San Francisco

What a day! I got up at 3:30AM to get ready for my 4:40AM cab ride to the airport.  I was still removing items from my luggage in order to avoid the $100.00 fee for having an overweight suitcase.  It's deceptive because the large suitcase can hold 60 or 70 pounds worth of clothing and personal items.  My backpack weighs more than my suitcase! I've got my laptop, digital video camera, digital camera, cell phone, and chargers all packed in the backpack.  I've always been a "no nonsense" traveler, but I didn't want to be in Japan and regret not having brought some important technology.

The Indy airport was surprisingly busy, but I got through my check-in with no problems.  My suitcase weighed 51.5 pounds AFTER I removed clothing, gifts, etc.  I didn't get charged the fee, though.  

At the airport I met Akeya who teaches 4th grade at an IPS school and Stacy who teaches Social Studies at Chatard  we took a picture to mark our new friendship!

I didn't sit with my JFMFers either on the flight from Indy to Denver or the Denver to San Fran flight, but we stayed together in the airports.

In San Fran we found Robin and a group of 10-15 JFMRers were already there and waiting for us.  We checked into the hotel, ate lunch, and received our 'bible' for the next few weeks.  Our booklet tells what to wear, when to get on the bus and what our daily itineraries are.

We had a wonderful orientation/welcome in the afternoon.  Former JFMFers talked about their follow on plans, and gave advice. In the evening we attended a reception/dinner at the Japanese Consul General's home.  It was lovely.  I tried the eel, salmon sushi, tuna sushi, California roll, egg roll.  They handed us wine as we entered the reception.  We took photos of the sunset over the Bay Bridge.