Goodbye Party

Hi All,

Today was our Goodbye Party. It is one day early this year because we are going to Osaka in the morning. In Osaka, we will tour Osaka Castle and then spend the night in a hotel near the airport for our Thursday morning departure.

The Goodbye Party was quite fun. It was held at a small public hall. The host families brought food (including McDonald's Carryout - they worry that we are missing American food). After a brief welcome and introduction, students ate a lunch. Afterward, we cleared the floor & then Maddie hengst and I performed a duet - yes... a duet. She played a song on the Koto - a traditional Japanese instrument - and I sang the melody in Japanese. WOW!

Then, I gave a brief speech - in Japanese - thanking all of the host families for their hospitality and care. Then we played several rounds of Musical Chairs. I am proud to say that I won the game last time we were here & I came in second this year - losing to Erica Fearon (she'd tough).

After the games, our hosts gave each of us a photo from our Welcoming Party mounted onto a 10 inch X 10 inch board. We were all encouraged to exchange signatures with all of the students. It was fun but a little bittersweet to think that we are all soon headed home.

Don't mistake me parents :-) Your kids are eager to see you, but they are just beginning to truly feel settled, and now we are leaving. In the morning we head to Osaka. We will tour several very interesting sites there in Osaka & then we will check into our hotel. We leave early on Thursday for Home.

It has been a fabulous trip :-)