| The international organization known as Rotary | | | | where people where boarding. We took off our |
| promotes yearly travel that all people between | | | | shoes, and both the American and Japanese GSE |
| the ages of 26 and 40, male and female, and of | | | | teams sat Japanese style in the boat - with Izumi, |
| all backgrounds - should know about - because it | | | | Mika and Hiroshi joining us. "Chi" - a toast of |
| is a Rotary-funded six week study aboard and | | | | champagne - the excitement of others settling |
| anyone can apply to be a part of this significant | | | | into their boats - flowers along the canal - a |
| life experience. If you are this age group - you | | | | beautiful arched bridge - bento boxes opening - |
| could enjoy the kind of experience that is | | | | Rotary spirit - Mr. and Mrs. Tachibana and the |
| described in my notes in this article. To find out | | | | other Governors settling in - the light changing - it |
| more about the program go to Rotary.org and | | | | doesn't get more beautiful. Monica was so swept |
| search for GSE - Group Study Exchange - and | | | | away by it all that she was close to tears - and |
| contact your local Rotary Club for more | | | | said that it was the best time that she knew. The |
| information. | | | | boats started to be steered away, one after |
| Our adventures continued: | | | | another, with the men and the big sticks. It was |
| April 17th - Sunday: | | | | fun to see the smiles go by - as a parade was |
| My GSE team is doing very well in Japan - they | | | | formed down the canal. The Japanese do things in |
| are generous and appreciative. I talk to them | | | | such a lovely manner - instead of taking a direct |
| about "making it up as we go along (same | | | | shot in the American way. The boats eased |
| guideline in my Rotary Club) - and just being | | | | through the waters, past generously flowering |
| gracious with all that they do. The hospitality of | | | | trees and the banks - Japanese flower gardens - |
| our hosts has been so enormous that when there | | | | and pulled up so that each boat was previewed. |
| is a glitch I invite them to go on to the next thing. | | | | Lots of faces were becoming familiar now. We |
| There is good spirit in the team - and Get This: | | | | glided under small and tight bridges - around the |
| They are blown away by this experience from | | | | bends - and then past a myriad of musical |
| Rotary. | | | | venues. On the canal were Tyco drummers, a |
| The Rotary District convention opened today with | | | | women's choir, kids with string instruments, a |
| a big assembly in the convention hall. It started | | | | group with the traditional Japanese long flat |
| with a blessing by three monks, and many spoke | | | | guitar-like instruments, and many more - making |
| in Japanese, including the Governor. When the RI | | | | beautiful sounds on the canal. We went under a |
| Representative spoke, Mika translated for me. I | | | | big sign for Rotary's 100 years - and a tent of |
| liked that he said that we are all in Rotary school | | | | paper dolls that others had made asking for good |
| (for 12 years) - and that the most important | | | | weather for the conference - and their wish was |
| thing was a connection of hearts - that this would | | | | granted. The boats circled around the last musical |
| do more than anything to solve the world's | | | | venue, a big stage on the canal, with a full band. |
| problems. He said that membership in Rotary has | | | | We were all surprised in our boat because we |
| declined by 15% in Japan, is up 30% in Korea - | | | | glided through the line of boats and were headed |
| and that more Rotary is needed in Russia and | | | | toward the stage. Like playful kids, we scurried |
| China. The audience was 95% men - so of course | | | | out of the boat (all of us) - and were escorted to |
| I'm thinking that a few women in Rotary here | | | | the stage - to dance and wave to the many |
| could help their membership - since I've only met | | | | boats in the canal. We've been honored as the |
| two Rotarian women so far. But then again, we | | | | GSE team, mentioned often, and enjoyed by the |
| could invite more Japanese in our District to | | | | Japanese Rotarians. It was beautiful to see all the |
| increase membership. | | | | lanterns on the boats in the dark and feel the fun. |
| This time we wear our "happi kimonos" and are | | | | Back in our boat, we were at the front of the line |
| seated near the stage - with the outbound | | | | (well taken care of as usual) - and a magnificent |
| Japanese team in front of us. We were invited to | | | | display of fireworks was set off in front of us. |
| the big stage - my team on the right of me and | | | | The Japanese fireworks were lower to the |
| the team leader and Japanese team on the left. | | | | ground on structures that they had built. Mr. |
| Izumi introduced us briefly - and then I spoke - | | | | Tachibana, the RI Representative and I stood in |
| saying that we were bringing greetings from our | | | | the middle of the bridge, with others, and waved |
| Rotary District Governor, thanking all and giving | | | | to each boat as it went through with "konnichiwa" |
| the example that I am a past president of my | | | | and "arigato". |
| Club. We all took hands - Japanese and American | | | | You might think that the evening was over - but |
| teams, and bowed for the audience. It was | | | | oh, no. The team (now a bit high with the drink |
| touching - and I did ok speaking my limited | | | | and play) - walked down the canal and a Japanese |
| Japanese in public. | | | | theater was set on the side with the mimes and |
| We had lunch with the Japanese team - and time | | | | Japanese masks. The boats continued to cruz by |
| to meet them individually. They are four men and | | | | to their finish. I stood at the hotel entrance to see |
| one woman as follows: Kenji Ogawa (Rotary | | | | that my team was all off to their respective host |
| team leader and specialist in wine), Akihiro Kuroki | | | | families - and turned to go when Chizuka invited |
| (one of the top three wine stewards in Japan!), | | | | me for more drinks - more?. She lead me down |
| Tamaki Oi (works for an environmental company, | | | | the opposite hall of the hotel (one was American |
| also a student of wine), Toshihiro Terada | | | | style) - and the other where we were going was |
| (systems engineer), Masayoshi Nagamatsu (civil | | | | Japanese style. As we entered the Japanese style |
| engineer) and Nobuyuki Tanaka (staff writer, city | | | | room with twelve or so tables full of people, and |
| news section). I think that we should call the | | | | more food, I was seated next to the Buddhist |
| return team the Group Study Wine Exchange - | | | | Monk, Kyoin Fujikawa - also a past Governor and |
| because their prime interest of study in America | | | | RI Training Leader. This was clearly the |
| is wine - and they would like to see Ridge, Bonnie | | | | after-party celebration and just as festive. |
| Dune, Silver Mountain and more. I asked them | | | | Looking around the room there was an altar wall, |
| each what they wanted to see and do in America | | | | and many many balls that hung in rows from the |
| - and it was all about wine. | | | | ceiling (lots of red and gold color). Mr. Tachibana |
| Our team headed back to the big house where I | | | | got up to speak, as did others, and I was asked |
| am staying - and thank you Antonio! - for getting | | | | to speak also. Kyoin, the monk, was the only one |
| the info out on our website about our trip - I can | | | | who spoke English and translated for me -and |
| just see Roy smiling back home. | | | | although I did not get an answer to my question, |
| 5PM rolled around and we gathered in the Hotel | | | | I was dying to know how one went from being a |
| Ohana lobby for the evening festivities. After a | | | | Buddhist Monk to being as important as he |
| short cab ride, we were at the dock on the Canal | | | | seemed to be in Rotary. As I spoke, I picked up |
| - with beautiful Venice-type boats and men with | | | | on the Governor's theme that we need to |
| long sticks to maneuver them - it was so | | | | connect world-wide with our hearts - and when |
| picturesque in the sparkling sunshine. We were | | | | you don't speak the language you are much more |
| about to board - but first they loaded dinner, and | | | | aware of that. We communicate with our hearts, |
| much to drink - I'm beginning to like this | | | | our expression and our laughter. All good. |
| champagne! The boats were one against another, | | | | This article is a series -- so read on -- and many |
| and perhaps 20 - and there were other locations | | | | days follow in our splendid adventure! |