Sayo-nara

I am so very thankful for this trip of a lifetime. I was deeply touched by the people of Japan who welcomed us with open arms. By nature the Japanese are a quiet and reserved people. That is, until you get to know them. They have a strong sense of humor and love to share a laugh. It was always easy to engage a stranger by asking to take a picture. They acted shy but they loved to pose for pictures. Children especially ran to have their pictures taken while giving the peace sign. I have come to deeply respect the people of Japan.


Even though life is hectic for the Japanese there is an order and purpose to their lives. The cities bustle with the hectic pace of the world, yet one can sense a feeling of calm and serenity in the daily activities. Cars respectfully negotiate heavy traffic, people walk the sidewalks always keeping to the left, and everyone, without exception, waits patiently for a green light before crossing the street. I never feared for my safety. Everywhere I went people were glad to help a lost visitor. When asked for directions the Japanese will walk with you until you are sure where you are going. The language barrier quickly was overcome with smiles and friendly chatter (even if neither party could understand the other).

In the end, it is nice to say that I climbed to the top of Tokyo Tower, that I enjoyed the beauty of the temples and shrines, and that I got to visit Japan. But really, when all is said and done it is the ties that bind us as human beings that are most important. Japan was about the smiles of children, the kindness of strangers and reaching out to someone who doesn't speak the same language. It was more than pristine cities and quiet countryside it was about the people who lived there. People who work hard, who love to laugh, and people who love their families. It is about making a connection to others and sharing what we have in common rather than looking at the things that make us different. It is about educating our children to respect others, to recognize the value in every human being and learning to live together in peace.


I WILL MISS...

hearing "Ohayo gazai-masu" (good morning)
the lights of Tokyo
the simple beauty of a Japanese garden
the hundred yen (dollar) store
Japanese weddings
navigating the subway system
the bullet train
crickets chirping
the children
my special friends from the Tajimi group
especially my host family in Tajimi

DOMO ARIGOTO GAZIMASU
Thank you Japan for sharing you heart with me.
Love,
Barbara Delaney

Winding up the Trip

After returning to Tokyo we knew that our adventure was coming to a close. We frantically shopped and tried to fit in as much sight-seeing as our hectic schedule would allow.

It was wonderful to experience a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. This ritual soothes the soul and reminds me of the importantance of taking a respite from the hectic pace of the world. When I sit and enjoy a cup of tea it will remind me of a time long ago when an afternoon tea was a treasured event.

We had time to enjoy a cruise down the Sumida River. For about six dollars this was one of the best values in Tokyo. The tour boat passes under twelve unique bridges. Beautiful buildings lined the river. The sun was beginning to set making the city glow with anticipation of the evening to come. Often we saw blue tents along the banks. This is where the homeless live. We were not allowed to ask about the plight of the homeless as this embarasses the Japanese. We are reminded that even where there is affluence and a strong economy, there are still those among us who do not have a home to call their own.

On the final day, a shopping expedition turned out to be better than I could have imagined. We had 3 hours before our evening event so we hurried to the subways for our last escapade. We got to our destination which was a 9 floor department store. I enjoyed the food floor where delights of every sort enticed the weary shoppers. On another floor I was on my own as I tried to buy a key drive for the computer. I had to explain what I wanted to several salesmen that did not speak any English. (I did get what I needed.) When we walked out to the street it was lightly raining and it was starting to get dark. What was so impressive were the bright lights that lit up the darkening night. This was Shinjuku. It was a throbbing part of the city filled with people coming home from work, shopping and going out for an evening. Every street beckoned us to follow the light. I was mesmorized. It was a fascinating adventure.

Back at the hotel it was our last night together. At the Sayonara Banquet we celebrated our experiencs of the last three weeks. It was a fitting farewell given by our most gracious Japanese hosts from the Fulbright Memorial Fund. They put a tremendous ammount of time and effort into making our entire stay run effeciently. They have made this trip possible to 600 teachers, every year since 1997. We are most appreciative of all that they have done for us. It is impossible to thank them properly.

Of course the evening was still young so we dashed to change clothes before hitting the town one last time. Our Tajimi group knew that no trip to Tokyo would be complete without a visit to a karaoke bar. You pay to use a room outfitted with a karoke t.v. and lots of microphones. We laughed a lot as we sang along to songs we all knew but were sung by Japanese artists. We also made up our own words to some traditional Japanese songs. It was really fun and a nice way to share our last hours as a group. Everyone in our Tajimi group was wonderful and made the trip very special. Each person had unique qualities that made our group what it was. I am going to miss each one of my new friends as they go back to their homes all over the country. We have promised to keep in touch and I truely hope that we do.

It wasn't easy stuffing all of our souveniers into the suitcases and hoping that we would still be within the allowable weight limit. Many people sacrificed clothes and other items to make room for cherished purchases. At ten the next morning the first buses left for the airport as we said sayanara to Tokyo and to Japan.


It has been a week since I have returned from Japan. I am still a little jet lagged but the excitement of the past month keeps me going. I have had some time to reflect on my trip and I am so very, very thankful for the opportunities that I had.


I am enjoying chances to share my experience with friends, family and my students. I am in the process of putting together a slide show. Learning how to do this is a painfully slow process but I am thankful for the expertise of my husband John. I hope to be able share my pictures with you all very soon.