The document summarizes the experiences of a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) team that traveled from the United States to Japan in 2001. The team visited several cities in Japan, experiencing cultural activities like traditional meals, ceremonies, and staying with host families. They presented on their "Pin Project" honoring victims of the 9/11 attacks and spoke at Rotary district conferences. The team immersed themselves in Japanese culture, visiting sites like Hiroshima and trying local foods, and represented their home district in New York through performances of "New York, New York".

1. Team Leader - Joe Urda and Team Members-Beth Anne Roy, Ellen Baxendale, Richard Purdy and Amy Bonn

2. Rotarian Richard Matsushima of the Vestal Rotary Club and owner of the Kampai Restaurant, introduced the team to Japanese food.

3. Our “Pin Project” was to honor of those lost September 11, 2001 to the terrorist acts in NYC, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania

4. In Detroit, we prepare to depart aboard the “Orient Princes”

5. SYRACUSE TO DETROIT - DETROIT TO TOKYO

6. DISTRICT 7170 District 2820 of Japan covers Ibaraki Prefecture, shown in dark green. It is North of Tokyo

7. Our first day in Japan. Rotarian Ishi’s, Orai Seaside Hotel on the Pacific Coast

8. “ Welcome GSE Team” party We sing New York, N. Y.

12. Koga Rotary Club “Welcome Party”

13. R o tary Club luncheon meeting Showing off the latest Rotary Box Lunch Typical box lunch. It was usually cold by the time we got to eat it.

14. We were constantly eating.

15. SUSHI AND SUSHIMI

16. DINNERS WERE MORE LIKE ART.

17. The deserts were absolutely the best. They looked to good to eat.

18. YOU NAME IT AND WE ATE IT. USUALLY RAW

19. You can set your watch by the Japan Railroad schedule. They do run on time.

21. Leader Joe celebrates his birthday in Japan complete with Geishas and Dom Perrion

22. You’ve got to try this! Okonomiyaki or Japanese Pancakes in Hiroshima

23. Now that’s what I call a real potato. Actually it is a Konnyaku tuber.

24. You name it and Beth Anne would do it.

25. Beth Anne demos (not actually) the total toilet experience. Japanese toilets by Toto are the ultimate. Some play sounds of chirping birds while others run water to disguise those usual toilet sounds we all make. Then there are the wash off, air dry and perfume buttons to finish off that total toilet experience.

26. After an hour of negotiations, Joe was able to get us onto the Naval Base at Yokosuka. “ Winky White” second from the right, top row, was an exchange student from District 717 years ago. He now lives in Japan. His father was DG of District 7170 Bill Doughty, USNH Public Relations Officer was the person who got us onboard. Joe was stationed at the Naval Hospital in 1969.

27. Hayama, Japan Joe’s old home. On the steps of the Frank Lloyd Wright house

28. The stairs of the Wright house, with my old home in the background.

29. Can’t take picture of the Summer Palace, but I took one with the guard.

30. Leader Joe, GSE Coordinator - Hiro and Teddy

31. Teddy belts one out for the gang.

32. A “Sake Kompai”

33. Prefecture Governor on the right. Our pins were worn proudly.

34. We’re ready for our presentation at the District Conference.

35. The Rotary District Conference, and presentation of DG gift. Presentation of DG Mikes’ gift to District 2820 DG by Joe. They contributed $25,000 to the WTC Fund.

36. We wow them again and again with New York, New York

37. How many more weeks to go?

38. Rubble from the A-Bomb Dome

39. Hiroshima Prefecture Products Exhibition Hall - now known as the “A Bomb Dome” was 525 feet from the hypocenter of the blast.

40. The A-Bomb Dome, reflected in the Motoyasu River where thousands sought refuge from the heat of the fires.

41. Type header here Arched bridges make for a great place to pose the team.

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58. The Great Dibutsu at Kamakura

60. Beth Anne with a couple of very special Rotarians.

61. Preparing for a wedding

62. Traditional Wedding

63. Host family - Hidi & Hiru

64. Hiru, my host and an aerobics instructor, gives me a much need massage. Hitachi Aerobics Club and Hiru our instructor.

65. My host instructs me in the art of Chigari-e or Japanese Paper Art.

66. “ Chigari-e” uses different hand-made rice paper or “washi” instead of paint. I produce a work of art using “washi.”

67. Presentation of gifts was a special time.

68. Special times called for special ceremonies.

69. Explaining the differences between Rotary in Japan and the USA.

70. Food and drink, never a shortage of it.

71. There were so many special people who opened their homes to us. My physician host could only get a few of his hospital staff to pose with me.

73. Some host families were more traditional than others.

74. Yumi and Izuru. Izuru spends 6 months of the years in the Artic Circle photographing the wildlife.

75. I would be presented fabulous 70 year old Kimonos by Maria and Mammusu on the left.

77. Rated as Japan’s No. 1 Sake brewer, we toast him. “Kompai”

79. SUMOMOTO STEEEL WORKS Ever wonder where all those ground up cars went to?

82. At the top of a Tokyo Electric Power Plant smoke stack.

85. Ibaraki Prefecture Police Kendo Team

90. Kids loved us. Especially when we gave them NY coins.

98. Final Night. Re-packing all that luggage.