July 29 Meeting Notes

Here are the notes from the July 29 meeting:

• Only 11 days (now 10) until your partner arrives!
  
• It is time to purchase our tickets to Japan.  I have paid the deposit to hold our reservation at $1,575.  This price is a group price, thus we cannot split up our group with some of us disembarking at SFO and some of us continuing on to Monterey.  Sorry.
  
  We must pay for our tickets by check or cash on or before Tuesday, August 5.  To make thing easier for the agent, and to gain ourselves a little time, rather than each of us mailing a check to the agent in San Jose, I will collect fare payments beforehand and then deliver them all together on Tuesday.  So, please do the following:
  
  1.  Make a check out to IACE Travel for $1,575 (you might put your child's name in the memo line and Junior Wings).  Cash is OK, too.
  2.  Bring your check to the Friday or Saturday events or to my home by 9:45 AM, Tuesday, August 5.  I will leave for San Jose right after our event at MPC (see below for event details). I will give you your receipt from the travel agent at our general meeting that evening.
  
  Our itinerary is:
  
  Thursday, Oct 2  05:40AM-06:24AM  MRY > SFO  Flight UA 6346
  Thursday, Oct 2  11:10AM-15:00PM (next day) SFO > KIX (Kansai International Airport near Osaka) Flight UA 35
  Sunday, Oct 12  16:45PM-10:40AM  KIX > SFO Flight UA 34

• For general reference, the current yen/dollar exchange rate is 101 yen/dollar.
  
• Tea Ceremony on Friday, August 1.  Meet at the Russells at 1:00PM.  We will leave by 1:15, returning about 2:45-3:00.  After we return, we will walk to Monterey High School to Room 28 where we will create a masterpiece of a Welcome Banner.  We will end at 5:30.  Students should be picked up from Room 28.  If you cannot make it by 5:30, please call me at 831-601-1592.  I will take any students remaining after 5:30 home with me where they can be picked up there.
  
• San Jose Field Trip on Saturday, August 2.  Meet at the Russells at 10:00AM.  Return about 4:30.  We will visit the following locations:

• 11:15-12:30 Japantown: 193 Jackson Street, San Jose
• 12:45-1:45  Mitsuwa Marketplace (Strawberry Plaza): : 675 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose
• 2:00-3:00   Ringer Hut Restaurant: 1072 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose

• Meet and Greet Osaka Students at MPC.  Tuesday, August 5, tentatively 10:00-11:00 (precise time and location to be confirmed).
  
• Welcome Party (as previously discussed)
  
• Speeches
• Welcome Party: Angelo
• Colton: Umberto
• Farewell Party: Kelsey

• Kayaking, Sunday, August 10.  Meet at 9:15AM at Monterey Bay Kayaks.  Bring waivers to Welcome Party.  Come dressed in your swimsuit under your clothes.  Also bring a towel.  We will be done by 12:00.
  
• Carmel Beach Picnic, Sunday, August 10, 5:00 to beach close (10:00PM).
  
• Homework is to brainstorm ideas of what to do with your partner and how to make them as comfortable as possible during their stay.  Remember, your activities don't have to be complex or extravagant.  Simple things like playing games, taking a walk, or baking cookies, pizza or even popcorn can be a lot of fun.  See the presentation for ideas or talk with your friends.  The important thing is to be together!