Browsing this Thread:
1 Anonymous Users
|
|
Report on D.C. Orientationand Partner Visit |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Home away from home
 
Joined:
2006/2/26 13:02 From US
Posts: 303
 |
Report on D.C. Orientation and Partner Visit
Ours is a success story. My partners and I arrived safely in Washington in March 15th and met for the first time (in the elevator!) on the morning of the 16th. We enjoyed the events of the 16th and got to know wach other while exploring The Capitol. By late afternoon we were feeling the jet lag, so we picked up some food and ate in the hotel room while working on xoops. Thursday we woke up to the "eggs and kegs" event celebrating St. Patrick's Day across the street from the M street Hotel. We traveled to Bell High to see the new school in operation. Returning the following day we attended three workshops and shared ideas regarding the pair project and other activities that out students could share. We were able to bring many materials back to our local schools to use and share with fellow colleagues. Our trip to California on 3/19 went well. Carol, my wife, met us at the airport and took us on a brief tour of San Francisco as part of our ride home. That was good judgement , because the weather on that day was the nicest we experienced all week. Carol arranged treats and letters of greeting in the hotel rooms of our partners to suprise and welcome them when they arrived in Santa Rosa. We all went out to dinner that evening and discussed plans for the week to come. Monday we went to Tomales to visit Shoreline High School, Tomales High School and Tomales Elementary School. Our partners met the team and discussed the program. Partners were able to visit students in their classes and explore all of the campuses. The Tomales Regional History Center opened its doors for our partners and they were able to enjoy that series of displays concerning this area. In the afternoon we were given a tour of the U.C.Davis Marine Lab and Reserve in Bodega Bay. Peter Connors showed our partners the Bodega Head area and answered questions regarding plants and animals found in the area. We returned to Santa Rosa via the Russian River, stopping briefly to have a look at an old cabin I'm restoring in Monte Rio. Monday evening I had a reception bar-b-que for our partners at my house. It was attended by over thirty people, including our MTP team, faculty, friends and school board members. Everyone had a nice time and enjoyed casual social time with our Japanese partners. Thuesday we visited two high schools (Phoenix Continuation H.S. in Cotati and Tech High on the campus of Sonoma State University) in the late morning and returned to Santa Rosa for lunch. We were scheduled to explore Point Reyes by boat, but the tide and weather were not the best, so we visited the Charles Shultz Santa Rosa Airport and were allowed into the tower to watch the air traffic controllers at work. We went on to visit the local aircraft museum and a teacher supply store before dinner. Wednesday we drove up to Sacramento and were honored by the Matsuyama/Sacramento Sister City Orginization. We met Heather Fargo, the mayor and toured Grant High School, the Capitol, and several other special local sites. Thursday we went to the Marin County Office of Education to meet with the Superintendent before traveling to S.F. via ferry. We spent the day in The City, seeing Alcateaz, the waterfront and traveling downtown by cable car. Friday morning we visited Analy High and Laguna Continuation High School. We were able to visit with faculty and students, watching them work. We met my wife for lunch at the Junior College and then went wine tasting and for a soak in the geothermal waters in Calistoga. Saturday Carol and I brought our partners back to San Francisco by car. We explored North Beach, where we had lunch, before seeing Golden Gate Park. We visited the De Young Museum and The Japanese Tea Garden. We drove south along Ocean beach and on to the airport hotel where we had a "parting glass" and said our farewells for now. The experiences were all positive and we only wish we had more time to savor each experience. The time we had together was a very valuable chance to build friendships and learn something about each other. We look forward to working together and our reunion in June. Attach file:  fulbright friends.jpg (76.47 KB)
Posted on: 2006/4/4 20:31
|
|
  |
|
|
|
|
Thanks |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Just can't stay away
Joined:
2006/2/26 13:02 From US
Posts: 124
|
Posted on: 2006/6/21 7:17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Thanks |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Just can't stay away
Joined:
2006/2/26 13:02 From US
Posts: 100
|
Jim, Thanks for your kind remarks. It is good to hear form you. My experience is going wel. I love the photo of you train! Is the ceiling high enough to accommodate your height? It is good for me to see that I am not the only one behind in posrting reports ... there is no time at school, and the nights get late! See you soon. Jane
Posted on: 2006/6/21 12:10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Thanks |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Home away from home
Joined:
2006/2/26 13:02 From US
Posts: 303
|
Hey Jane, I'm not sure here...am I behind in posting s report? I make a point of never quite understanding what I'm obliged to do (maybe I believe all that stuff about how "top down management" isn't desirable and I find myself off someplace fractiling away. I haven't been on board the Bochan yet. Maybe this weekend. Rain is expected, so tooling around Matsuyama will probably involve the streetcar and a gondola ride up to the castle. Presently I am struggling with tv issue. We got me the Japanese HBO for 500 yen a week. It took 3 days to hook up & then I was unable to program it. Through some wonderful communication gymnastics, I was able to find my way to the Leopalace office downtown. Once there I was given a password, I.D.# and the sequence of buttons to push. Well, I got the thing booted up, but all I can get at this point is 24 Hours and some awful music video. After classes today I'll go get more instruction and maybe become so successful that I'll never want to leave my cube again...let me see if I have any more pictures of the Bochan densha. It's deisel/steam and has an electric boost. Sometimes they raise a connection to the high wires. I don't have a clue. Heat is pouring out the smokestack. Go figure. Cheers, Jim McElroy
Attach file: Matsuyama#1 002.jpg (725.69 KB) Matsuyama#1 003.jpg (696.40 KB) Matsuyama#1 004.jpg (710.71 KB) Matsuyama#1 005.jpg (690.31 KB) Matsuyama#1 016.jpg (628.37 KB)
Posted on: 2006/6/22 2:27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Thanks |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Home away from home
Joined:
2006/2/26 13:02 From US
Posts: 303
|
Hey Jane, I'm not sure here...am I behind in posting s report? I make a point of never quite understanding what I'm obliged to do (maybe I believe all that stuff about how "top down management" isn't desirable and I find myself off someplace fractiling away. I haven't been on board the Bochan yet. Maybe this weekend. Rain is expected, so tooling around Matsuyama will probably involve the streetcar and a gondola ride up to the castle. Presently I am struggling with tv issue. We got me the Japanese HBO for 500 yen a week. It took 3 days to hook up & then I was unable to program it. Through some wonderful communication gymnastics, I was able to find my way to the Leopalace office downtown. Once there I was given a password, I.D.# and the sequence of buttons to push. Well, I got the thing booted up, but all I can get at this point is 24 Hours and some awful music video. After classes today I'll go get more instruction and maybe become so successful that I'll never want to leave my cube again...let me see if I have any more pictures of the Bochan densha. It's deisel/steam and has an electric boost. Sometimes they raise a connection to the high wires. I don't have a clue. Heat is pouring out the smokestack. Go figure. Cheers, Jim McElroy
Attach file: Matsuyama#1 002.jpg (725.69 KB) Matsuyama#1 003.jpg (696.40 KB) Matsuyama#1 004.jpg (710.71 KB) Matsuyama#1 005.jpg (690.31 KB) Matsuyama#1 016.jpg (628.37 KB)
Posted on: 2006/6/22 2:28
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot start a new topic.
You can view topic.
You cannot reply to posts.
You cannot edit your posts.
You cannot delete your posts.
You cannot add new polls.
You cannot vote in polls.
You cannot attach files to posts.
You cannot post without approval.