Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Next Day

Today I had the opportunity to share with my colleagues the fact that I am now a "Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar." Everyone was very excited, especially my students!

My principal and I got the chance to talk about the trip for a short time this morning, and we're going to brainstorm gifts that I can bring with me to represent our school as I meet the principals of the schools I will visit in Japan. I want to be a good representative for our area, so I'm going to find appropriate gifts and information from my school to share with the elementary, middle and high school principals; something from my college to share with the administrators of the teacher's college we visit; a gift from my district to share with the superintendent of the prefecture we go to; and maybe something from my town to give to that prefecture's mayor. I don't know how I'll get it all sorted, made, packed or anything, I'm still too excited to think straight or to even write this blog! Yikes!


I had a meeting today with some parents and I wanted to share the news with them immediately!  They were pleased as well.  One the great things about being a participant in this program for 2008 is that it gives me the chance to share my experience with the group of kids who are in my class right now.  I will be looping with them up to fifth grade next year, so they will be the beneficiaries of the program I create as my follow-on plan.  

After lunch some friends dropped off balloons and a congratulatory sign that read "Congratulations Ralph-Sensei! You're Japan bound!" There was a picture of a samurai or something on it.  The kids thought it was great.  There were pictures taken and when I get copies I'll post them!

Sorry this post is so short, gotta go, my two-year-old is telling me that "Brian Secrets" is on TV and she's dragging me out of the chair.  

Sayonara!


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr. Ralph. Can my mom bring her Nintendo DS on the field trip?

Julimar W.

Ralph-Sensei said...

Hi Julimar, thanks for posting... we'll talk about the games systems after Spring Break.

Later

Ralph-Sensei

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr. Ralph,
I like blogging!!!!!
see you tomorrow for just about an hour!!!!!
bye!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Do you think that are class should take a fild trip to japan?Do you think that in the water fountens they have ramune in it in sted of water?Will you see if there is a new flaver that you never heard of?When are we going to see who is with who for the for the st. augustine?

trisha

Ralph-Sensei said...

Konban-wa!

Cayla, see you tomorrow for the class picture. Sorry you're not staying for the auction, but I know you'll have a good time with your family. Be safe next week!

Trisha, I do think it would be a great field trip for the class to go to Japan! It would be expensive though... the plane ticket alone costs about $1500. After that we'd need money for hotels, food, tours, transportation, and all of that can add up. Japan is known as the most expensive tourist destination in the world, so it may be out of our school's budget. I think St. Augustine is as far away as we'll get, unless you're really good at Scrabble! As far as Ramune in the water fountains, I think that would be awesome! The biggest souvenir I'd bring home would be my new cavities! Sounds delicious, but it's unlikely. I definitely will keep my eyes open for new Ramune flavors! As far as the St. Augustine rosters go, we'll talk about that after Spring Break!

Thanks for Blogging, my friends!

Sayonara!!

Ralph-Sensei said...

Sorry your comment didn't get on Alex, I saw it but for some reason it didn't post. We'll see if you spend money tomorrow my friend... there's some good stuff that I dpn't think even YOU would be able to resist!