Honestly I’m not a person who is crazy about traveling around the world. But Japan is a special place I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. I am always asked what the main reason is for going to Japan and why I am so interested in this country.

I guess it’s probably because I was affected by “Animation” since I was a little kid. From then on I started to be interested in Japanese culture and its language. I never thought I could have my dream come true before I joined the World Campus International Japan program. Basically it is quite easy to get a couple of days travel to the place you are interested in, but when I joined this program I got something different. I do appreciate WCI makes this special tour for people. I got a great chance to learn not only Japanese culture but also sharing things and ideas with people from all over the world.

Summer is not my favorite season; it rains all the time and is severely humid with few fine days. We may have weather challenges during event or activity arrangements. But I’m coming back for this summer program to be part of an excellent team there. They are passionate, enthusiastic and creative. I do believe we can conquer any problems and make this program successful.

See you there guys!

(Dennis Xu – Education Assistant in the June – Aug. 08 Road Team)

Hola from Denver, Colorado!

I don’t have the appropriate words to express how thrilled and honored I am to be a member of the World Campus International 2008 Summer Tour! I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to experience Japan and its amazing culture for the the first time, as well as have the chance to get to know each and every one of the participants and community members involved with this WCI tour.

This summer I have been give the opportunity to combine two of my greatest passions: travel and education. Being a member of organizations such as Up with People, Sister Cities International and WCI, has opened many doors which have allowed me to travel the globe and experience a variety of cultures in unique and meaningful ways. Additionally, as the ESL coordinator for a high school here in Colorado, everyday I encounter the challenges and opportunities to OFFER my students the world. I get to be their teacher AND their pupil. I get to introduce them to the American life as well as share my Mexican culture and they in turn, teach us all in the class about their experiences, cultures and international backgrounds.

This will be a life-changing summer for every singe person involved in this great tour and I simply cannot wait to share this adventure with all of you! I am looking forward to meeting you all very soon!

(Berthalina Hernandez – Education Coordinator in the June – Aug. 08 Road Team)

About me　（吉田　有紀）

皆さんこんにちは。

今私にとってはアメリカ、バーモント州の大学からの夏休みです。長らく会う事のできなかった東京の友達や家族と時間を過ごしたり日本でしたかったことをじっくりと味わったりしています。

日本人である私にとっても、日本文化について学ぶことはもちろん果てしなく、発見と驚きの尽きない行程です。喜びが増すにつき、この経験を分かち合うことがますます楽しみになってきます。

もう察していらっしゃるかもしれませんが、私はあらゆる文化に大変興味を持っています。日々の暮らしを違う文化を通じて経験することはわくわくしますし、何年もの知り合いと一日過ごすことでも新たな視線を学ぶ事ができます。この夏をホストファミリーやチーム、参加者達と過ごす事は豊富な経験になるでしょう。

一緒にツアーに参加するのが待ちきれません。皆さんに会うのをとても楽しみにしています。それではそれまでお元気で！

Hello to all the upcoming participants and community members taking part in the June 23 – August 11, 2008 tour! As you read this, I’m sitting here relaxing in the grass in front of my rural northern California home. With only a couple of weeks until the tour starts, I am very excited to be back in action in Japan, and taking part in all the wonderful activities planned for this next tour.

As a World Campus — Japan participant alumnus from the Summer 2007 tour, I’m very excited to return to our partner cities, especially to see friends and families that I met last year. To be able to return to the country of Japan is an exciting thought, but for me, what I look forward to the most at the start of my third tour with World Campus International, is to get to know the food, language and culture even better.

At times I wonder to myself what aspect of the journey is the most fulfilling, but all I can say to that is that if you want to know, you will have to wait and experience it all for yourself and decide. See you there!

(Cody Permenter – Production Coordinator in the June – Aug. 08 Road Team)