First off, I want to thank everyone at Saint Stephen's who has helped me prepare for this trip to Japan. I'm honored to be chosen to attend the JFMF program, and I hope to bring back loads of information for faculty members across all four divisions. This past week, as I revised the follow-on plan from my initial application, I'm amazed that I was chosen to represent the school and the state of Florida when I had only been working at Saint Stephen's for three months. By the time that I arrive in San Francisco, I need to turn in a report detailing what I hope to gain from the trip and how I hope to share the information I receive with the rest of the school. I have a lot of ideas, but I'm always looking for suggestions. Which brings me to...
It sometimes seems like everyone has a blog these days. Lots of blogs have few or no comments, and I always hope that someone is reading them. I hate to think of the author going to the work of posting a blog, only to have it languishing unread somewhere in the online universe. I've been asked by enough people to document my trip that I finally set up a blog. In order to encourage people to respond, I'm holding a 'comment contest.'* Respond to at least one of my posts to be entered into a contest for a special souvenir from Japan. You're welcome to lurk in the background, but I'll definitely appreciate comments. :)
Many people have asked about the purpose of the program, so I thought I'd start with a description from the JFMF website.
"The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, a U.S. government project created in 1946 to foster mutual understanding through exchanges of university students, faculty and teachers. More than 6000 Japanese have benefited from the U.S. Fulbright scholarship program. Many Japanese recipients of U.S. Fulbright scholarships went on to become leaders in government, business and education and were instrumental in the post-war redevelopment of Japan.
To show the Japanese peoples' appreciation for the Fulbright Program, the Government of Japan established the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) and commissioned its program design and administration to the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (JUSEC). The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund continues a tradition of dialogue and exchange between the United States and Japan.
The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund aims to increase the level of understanding between Japan and the U.S. and to provide teachers and administrators with significantprofessional development opportunities.
The Teacher Program is a short (three-week) study program in Japan for American elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators. It aims to increase understanding of Japan among American educators who will help to shape and educate the next generation of leaders in the United States. The program is designed to strengthen curricula in U.S. schools by improving Americans' understanding of Japan."
*While I hope that my readership isn't limited to Saint Stephen's students and faculty, unfortunately the contest is. Comment away family and friends, and I'll be trying to fit souvenirs in my suitcase for you too!
