The Fulbright Memorial Program (FMF) began 5 years ago sponsored by the government of Japan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Fulbright Program. The U.S. Fulbright Foundation sponsored over 6,000 Japanese students over three decades to complete higher education degrees in the United States. As a way to give thanks, the Japanese government initiated and funded the Fulbright Memorial Fund (FMF). Every year 600 educators and school administrators from all 50 states in the United States and the Dictrict of Columbia are selected to travel to Japan and immerse themselves in Japanese culture and traditions. One of the most paramount missions of any Fulbright participant, as it is well known, is to promote intercultural understanding and world peace. The 600- October 2001 participants in which I had the fortune to participate were chosen from a pool of over 2000 educators and departed to Japan a few days after the September 11 tragedy occurred.

     The program began in Tokyo where we toured the city’s main attractions and participated in lectures and group discussions with Japanese government officials. We attended cultural presentations and were given a first taste of  Japanese language and traditions. Then, the large-200-people-group divided into smaller subgroups of 20 participants. Each smaller group was assigned a Japanese prefecture (state) in which to spend 10 days of additional conferences, discussions, sightseeing and schools visits. In addition, one of the highlights of the visit was our home-stay weekend with a Japanese family.

     We regrouped in Tokyo during the last four days of the trip to summarize our findings and share with the rest of the October 2001 participants. The FMF program is administered by the Japan-United States Educational Commission (JUSEC) and the Institute for International Education (IIE). For more information you can call  1-888-527-2636.

     Through the years I have had the opportunity to visit many lands scattered in 4 continents of our global village. However, as an fmf participant, I have had the chance to explore a culture at a deeper level than what an ordinary tourist can see on any given summer trip. As FMF’s we have “lived” Japan’s culture from the moment we stayed with Japanese families and took short trips with them to the sharing with University professors, and the interviewing and interacting with school educators and K-12 students. We made friendships that will last a lifetime, gained new perspectives to live a healthier and happier life, and learned from an educational system that is constantly monitoring its shortcomings, modestly exposing its flaws, and not bragging on its accomplishments.  I thank FMF, JUSEC and IIE for having selected me to be part of fmf and for this unforgettable life-time experience!!!