10 Years Later

Welcome to my blog! I'm so excited about the opportunity to share my upcoming trip to Asahikawa, Japan with the world. Asahikawa is on the northern most island of Hokkaido (thus the name of the blog). I, along with Bob Clary, will chaperone 8 junior high students for 10 days in Japan as part of our sister cities exchange program. We depart on July 8th.

I'm extremely reflective as I prepare for this trip. It is 10 years to the month that I return to Japan. In July 2000 I stayed in Tokyo for 4 weeks as part of a study abroad program through my undergraduate institution - Eureka College. I was 19 and the Chicago to Tokyo flight was the first time I boarded a plane. I was forever changed by another culture. I had no idea what existed beyond the midwest and my eyes were opened to a beautiful country so rich in culture. I took classes at Sophia University - Japanese Religion and Japanese Art. Little pieces of those courses still stick with me. Last week I was shopping and discovered a set of magnets based on the 36 Views of Mt. Fuji; I had to buy them. If you've been to my office you also know that I believe magnets are a great form of self expression.

Beyond my classes, I traveled all over Tokyo. Sometimes with school excursions, sometimes with some of the other students staying at the hotel/hostel, and sometimes on my own. My favorite place was Asakusa. This section of Tokyo had a concentration of shrines and temples that were absolutely beautiful. Behind this area of temples was a alley like road that was an open air market. Looking back is so funny. I was fearless to travel by myself to Asakusa. How did I even know how to get there? I think I became proficient at the subway. The open air market was probably all souvenirs and tourist items, but at the time I thought it was amazing; I'd never seen anything like it. Four years of risk management planning trips with ISU's Dean of Students has made me much more rigid. Although this should be greatly reassuring to the parents of all the kids I am chaperoning.

My experience in Tokyo was the reason I sought out the Bloomington-Normal Japanese Sister Cities Committee. I have been serving on the committee for 2 years now. Eureka College gave me this amazing experience in Japan. I wanted to be a apart of something giving this opportunity to other youth. I can't wait to be back and I can't wait to see each of the kids fall in love with this country, like I did 10 years ago.