July 1, 2004

Kyoto bus rides can get pretty crowded!

En route to Kiyomizudera, some students from Lafayette seek the high ground in a cemetery to see a sweeping view of Kyoto.

Karen Countryman and her students pause with their tour guide on the balcony of Kiyomizudera. You can see the Kyoto skyline in the background.

Let's see the 1,001 Kannon of Sanjusangendo!

A group of students from Lafayette are seen ascending the steps to the shrine that serves as the resting place for one of Jaopan's foremost Buddhist monks, Shinran.

The Journey Continues

We thought about titling this last issue for the second tour of NP:J "Sayonara," or "The Journey Ends." After all, today is the last day of everyone's study tour and tomorrow everyone will be going to the airport for their flights to return home to the United States. So, why did we say the NP:J participants' journeys will continue?

It is our hope that all NP:J students and teachers will be inspired in some way by their experience in Japan and that they will have kindled in them a desire to continue to learn, to explore, to continue to journey through life examining their home's culture, as well as the cultures of their global neighbors.

If the desitnation is a greater understanding of one's self and the "other," then we hope NP:J has been an important step in a life-long journey—long may it continue!

Since their arrival in Kyoto on Tuesday, a mere two days ago, the NP:J students have been completely busy trying to soak up as much Kyoto "funiki" (mood or atmosphere) as possible. There is so much to see, and not enough time to expoerience everything Kyoto has tyo offer! Maiko (apprentice geisha), kabuki theatre, delicious sushi, night-time views from Kyoto Tower, pagoda's, gold and silver pavilions, the 1,001 Kannon statues of Sanjusangendo, and on and on...

Maybe they'll have to return to Kyoto for another visit in the future? We hope so!

But today, Thursday, is a day filled with frenetic activity. It's everyone's last full day and night in Japan during the NP:J study tour. In addition to learning about Japanese culture, as well as the city of Kyoto, many students are also realizing: "I've got to get gifts for Mom or Dad or my sister or my best friend before I go home!"

For their last evening in Kyoto, many schools will be going to a "special" restaurant, or enjoying a celebration with karaoke. By the way, for the record, you might know this word by pronouncing it "kerry-oh-key" but, in fact, it should be pronounced "kah-rah-oh-keh." No matter how you pronounce it, though, you can spell it F-U-N!

This is our final issue for this tour group. Tomorrow morning, we'll acompany everyone to their flights, make sure they have their tickets and passports and luggage, and see that people actually board the correct planes!

It has been tremendously rewarding to travel and learn with you daughters, sons, and their teachers. And you, their parents, relatives and friends deserve a big pat on the back for making this journey possible. Please know that the students have taken a big step in the right direction, and you are to be commended for making it happen.

As we customarily do when we close our final issue of the study tour, the staff of The Laurasian Institution wants to say "Domo arigato gozaimasu!" to the families and friends of our students; to the teacher/chaperones who gave so much of themselves; to our funders, The Freeman Foundation and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership; and---last but not least---to our NP:J students.

To a wonderful and ongoing journey, wherever it may lead!