It is hard for me to believe that I am writing my final report. For me, this encompasses three years of a relationship with Onominami E.S. in Fukuoka, Japan. It is difficult to express the feelings that I have for the wonderful people that I met beginning the summer of '04.

I never dreamed that I would ever get to go to Japan. On a whim, I applied and got accepted to MTP in the summer of '04. What I thought would be a "once in a lifetime experience" turned out to be twice with a passion that continues to grow.

It is difficult to express what I have learned or how I have changed. I am so fortunate to have had this experience and meet such wonderful people, both from the U.S. and from Japan.

My wish is to return to Japan and see my friends again. I don't feel like this is the end, rather a hiatus until we meet again.

I know that I have given the students in the Japan Culture Club an opportunity that they would never have gotten. The children have expressed a desire to become penpals with their friends in Japan. Perhaps my students will get to visit one day. Who knows what the future holds. Regardless, I know that I have touched many lives and for that I am grateful. I hope I am not being too vague but it is difficult to put into words how I am feeling. Thank you MTP for the "experience of a lifetime", not once, but two times, with more to come.