Messages+to+Participants

The following are messages to Participants
(2/15/11) Dean, Thank you so much for the CDs of our trip. I have several presentations to give this spring on our trip and they will be very helpful. To all participants, hope your school year is going well. Robin

(1/2/2011) Is there anyway I can get a copy of the photos that was distributed at the reunion? I will gladly pay for postage or any costs associated with the production. Thanks, Robin Pigg 662-324-0902
 * Photos** from Dean

(12/31/10) Happy New Year! Traveling with you was certainly the high light of 2010 for me! I hope you have had a great school year so far sharing your experiences with students and colleagues. Hope the new calendar year will bring you new and enriching adventures. Jim

(10/18/10) Hey Steve. This is Dean. I never posted my shots to Shutterfly. There were six hundred and I just couldn't deal with the download time! I've got your address, so I'll be sure to mail you a set. Everyone at the reunion got them. If anyone else from the Mississippi delegation still wants a set, please let me know. Several folks offered to take copies to others, but I kind of lost track of who was getting a set and who wasn't. It was great seeing (almost) everyone again! ...Dean

(10/18/2010) Where do we see Dean's and others pictures from Japan; I finally got back into this site and do not see where the pictures are; Shutterfly is blocked at my school. Sorry I could not make the reunion this past weekend. Hope all are doing well. Thanks, Steven White

(10/17/10) **Reunion and Afte**r (Jim) Thanks to Becky for making the logistical arrangements (food, etc.) for our gathering. Thanks to Linda for providing us a place to chill and chat yesterday afternoon. I had a great time. It reminded me of the wonderful experiences I had with our group in July. You guys are the BEST!

(10/5/10) **Reunion (Jim)** Reunion plans are as follows:
 * Friday Oct. 15:** Early arrivals check into motel (contact Becky soon for reservations; SCCTA will pay for it if you give us time to make the reservation; you may be asked to share a room like "old times."). **7:30 pm** dessert gathering at Leavell house (3 Norwich Dr., Greenville, SC; Home TEL: (864) 233-1640, CELL (864) 414-2363). Please RSVP to me by email [jim.leavell@furman.edu] so we can be sure to have adequate "calories" available. I will "show and tell" regarding Japanese "stuff" Judy and I have collected over the years.I may have a video ready of some of our trip. Cannot promise this yet. Party ends when people say "enough is enough."
 * Saturday Oct. 16**: Gather at **9:30 am** in Asian Studies Departmental lounge for light "calories." **10:00 am** view film on reconstruction of Japanese temple ("Place of Peace"). **10:30 am** walk through Furman's Asian garden with review of principles of garden design we observed in Japan. **11:15 am** tour Japanese temple ("Place of Peace") with review of temple design and symbolism. **11: 45 am** brief introduction to meditation techniques from the Buddhist perspective (no whacking with a stick, I promise). **12:15 pm** depart campus for Linda Anderson's home for lunch followed by "sharing." I will ask which of your trip stories has been best received by your friends and students. I will ask you to share any specific lesson plans for "value added" classroom experiences you anticipate providing your students as a result of the trip. Dean will have some photos to show. Hope you have sent him your top ten favorites to be added to his collection. I trust other topics will emerge as the session proceeds. I anticipate our breaking up by **4:00 pm or earlier** if you exhaust yourselves. For those lingering overnight, an expedition into the nightlife of downtown Greenville will be recommended.

(07/23/10) Jim Many thanks to Lindsey for her proactive move on the pictures. I felt terrible for two days, but by the third I was much better. Hope you have all recovered by this point. Farley is still wandering around in Asia. I have written to the tour company in praise of Keiko and "Amy." I gathered you all agreed they were wonderful guides for our experience. Look forward to reading your updates and seeing your photos.

(07/20/10): **Picture Website (from Lindsey)**: I set up a picture website for the group on Shutterfly. I chose Shutterfly because its free, is not blocked on my school network, has unlimited photo space, and does not delete photos after a certain amount of time. To log in, go to [|www.shutterfly.com]. There is also a neat iPhone app. Name: japanncta@yahoo.com Password: japan To add photos, click on the My Pictures on the toolbar at the top. Go to "New Folder" and create a folder with your name on it. You'll see one titled "Lindsey Cafarella's Photos" as an example. In your folder, you can create as many albums as you want. I'll probably separate mine into days (Day 1, Day 2, etc) and have a special folder for pictures of people. However, I took a really embarrasing amount of photos, so it'll take a little while for all of mine to be up.

Finally, a word about photos and social networking. I set these pictures to be private (meaning only those with the login information can see them). You can post anything crazy on here, and nobody else will see it. I probably don't have to say the next thing, but just in case: //I hope that you will be very discriminating when posting pictures of other people to other photo sites, blogs, and social networking sites like Facebook.// Teachers can get fired for all kinds of ridiculous stuff online these days, so if you're not sure if somebody wants it posted to sites besides Shutterfly, please ask first or just don't post it.

(6/29/10) A word from Farley: I'm sure we all wish Jim well on his trip to Japan in advance of our own travels. Those of you who are flying from Atlanta, please check in the Delta counter first, then meet me below the clock in the Atrium in the center of the terminal at 11am, Friday, July 9. I will wait there until 11:30 and then those of us who have gathered will go through security and venture to the gate. Given how hectic security can be I like to get to the gate early. Please take reading material and your listening devices to ease the wait for departure at 1:35!!! Contact me by e-mail at richmond@uga.edu to let me know if you will or will NOT be there for this initial meeting. 6/29/10) **Sayonara:** Going forward from this time if you have concerns about the trip please direct them to either Farley Richmond or Howard Simth. See you all in Tokyo. It is my hope you are all going to have a wonderful experience. Jim

(6/28/10) **Athens Visit**: Farley and I had a good visit with three of our tour participants today. Walking around in the Georgia heat and humidity was good training for our Japan trip. Photographs were beautiful. Food was tasty. I learned to my dismay that I had sent a copy of one of the CHINASMITH hotel bills to all of you. I hope none of you sent more money to Howard. Sorry about that. The slip on my part took place during the intense South Carolina NCTA seminar during which I was very sick (nothing contagious) most of the time. Thinking clearly was not one of my better skills--obviously. I am healing much more slowly than I anticipated given the nice antibiotics I have been given. I see the doctor one more time tomorrow morning and then I am off to Japan. At this rate of recovery it looks like I will be popping pills most of our trip. As I hope the seminar gang and the Athens gang will testify, I am able to "soldier on." I expect you to have read the wiki material throughly-- particularly the announcements and sage advice. I am not above saying "I told you so" where logistical suggestions are concerned (content I will be happy to repeat). The DEATH OF 1,000 CUTS to anyone who shows up with two large suitcases. My study of historical Chinese and Japanese torture methods will be demonstrated for all. Nothing better than a "lab" session to make a strong impression. We all know it makes the abstract far more memorable. See you in Tokyo!

(6/21/10) **Hotel Information from CHINASMITH:** Tokyo (July 10-13) Park Hotel Tokyo Shiodome Media Tower 1-7-1 Higashi Shimbashi Minato-ku Tokyo 105-7227, Japan Phone: 81 (3) 6252-1111 Fax: 81 (3) 6252-1001

Nara (July 13-15) Ryokan Nanto 29,Kami-sanjo-ch Nara City, Nara Prefecture 603-8228 Phone: 81 (0742) 22-3497 Fax: 81 (0742) 23-0882

Kyoto (July 15-19) Kyoto Kokusai Hotel Horikawadori Nijojomae Nakagyo-ku Kyoto 604-8502, Japan Phone: 81 (075) 222-1111 Fax: 81 (O75) 231- 9381

6/21/10) **Follow up on Research Projects:** I hope you are spending some time looking at the research projects our group has provided. I want to encourage you to take some notes so that you will better appreciate these sites as we visit them. The projects are likely to be of even greater value to us all following the tour. After we return from our study tour it is my expectation that each of you will add an addition to your research project containing some of your own photographs and your personal reflections about your site in light of your visit there. We do not have funding to bring us all together for a "reunion" meeting which is unfortunate. We are going to have to use our wikisite to help each other "process" the tour experience which believe me is going to become a blur all too soon after we return.

(6/18/10) **Another Itinerary Guide**: I have just placed "Day 6 Leavell's Nara Death March" itinerary guide on the "Download" page. I had planned to give you one for every day, but it appears that day #3 and day #4 (in Tokyo) will not be provided. I have simply run out of time. My life now moves on to the intensive South Carolina NCTA seminar.

(Jim 6/14/10) **Itinerary Guides** You will notice on the "Download" page that there are several "Leavell itinerary guides" available for you as promised. There are three that are unfinished, but I wanted to get those that are ready, up and available to those of you who are headed off to China ahead of the rest of us. I will try to finish the remaining three by the end of the week, but I realize that will be too late for you China folk. These essays represent what I would like to say to you on-site, but for reasons I have already explained elsewhere, I may be unable to "stand and deliver." I do anticipate giving each of you a chance to comment on YOUR site when the time comes. It is my hope that like your research projects, these itinerary guides will serve to prepare you to see the sites as well as serve as reference material when you get back home and cannot remember what we did on the 5th day. Trust me. It is a common problem.

(Jim 6/13/10) **Money in East Asia**: I recommend that you all go to Asia (regardless of where) armed with an ATM card. For those of you going to China and Vietnam I believe I would take about US $100 in cash in small bills. Traveler's checks are not convenient and many places now refuse to cash them. For big purchases in major retail stores aimed at selling to tourists, I have used a Visa Card in China, Vietnam and Japan with no trouble. I have no recent experience in Korea. Outside tourist stores Japanese will expect Japanese money. **It is a good idea to inform your credit card company that you are going overseas and expect to use your card there. If not, the company may stop payments for fear your card has been stolen since you do not regularly travel in East Asia.**

(Jim 6/13/10) **Arrival in Japan**: When you arrive at Narita, you will first go through passport control. Keep in mind that you are a TOURIST. As far as the officials are concerned you are on vacation. Since you are staying for only about two weeks, you do not need a Japanese visa. (People coming to Japan to study must have a special visa.) The officer will stamp your passport with a cool stamp. You next get your luggage. There are customs officials who may ask you some questions, but none of you will have any difficulty. Once through Customs you will go through some doors leading into a large lobby. There is a restraining railing there holding back what may be a large number of greeters. Look for a CHINASMITH representative. They may be holding some kind of sign saying "NCTA," but maybe not. Try to stay together. If the tour company rep is not there immediately, group your luggage together and be sure a couple of people are watching it carefully while you go to the restroom or change money. Farley has been told by CHINASMITH that there are going to be two escorted groups going down town to the hotel. Since we are arriving at various times, it may mean that some of you will have what I hope is a brief wait as your "transfer group" is assembled. You will be tired and deserve to be grumpy. Try to enjoy the moment. You are finally in Japan. If you check out Narita International Airport on Google Earth you will notice that it is well east of Tokyo and in Chiba Prefecture. My guess is that you will be escorted downtown by train (about 2 hrs. ride). It is remotely possible that there will be enough of you at one time to have justified the tour company hiring a bus. Be prepared for either train or bus. I have not been told of this plan. I anticipate meeting you when you arrive at the hotel. It is my intention to take the early arrival group (mostly those coming directly from the U.S.) on a train/subway/walking adventure to the Ginza. This is designed to assist you in staying up until Tokyo bedtime. If it is pouring rain, we may just do jumping jacks in the hotel lobby.

(Jim 6/12/10) **Emergency contact info**: I have spent the day re-reading your application essays and entering information into a data base. Some of you still need to provide me with "emergency contact" information. Who do I call if something really exciting happens to you?

(Jim 6/12/10) **Japanese geography:** The application essays reminded me that a number of you are geographers. If you have not done so already, I would suggest it might be fun for you to walk through our Japanese itinerary on Google Earth. I often use this tool in class to wow my students (first time only). I start with the Furman campus and call upon the computer program to zoom us around the world and home in on a place like Horyu-ji temple south of Nara. As you know, you can see the cars in the parking lot. Google Earth will give you an appreciation for the distances we will travel and the topography of the environment where our sites exist. This is particularly significant for the Kyoto and Nara areas.

(Jim 6/12/10) **Research Projects:** Thank you all for the work you have done for the group. The very best preparation you can now do for enjoying the itinerary we have ahead is to go through everyone's research project. These are the specific places we will see. Soon I will post my own "guidebook" to supplement information you have in the research projects. Blending the two for your own use will be helpful. In the past tour participants have printed these materials or have down loaded them to electronic devices like iPods so they could review while on the trip. Not a bad idea. (If anyone shows up with an iPad, I am going to be unpleasantly jealous. I suggest you keep it hidden from me.)

(Jim 6/12/10) **Photo Shot List & Classroom Questions:** You are going to be amazed how overwhelming the tour experience is going to be. Physical and mental fatigue plus sensory overload often paralyze travelers. You stand on the street and just go "wow!" That is one aspect of culture shock. As I have said often during the last several months, the best way to combat this will be careful preparation. Now that your assigned research project is finished, let me urge you to pull out the textbooks you use in teaching, flip through the pages on Japan, and begin to make lists of things you want to use in your class when you get back home. Jot down lists of events, people and places mentioned in the text. Be ready to focus on those when you hear them mentioned as we travel. Be ready to ask questions of me or Farley if you do NOT hear them mentioned. An afternoon in the county library looking at old National Geographic articles or picture books will help sharpen your photographic eye. Surf the web. Work on your shot list. Having clearly in mind what you are looking for will be a great help. Are there questions your students will ask? Be ready to gather material. Get your question list ready. Enlarge your "cup." Preparation is one-third of the fun. Don't miss out. Don't allow concerns over logistical issues absorb all your energy.

(Jim 6/12/10) **Farley, Jim, and Japanese Guides**: I trust my stress on "mental preparation" which you have read above is logical and rather obvious. However, there are reasons for this emphasis that may not be so evident. Allow me to share with you some practicalities of touring. In part I am stressing preparation and will be providing you with my written thoughts on the sites we will see because I am never sure I will really have the chance to do so "on the ground." Why is this so? In the first place, when we arrive at a site, say the famous rock garden at Ryoan-ji, there will be crowds of other people there. The space will be small. We are a large group. It will sometimes be physically difficult for me or Farley to say much in a formal way on site. Secondly, I think you are going to want the opportunity to experience the site yourself. This is particularly true if you have done your homework. I want to respect that within the limits of our being a group and my need to move us along to see other things during the same day. Thirdly, and this is the most unpredictable and sensitive of the reasons, Farley and I will need to be alert to what our Japanese guide wants to say. This is an issue of courtesy and "face." My guides in Japan have always been lovely human beings. They will be YOUR only genuinely personal contact with actual Japanese people. I urge you to get to know them. Farley and I are on the tour to be academic resources for you. You are all teachers. You know what a delight it is to have class members who want to discuss the material. We welcome your questions. We are there to help you get the most out of the experience. (However, I must confess to you up front that I personally will be almost useless should you have questions about shopping.)

(Jim 6/11/10) **Liability Form:** This request has just come to me from Karen Kane. I am passing it on to you. Please download (on the "Downloads" page), sign, and mail the "Liability Form" to Becky Duckett (Department of Asian Studies, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613) by Friday, June 18. Karen wants me to bundle these and send them to her.

(Jim/11/10) **Tip Money** (reminder): Please send me a personal check for $100 to cover the tip expenses. Deadline: Friday, June 18. Make the check out to "James B. Leavell." On the "Purpose line" write "Tips for Japan #1." My address is as follows: Jim Leavell, 3 Norwich Dr., Greenville, SC 29609. This will allow me to deposit the money in an account here in the U.S. and then draw the money as needed in Japanese currency from an ATM in Japan. Unlike in other Asian countries, Japanese are not delighted to get U.S. dollar cash.

(Jim 6/09/10) **Special request of South Carolina participants:**
 * I want to encourage you to submit a panel or workshop proposal for the SCCSS (South Carolina Council for Social Studies) conference next fall. It meets over the weekend of October 21-23 in Myrtle Beach. Please use the "Discussion" feature on this page to respond to this request and share ideas about what might be proposed.
 * For direct information see .

(Jim 6/1/10 from Germany) **General** I am delighted to see the work you are doing on your projects. I hope that you are getting excited about our overseas study together. Forgive me for a personal update. On Memorial Day I visited an Allied grave yard here in Southern Germany. These young men died just days before the war ended. Today I will visit the Eagle's Nest and learn more about Hitler. Last week I spent a day at Dachau. Bavaria (Munich) is the geographical center of Hitler's rise to power. We will all visit Hiroshima together in a few weeks. I am getting a heavy dose of WW II. Hitler was at war against large groups within his own population as well as most of the rest of the world powers. Japan did not have these internal struggles, thus no extermination camps. There are significant differences (and similarities) between these two WW II "allies." More about this when we visit Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and Hiroshima.

(Jim 5/12/10) **Optional group trip to Athens, GA**
 * Farley has invited us to Athens, GA to view a special photographic exhibition on Japan that will begin showing on June 14. Farley suggests that those who can may gather at 10:00 AM on Monday, June 28 at "THE ARCHES," a noted gateway to the University of Georgia campus. Those who can make it will have a chance to "meet and greet" before we walk over to see the exhibit which contains photos of places we will visit on our trip. We will all have lunch together (Dutch treat)-- hopefully at a place that will allow us to practice our chopstick skills.
 * I am assuming that a trip to Athens for those of you from Mississippi will be much too inconvenient to even consider this. It is also the case that several of you in our Japan #1 group will have already flown off to China by June 28, so clearly, Farley and I are not expecting this to be a gathering of the whole group. I do hope that several of you will join us so we can get to know you better before the whole gang arrives in Tokyo.
 * Those of you from Georgia might alert Farley to your plans (RSVP). I would like to suggest that those of you near the Furman campus might arrange to meet me there so we can carpool together. I have a truck that will take three (four if my wife desides not to join the expedition).
 * Farley says there is a parking lot across from the Athens City Hall where he suggests we locate our vehicles. That would put us about a block from the "Arches."
 * Block out Monday, June 28 if at all possible. It will be a good chance for you to get to know others on our trip and ask some last minute questions.

(Jim 5/8/10) **Leavell's Schedule up to departure:** I want to alert you to my personal schedule so that hopefully you will not be frustrated by periods when I am not responsive to your questions May 14 I leave on a three-week overseas trip planned long before our study tour was organized. I am not at all sure what kind of email arrangement, if any, I will have during that period. I will return June 4. From June 4-June 19 I will be doing my final preparations for our study tour and also preparing for the intensive (45-hour) South Carolina NCTA seminar held at Furman beginning June 19. From June 19 until June 25 I will be leading a “forced march” through Chinese and Japanese history. Each day will consist of three 3-hour instructional sessions (morning, afternoon, evening). I will be completely focused on helping our group of 20 South Carolina teachers survive these six days of rigorous data exposure. Several of you on our study tour are veterans of this experience. At the conclusion of the seminar I will have only four days before I board a flight for Osaka. Four of you will already have departed for China several days before this. I hope this gives you an idea of the “windows of time” I will most likely be able to be responsive to your questions. We have a deadline for your research projects. I will be trying to give attention to your materials as you post them between now and then. Several of you have already done considerable work on this. At this point my main concern is gathering **administrative data** which is tedious to manage on my end so I hope you will not be waiting much longer to provide it. 1) flight information posted on wiki 2) Mug shot for my records 3) Emergency contact information 4) Clear xerox (not too dark) copy of your passport picture page to be mailed to Becky Duckett.

(Jim 5/6/10) Please check the discussion board on the "Research Projects" page for an explanation of why you might be encountering various spellings of the same Japanese word.

(Jim 5/1/10) I am setting **Friday, June 11** as the **deadline** for us all to have our **research projects** finished and posted. The project assignments have several purposes. 1) I hope your specific study will give you a deeper sense of anticipation as we visit YOUR site. 2) I hope your research into your assignment will serve as the foundation of a teaching unit or presentation upon your return to the U.S.. 3) Your work will be shared with other members of the group and assist them in anticipating and appreciating your site. It is this last purpose that suggests we all need to have posted our research findings as early as June 11 to give time for other group members to process the over twenty projects being produced.

(Jim 4/28/10) **Confirmation Numbers & flight information from CHINASMITH** [The following message is from Howard Smith CHINASMITH) //The initial flight details for the NCTA programs was sent as information to allow for individual travelers to arrange connecting flights to the Gateway Cities// //No tickets have been issued for individual participants.// //When the tickets are issued, confirmations will be sent by email and there will be time to select seating preferences.// //Departures for NCTA programs are sequentially: Korea, China, Japan & Vietnam.// //The Korea participants and most of the China participants will have their tickets issued this week.// //The balance of the China tickets and most of the Japan tickets will be issued next week.// //The balance of the Japan tickets and Vietnam will be issued in the week starting May 10.// //The advice to confirm seats// **//now//** //was a little early. We will send confirmations as the tickets are issued.//

(Jim 4/27/10) Flight Confirmation Numbers: Several of you have indicated that your ticket information did not include a confirmation #-- the number necessary for you to make any changes in your seat assignments. The only source I know of for this information is Howard Smith at CHINASMITH.

(Jim 4/26/10) **Copies of passport picture page**
 * Please send me at your earliest convenience **two xerox copies of the picture page of your passport**. While you are at it, make three extra copies for yourself.
 * One copy will go with me to Japan (I will destroy these copies upon my return to the U.S.).
 * One copy will be sent to my co-director, Farley Richmond who will destroy his copies upon his departure from Osaka.
 * Three copies should be kept by you.
 * 1) Leave one at home with a friend or family member who is going to be the "go-to" person who knows about your trip, your itinerary, and other personal information. You need to email to me the name and contact information [phone(s)] regarding your "go-to" person so I, or Farley will be able to contact them immediately should there be an emergency of any sort.
 * 2) Take two with you on the trip and place them in locations from which you can retrieve them easily (not with the passport itself). If your passport is lost or stolen, this xerox copy will significantly speed the replacement process (without which you cannot leave Japan). It would do well to carry with you (not with your passport) two passport photos. Having them in hand will also speed the replacement process.
 * Please snail mail your two xerox copies to:
 * Jim Leavell
 * % Becky Duckett
 * Department of Asian Studies
 * Furman University
 * Greenville, SC 29613
 * Furman University
 * Greenville, SC 29613

(Jim 4/26/10) **Changing your flight seat assignmen**t:
 * If you have ever experienced a long distance airplane flight, you know the potential pain of an inconvenient seat assignment.
 * At the bottom of the "Flight Schedules" page are suggestions as to how you can see the seat assigned to you by the CHINASMITH travel agency and change it if you move quickly while there are still some open options. These comments below represent all I know about this process. Hope it works for some of you.
 * My personal preference is for an aisle seat that allows me to get in and out without crawling over other people. The very back row or one that backs up against a bulkhead will not recline. Bad news if you try to sleep.
 * Exit seats offer the most leg room, but no tray tables (separate ones are attached at meal time) and no place to put your "stuff" either above or under your seat. You can always "steal" space in the overhead bin somewhere nearby. I am told it also get cold in these exit seats. I do not think there is much room in the seat immediately next to the door due to the bulge caused by the door mechanism and inflatable slide. If you attempt to get an exit seat, try for an aisle exit seat. A further inconvenience for the leg-rooom-friendly exit seats is the fact that they are immediately next to a galley or restroom. This is noisy and people are standing over you much of the flight as they line up for the restroom. It is also difficult to see the movie from these seats.
 * In reality, First Class seats (observation only) are the only ones that provide all the comforts we would all dearly love to have on a long flight.

(Jim 4/21/10) We are beginning to receive flight information from CHINASMITH. Please notice I have added another page to our wiki called **"Flight Schedules."** Open this page from the menu in the light green column on the left. When you receive your flight information from CHINASMITH, please add your information to the spread sheets (several) on this page. Read carefully the instructions at the top of the "Flight Schedules" page regarding how to enter your information. Again, when you complete your travel arrangements to the the U.S. "Gateway City," please add that information to the spread sheets as well.

=
Please discuss your travel plans and health with your own medical doctor and/or consult the Centers for Disease Control for information on recommended preparations for the country/countries you are visiting. (I usually get my annual check up before each trip to Asia and ask my doctor for prescriptions for useful medications such as Cypro (an antibiotic) and Lomotil (for diarrhea). We recommend you are up-to-date on your vaccinations such as tetanus. Immunizations against Hepatitis A and H1N1 are highly recommended. We will be traveling in major urban areas with international health facilities should any problem arise. Bring your regular medications with you on the plane in your carry-on, but also bring the generic name of each product. Extra contacts or glasses are also a good idea."======

(Jim 4/20/10) We are preparing for the trip of a lifetime. A word of caution for those of you who do not walk at least two miles each day. Japan is a walking country. It is one of the reasons (plus diet) you will see very few overweight people there. We will be walking a great deal each day (and often climbing hills) in very high humid heat. I strongly advise us all to **begin a conditioning program**. I will be carrying my cameras, water, other items each day so my conditioning will need to include hefting some extra weight plus my own bulk. You do not want to be exhausted and unable to enjoy this opportunity. Put in some preparation miles. I am taking this as an opportunity to lose some weight I have added during the last year. We all know this is not achieved in a short period. We are going to have to commit some time to this conditioning process to be at our peak upon arrival in Tokyo.

(Jim 4/20/10) THIS MESSAGE WAS POSTED BY KAREN KANE ON OUR AIC SITE: "Hi. Chinasmith, our travel agent, is sending individual emails to everyone with their **flight information and gateway city**. Everyone should receive this information by tomorrow night. Karen"

(Jim 4/12/10) Please notice that materials have been uploaded to "Resources" page. (Jim 4/12/10) With regard to HOW you will receive word about your flights to and from Asia: Howard Simth, our travel agent, writes: " keeping all the variables in mind, we have every traveler for the NCTA programs this summer in a data base. When the flight details fall into place, each person will receive by email an individual summary of what is confirmed for their travel. Most of these will be sent out this week."

(Jim 4/9/10) **Overseas Travel Arrangements**: I have just received a notice from NCTA Columbia U. telling me that our travel agent (ChinaSmith) is ready to begin purchasing tickets. 1) Farley and I have no role in the overseas travel arrangements. These are being handled completely by Karen Kane (NCTA Columbia University) and her good friend Howard Smith who is the travel agent (ChinaSmith). 2) Recently, I asked that information about your individual travel requests be sent to me from the NCTA Columbia office. I was told it was just too much of a burden for them to manage without extra clerical assistance. I sincerely believe this to be the case. This means I will have to depend on you, the participants, to keep me informed. To maintain my sanity, I need to be aware of the arrangements you are making with Kane and Smith so that Farley and I will know when & where to expect to see you and when you will leave our direct "care." Please copy me (Jim Leavell) on your travel arrangements as they develop.

(Jim 3/26/10) Please notice that long **orientation essays** from Jim, Farley, and Karen Kane (NCTA travel coordinator) have been moved to the "Administration" page. We hope to use this page for short announcements.

(Jim 4/3/10) **Communication from NCTA headquarters**: Two issues have been raised by participants -- **1) Should participants have received snail mail confirmation of their places on the trips?** //__I do not know when these letters will be sent to you. If you have sent in your requested "co-payment" for the trip(s), I see no reason why you should not consider yourself "good to go" on the trips to which you have been assigned. It is my assumption that the mechanics of sending out letters to several hundred participants has overwhelmed our folks at NCTA headquarters at Columbia University. Please let me know as soon as you get this confirmation which I am confident will be sent to you eventually.__// **2) What will be our departure city for our trip to Japan?** //__I do not know as yet. I will make an announcement of that information on this wiki page as soon as I receive that information. All of this information goes from the travel agent, through Karen Kane (NCTA headquarters) down to us. You may actually learn about this before either Farley or I receive the info.__//

(Jim 4/4/10) **Packing Lists:** Please look under a new menu heading ("Packing") in the green panel on the left for a pair of suggested Japan packing lists for ladies.