpose in exposing Callisburg students to a new culture in through JFMFMTP.

Of course, parading into the school behind a marching drill team and drum corps was an experience everyone should have. We were also treated to poetry recitation and dances featuring a variety of cultures that are part of the Bell menagerie. There was obvious pride in the new school environs that were the result of a long fight to provide the best for these students.

Saturday was also spent at Bell, but this day's fare offered exciting new ideas in the study of insects and their interactions with plants, the facinating world of fast plants, and a much improved session on the properties of soil. I learned a tremendous amount that I was able to take home and immediately put to use on my family's Oklahoma ranch.

On a much more personal note, participating in this year's Washington D.C. orientation was much more relaxed and more pleasant than my first year. I was less awed by my surroundings and new colleagues, and I was able to focus on MTP and the year that lies ahead.

Thanks to the generosity of the Government of Japan, Ministry of Education, JUSEC, and the JFMFMTP, students in the Callisburg community will continue to grow in their relationship with students in Kesennuma.

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