Saturday night and still packing...

Greetings from Byram, New Jersey where I am frantically trying to get everything ready so that we can leave by 4 am for Newark airport. I am very thankful that John (my husband) is taking me and my friend Phyllis. (I met Phyllis though my travels with the Dodge foundation.) There's so much to think about between leaving my students for 3 weeks, being away from my home and family, and trying to anticipate my every need on the trip. I actually can't believe that I am sitting here on the computer when I really need to be packing.

I' m so excited. Tomorrow I fly to San Francisco where two hundred teachers will converge from all 50 states. I have been receiving e-mails from my fellow teachers for several weeks and it's good to know that we are all equally stressed! In San Francisco we will have our first orientation and a dinner in the evening. On Monday morning we leave for Tokyo on a nine hour flight. I think that's where I'll have to catch up on lost sleep.

I am so appreciative of all my family and friends who have wished me well and even gave me a bon voyage party. Anything that starts out with chocolate cake is destined for success!

I'll be writing as soon as I get access to a computer.

God Bless,

Barbara

luv u all! (BAD)

God Bless,