Visit to Shizuoka University

We start the day at breakfast, then as we wait for the tour bus, we quickly sort our business cards to place in each of the gift bags.

Yukiko goes over the agenda with our Fulbright guest.

We load onto the bus for a trip to Shizuoka University in the morning.

We have greeters at the University waiting for us.

We are escorted into the board room.

We take our seats. This is our first official visit, gifts and all, and we are curious how it will all take place.

All the officials at the university gather, and the university president begins.

The education chair says a few words, including the fact that he was a Fulbright exchange at the University of Iowa. Go Hawkeyes!

A member of our group speaks at each official gathering. At this meeting, Eileen Cooper says a few words. Her speech "fans" our hearts.

The gift is then presented, bowing politely.

Then we bring round two of gifts!

We are led through a brochure explaining the University's purpose and educational statistics.

As we board the bus to continue the campus visit, we witness the exchange of business cards. This is a formality we will see many times.

We unload to enter the College of Education for discussion.

University officials gather to enter the Education Building as well.

We all take our seats in a single room for a brief overview.

After the overview, we split into two groups. Graduate students joined the forum at this point. I stayed with the math-science group.

We walk from the education building a short way through the campus.

We approach the student union, where we will be served lunch.

As we get closer, university students are also gathering for lunch. they look like typical college kids!

We are whisked into a faculty dining area, where our box lunches await. the lacquered boxes are beautiful....and HUGE!

We are excited at how gracious the luncheon setting is.

But finally, we take our seats and clean our hands with the wet napkins.

We have a brief speech. Since the room smells fabulous with the aroma of food, we are glad is it brief!

What a lot of lovely food packed in a tray! And of course, NO forks!

We gather again outside the student union, pretty stuffed and needing a walk. Somehow, we convince our tour guides to let us walk to the bookstore for souvenirs.

As we walk toward the bookstore, we see that the university is sponsoring a blood drive. I can't convince anyone to donate with me. Since I am likely to faint, I decide not to volunteer without a "buddy."

Ooohh Yeaaah! Forget the rest of the bookstore. I've found an Imac, and I'm in heaven. Anytime I can touch a Mac, life is good. Too bad it wasn't on the Internet!

After they pull me off the computer, it's time to regather. We head toward the bus to travel to the Shizuoka Prefectural office.

Click Here to check out the Shizuoka Prefectural Office visit!