Preparing for my visit to Japan!

I have now read two Japanese manga books. Surprisingly, they are not as bad as I thought. Now, I have to start watching the Anime videos. Ugh!

JFMF (Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund) requires that you create a plan to share your learning and the cultural experience when you return. I explained how our students, especially our struggling readers, devour the Japanese manga books, but are missing the cultural clues and information in the book. If you are not familiar with manga books they are "graphic novels" or similar to our comic books. Many of them have some type of super hero that are fighting the dark forces or evils of the world.

I was surprised to read one that was somewhat of a realistic story about a girl and her parents who divorce and marry another couple and they all live in one house. Interesting concept!

Now the Anime videos are from manga books. The only problem is that the videos are making it to the US before the manga books.My "plan" is to be able to apply my cultural experience to the books and the Anime and share this with my students and colleagues.

Here is a list of popular manga books at Lanier's library:
Bebirth
Rave Master
Fullmetal Alchemist
Bleach
Fruits Basket*
Marmalde Boy*

*more for girls

For examples of Anime- do a search in youtube. I still need to do my research in that area, let me know if you find something interesting. My hope is to have an afterschool Anime club next school year after I return from Japan.

Watch Out Japan- 125 Days

Watch Out Japan! I will be hitting the Tokyo tarmac, actually the Tokyo tarmac will be in 126 days, I go to San Francisco first. So there is your break Japan, you get one extra day to prepare for my arrival.

I have been awarded a cultural exchange experience to Japan from the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF). I will be spending one day in San Francisco, 3-4 days in Tokyo, then 8-10 days in another city on the island, and then a final 3-4 days in Tokyo.

Here are the objectives of the trip:
· Increase understanding between the people of Japan and the United States of America.
· Enrich first through twelfth grade curricula by presenting teachers with the opportunity to integrate international perspectives and methodologies and relate actual experiences from the JFMF Teacher Program.
· Encourage more Americans to appreciate the people, culture and educational system of Japan.
· Expand professional development opportunities for American primary and secondary educators.

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity goto http://www.iie.org/Content/NavigationMenu/FMF1/JFMF/Overview/Overview.htm

I will be posting my preparation for the trip and updating friends, family, and Lanier High School's students of my adventures in Japan.

I hope you will post comments for me and even suggestions for my travels.

Welcome to my blog

(Hello)
and welcome to my blog. I am Stella Farris, a high school librarian, at Lanier High School in Austin, Texas. I have been awarded a cultural exchange trip to Japan in October 2007. See Watch Out Japan for more information regarding the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund program.

The purpose of this blog is

• to introduce myself to my new friends and family in Japan
• to keep my family and friends in the United States and around the world up to date with my trip
• to share my experiences and learning with the students at Lanier High School

Please feel free to comment or make suggestions for me.