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| Sasaki Chinatsu (left) and Sayaka Tanako |
I was greeted at the airport by one of the show producers, Sasaki Chinatsu, and my personal interpreter, Sayaka Takano. I put my life in the hands of these wonderful women for the week I was there. I have never experienced anything like this- surrounded by people who do not speak English, and reliant on one person for all of my information. As a person who always likes to be in control, it was a humbling experience for me, and I was fortunate to have a well-educated, funny, and knowledgeable person to interpret what was going on and translate that information to me and my information to them.
Pasi Majasaari, highly regarded Elementary Principal from Finland, and I spent a lot of free time together and Sayaka was our guide through Tokyo, Kamakura, and Yokohama. His school is featured in a Michael Moore documentary that will be released this spring and has been nominated for an academy award. Probably not going to see Micahel Moore in Bancroft or Rosalie. I hope someday to visit his school located near Helsinki.
I learned a lot from Pasi and Sayaka and will remember my week as a Fantastic Researcher as a great personal learning experience that I will carry with me forever. Very much how I feel about the month I spent in Tanzania, you have to experience life and the world in order to appreciate it.
I included photos of the different foods during the week for those who are curious and a selfie standing in front of the Pacific Ocean. I was treated very well the entire time I was there, with good food and transportation to where I wanted to go. I added two Hard Rock Cafe glasses to my growing collection and bought two Hapi coats (used for festivals).
