Okayama Trip '09

In this week's ND Around the Block Employee News section, my trip to Japan is announced:

Notre Dame’s Amy Huang will visit Japan! The city of San Jose has a sister city, Okayama, in Japan that is about 460 miles west of Tokyo. In early January, a Notre Dame parent, Mr. Gill (Rebecca ’11), brought a message to Mary Beth Riley that the San Jose - Okayama sister city committee has a Citizen Exchange Program, and that they were looking for someone involved with the community in San Jose to visit Japan by the end of March. Mary Beth encouraged Amy Huang to develop a travel proposal based on her interest in Japanese culture. Also Notre Dame San Jose is interested in developing a relationship with Notre Dame Seishin Junior and High school, founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1886, which is near by.

Amy submitted a proposal to the sister city committee expressing interest in present day media use in libraries in Japan and it was approved. Her main goal of this visit is to build relationship with the libraries and schools in Okayama. She will be leaving for Japan on March 23, and coming back on April 6. She will visit some secondary schools (including Notre Dame Seishin High School), the Notre Dame Seishin University, and several public libraries and will seek opportunities for a short-term exchange program for our students to experience a culture other than their own. She will also build a pen pal program for our Japan Club.

Upon return, Amy will make a presentation at the sister city group meeting. And of course, share her experience with the ND community as well.

The picture was uploaded to the sister city website (People to People) on February 25, 2009.
This picture includes Kazuko Green, our principal Mary Beth Riley, and myself.

It has been confirmed that my host family in Okayama has internet connection at home. I will bring my lap top to Japan and try to update this blog everyday.

I will also rent a cell phone SIM card (about $1.1 per day) in Japan. I will be notified the number before departure.

I was looking everywhere for souvenirs to bring to Japan. I went to Fairmont, Marriott, DoubleTree, Museum of Arts and Tech Museum, but still couldn't find appropriate presents. The hotel gift shops only have very few souvenirs, and most of the items have their hotel name printed. Museum gift shops are just selling their own museum souvenirs, not the city's.

Thanks to Mrs. Ahrens! She is going to travel next month for a conference and agreed to buy souvenirs in the airport gift shop for us.

On Friday February 20, Mr. and Mrs. Green came to Notre Dame to give me the reimbursement check for the airfare. They also took some pictures that will be posted on the sister city website (People to People). When they arrived, I took them to meet Mrs. Riley. The pictures were taken in the library in front of the fireplace. Mrs. Green, Mrs. Riley, and myself are in the pictures.

Mr. Yasuda emailed me the Itinerary of my trip. Mrs. Tupaj-Farthing and I discussed more about what to bring to Japan.

Day 1 AM Courtesy call to Mayor and Vice-Mayor, Welcome Lunch, PM: School visit
Day 2 AM Sister school, PM Plaza
Day 3 AM School visit, PM Library
Day 4 Free
Day 5 Free
Day 6 PM University Library
Day 7 AM Bizen Ware field trip, PM Prefecture library

Mrs. Tupaj-Farthing and I discussed what gifts I should bring to Japan. Ideas include a pen with ND's logo, tea, chocolate, dried food from California, hand towels, yearbook, school newspaper, etc.

I received an email about the potential host family who lives in a house on the outskirts just outside the city center. I will need to take a bus for about 20 minutes to the city center and a 10 minutes walk to the city office from there.

They are a middle aged couple with a college aged daughter who can speak English.

The flight tickets have been purchased. Leaving on Monday March 23 and coming back on Monday April 6. The Itinerary was sent to me by KIE / Kintetsu International on Tuesday February 3. The charge of $865.62 was put on my personal credit card and I will be reimbursed later.

My proposal was presented in the San Jose - Okayama sister city monthly group meeting on Monday February 2.