San Francisco Orientation

Quicktime Video

The excitement started on Saturday, June 10. It took all day to pack. I arrived at the airport at about 9:00pm. I was on United Flight 78 which departed at 10:50pm. I found my window seat. After about an hour in flight, I found out the person sitting next to me was the other Hawaii teacher from Kalani High School. His name was John Nippolt - an art teacher.

We arrived in San Francisco on Sunday, June 11 at 6:51am. We caught the shuttle to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel.

 

We checked into the room and registered downstairs.

At the registration desk, I left many items (bumper stickers, buttons, leis, and pens) from Hawaii to give away.

Sign-in

Near the registration desk were samples of the follow-on plans. They were impressive projects with lots of pictures. These were snapshots of what to expect on the journey to Japan.

Viewing past projects

There were many teachers eating lunch. I started to introduce myself to many teachers and gave away many shell leis and buttons.

Here is John - the other teacher from Hawaii making friends with Daniel - a teacher from New York.

After lunch, we all attended the orientation program.

Imagine that all 200 teachers represented every state.

John and I sat in the front row.

John gave some leis to the JFMF staff.

John Nippolt (art teacher) shares what his plans are for Japan - studying anime.

2:15pm Orientation Program Welcome: Christopher Powers, Institute of International Education, Washington, D.C.

2:20pm Opening remarks: Honorable Makoto Yamanaka, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco

2:30pm JFMF Program Overview

Kyoko Jones, JFMF Program Director, Japan-United States Educational Commission (JUSEC)

3:30pm Information on FMF and Graduate credits, Robert Radford, Director, Friends o the Memorial Fund

 

4:00 City Group Meetings: Discuss Questions for Panel

4:45pm - 5:45 pm Panel Presentation: The JFMF Experience and the JFMF Follow on Plan

Meet with 19 other teachers. Develop questions for panel members:

2 Elementary Teachers with Powerpoint

Vice Principal - discuss initial plan with statistics and data

At the evening reception, everyone sat by groups of the prefecture they will visit. My group was Mutsu, Aomori.

Evening dinner

June 12 (Mon) Depart for Japan

11:28 (UA837) Mutsu group