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Trip to Japan, 2003

Day 2, 2003/03/20

After a reasonable amount of sleep, given the circumstances, I awake to NPR radio reports, and manage to get myself showered, dressed, and downstairs in time to meet Rita for breakfast. (Terry is moving a bit slower and will meet us later.) We walk back across to the mall and find a bakery called Au Bon Pain that has lots of breakfast things for a very reasonable price, then head for the Japanese Information and Cultural Center, about two blocks north of our hotel.
It's raining...a lot; I'm glad I remembered to pack an umbrella.

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Everyone gathers in the auditorium; Terry arrives shortly after Rita and I and immediately spots her partner guests. As she heads towards them, we all quickly realize that we are recognizing each other from our pictures, and soon we have introduced ourselves to our own partners as well. We find seats and listen as paperwork is passed out and a few administrative items are discussed (including the fact that some of the Japanese partners did not get to come because of war concerns by their school boards, and at least one American partner is not here because a record-breaking snowstorm has closed the Denver airport). Bus assignments are listed, and we head out to walk around the corner to the Wyndham Center Hotel where our charter buses are waiting.
It's still raining, harder; umbrellas pop up all over.

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This is our getting-acquainted day; we are to learn about our partners and begin the process of creating a friendship bond. I quickly discover that, while Reiko, Akira, and Mamoru are still new to English, they are much farther along in it than I am in Japanese; Reiko, in particular, is getting very good very quickly. (This is a good thing. I resolve to study very, very hard when our primary Japanese lessons begin in April.) Our bus heads for the White House, but, contrary to the original schedule, we aren't going to get to go in; in fact, the closest they allow us to come is to the far edge of the park across from the White House, near the General Sherman statue. We get to watch as security with bomb-sniffing dogs search a large trash truck/dumpster, which has arrived to (presumedly) take out the White House trash, then walk over to an area that affords us a small glimpse (through the trees) of the building.
It's continuing to rain, and it's getting colder, too.

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Our next stop is the Jefferson Memorial, where Ed Jones and Migiwa Ishitani give a short description of Thomas Jefferson's achievements and describes his life-long commitment to education (the reason for choosing his memorial as a sight-seeing stop). Ed later steps in to help with translating as I attempt to explain to my partners the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (to explore the lands gained through the Louisiana Purchase).
Did I mention that it's raining? The puddles are getting bigger.

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Another stop is the Lincoln Memorial, and I indicate that, yes, our school is indeed named for this president. We also get to see the Korean War Memorial (new to me as well), and catch a glimpse of the Vietnam War Memorial; an unusual sight is the bottom of the reflecting pool, which has been drained to clean out diesel fuel that spilled from a tractor used during a protest by a farmer from North Carolina (he was protesting the lack of government support for tobacco farmers who are losing their livelihood). The farmer has finally been persuaded to leave late yesterday, and the pool was drained later.
(Not to worry, though: it's filling up rapidly, thanks to the continuing rains.)

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We drive by the U.S. Capitol building, but do not stop (it's closed, too), and head for the Smithsonian and the Museum of Natural History. Here we will leave the buses and continue our sight-seeing in small groups. This museum is open, but has mandatory bag checks at all entrances. My partners and I visit the Insect Zoo and check out one or two other small exhibits nearby, then head downstairs for lunch at the Atrium Cafe and some shopping in the Smithsonian gift shops. We then head back out into the rain and across the mall to the Smithsonian castle and the Air & Space Museum.

Security here is much tighter; essentially airport security all over again, with X-rays of bags and metal detectors. We get to see quite a bit of the museum, but then decide we are all getting rather tired and would like to head back to the hotel. Out into the rain - it's far too wet and cold to think about walking to the hotel (15 blocks or so), so we hail a taxi and ride back, heading for our rooms to dry out and rest a bit.
Our taxi driver mentions in passing that the roads around the tidal pool are now closed due to local flooding.

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We meet in the lobby at 6 PM (all three schools) and go over to Bertucci's, an Italian restaurant across the street. Much food and merriment: we are seated in three adjoining booths and spend time learning about each other's families and interests. Reiko, my partner, likes to read (as do I) and is rather good at pingpong; I explain that I like to sew and am interested in nature and history sights (Reiko enjoys gardens as well). Apparently the area around Komatsu is rich with both; I anticipate a busy summer.
Another day awaits us; it's time for bed. (Besides, it's much warmer and drier in the hotel than it is outside...)

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