Exchange Program Meeting

Japan short term exchange program student information meeting - Thursday 12/3 @ lunch

Japan short term exchange program parent information meeting - Thursday 12/10 @ 7pm

Travel Agencies

I've talked to Kintetsu International Express, a local Japanese travel company, and Willow Glen Travel.

1. Airfare prices go up after June 10. (updated 2/24 -- this is not true. Airfare goes up after June 3rd this year).

2. United is the only airlines fly non-stop from SFO to KIX, but only M, W, F. They are more restrict and less negotiable.

3. Alternatives - fly Japanese airlines and connect flight in Narita (Tokyo)

4. Airfare surcharge is not predictable and could be very high if the oil price sky rocks

5. Book tickets next February the earliest

6. Insurance is required by ND

Notre Notes Newsletter Fall 2009

Notre Notes Fall 2009 issue

Page 3

In the spring of 2009 Amy Huang, Notre Dame San Jose's Librarian, visited Seishin Junior and Senior High School in Kurashiki, Japan as part of the City of San Jose's Sister City Program. While in Japan Ms. Huang discussed establishing an ongoing student exchange program. "Notre Dame San Jose will be taking a group of students to Kurashiki, Japan in June 2010 for a visit (possibly 2 weeks). Students will stay with host families and attend classes at Notre Dame Seishin Senior High School where they will learn Japanese language and culture. Notre Dame San Jose is also looking at hosting students from our sister school in Japan, starting in June 2011." Amy Huang will accompany interested exchange students this summer.

Meeting with Mrs. Riley

I had a brief meeting with Mrs. Riley on Thursday November 12. There are the conclusions:

1) We are targeting at 5 or 6 students.

2) We will be meeting with Mr. Katahiro Tomie, the general manager at KIE/Kintetsu International to talk about the airfare.

3) We will provide a trip information night before the Christmas break.

4) I can use the documents that modern language department has for their Europe trip to help me create my own template. Mrs. Kussman sent me the minutes from their information night meeting. Mrs. Zambo shared her Cuernavaca chaperon experience.

Annoucement

In the faculty meeting on Thursday Nov. 5th (the day before the 8th grade day), Mrs. Riley asked me to briefly talk about the progress of the exchange program, so now the faculty knows that I am going to take students to Japan in June next year. After the meeting, several teachers told me it's great and very exciting.

I used Glogster, the website Mrs. Ahrens used for her 8th grade day class, to create interactive posters for the sample schedule of the exchange program. The two posters can be found on the top navigation bar of this blog. Just click "schedule" and you will be able to choose either the 13 days or the 18 days samples.

Follow up response

Ms. Yoshida responded to my inquiries yesterday.

1) Date: They are not able to set the dates and length of the trip yet because we and other sister schools need to go at the same time and they have not discussed it yet. It will be either 13 days or 18 days in early June.

2) Cost: She estimated the cost of the activities but not including the transportations. JR-PASS is suggested.

3) Host family : one student per host family.

4) They want to focus on one program at at time, so they won't send exchange students to the US before Summer 2011.

In my reply, I asked for the contact information of other sister schools that will visit Japan at the same time with us. I think their experience will help me be a better leader and chaperon. I really want this program to succeed.