THURSday (木)

Greetings friends & family... there is so much to tell, but not enough time. Here's the quick version of the past 3 weeks.

Week of May 20-24

• 3rd orientation session with first year students about Window on Willamette - Study Tour
• Attending and leading the Seminar Group that I was in charge of chaperoning (Kind of a nightmare... There is more to the story that I won't divulge here.)
• Student & Faculty interviews regarding the WOW Study Tour

Week of May 27-June 1

• Monday - 9 hour flight with 120 students to Portland, Oregon + 1 hour bus ride to Salem!!! Orientation Meeting, mac & cheese dinner, overwhelming feelings & emotions of being back in Oregon on a work trip and wanting to see friends... Went to eat Mexican food for dinner and it was divine...
• Tuesday - Walk this way... Walking all over Downtown Salem and Willamette Campus!!!  Quick trip up to Portland (Thai food & Papa Hydn) & was pulled over for swerving between lanes because I was falling asleep. Thank goodness I was pulled over because it woke me up! Catching up with Gwen, Char & Eric~
• Wednesday - Sports Activities Day! Frisbee, flag football, and basketball.  Saw 2 ASP students. yipee! Went on a tour of the Capitol Building.  Ran errands around Salem. Spent way too much money, but it was worth it. haha.  Had ribs for dinner and went to watch The Great Gatsby. Somehow stayed awake throughout the movie~ pure joy. Felt alive again.
• Thursday - Zena Farm Forest trip~ Luckily it didn't rain too much, and the sun decided to make an appearance.  Walked to the Riverfront Carousel and had a picnic in the park.  Went shopping in Salem Center Mall with one of my students. Returned back to campus and started packing.  BBQ farewell dinner. Many TIUA staff and faculty were there. I saw 2 other ASP students. It was a joyous reunion.  Bittersweet moment to say hello/goodbye.
• Friday - 1 hour bus ride up to Portland. Checked in 120 students plus 6 teachers.  Made it all through security check! Some students had liquids and were surprised to have to take off their shoes!  Ate mahi mahi tacos and drank a Rogue beer before heading back to Japan.
• Saturday - 11 hour flight... 2.5 hour bus ride. 15 minute taxi ride. AND I made it back to my home in Japan. Showered and ate pasta for dinner at a nearby restaurant. In a hazy daze.

Now I've had classes for 4 days, and I have been in a zombie mode. My eyes are open, but my brain is slowly functioning. On top of that my Mom arrives tonight, and I need to go to the airport to fetch her.  ON TOP of that we have Open Campus this weekend. Working on the weekend when I am required to be there is rough.  I usually go in to get things done, but it is on my own accord... It's harder when they say we are required to work on the weekend...

On another note... The WOW trip was wonderful.  It was great to connect to the students outside of class, and to spend time communicating and traveling together on a social level without the umbrella of academics hovering above.  It was a low key/ almost painless trip when I think about the relationships and connections made. It was truly a WOW experience.

@ Narita Airport

On top of the State Capitol Building~

Reunion with ASP Students!