Ohayo Gozaimus Yamazaki San, Maruyama san, and fellow teachers.(Good morning Mr. Yamazaki, Mr. Maruyama, and fellow teachers.) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania no Rosen Shelley des. (I am Shelley Rosen from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.) Hajimemashte.(How do you do?) I am very proud to represent my fellow teachers in my remarks this morning. We are so happy to visit the Toyonaka City Oike Elementary School. I work at the Oliver Heckman Elementary School which is in a suburb of Philadelphia. I have been sharing the excitement of my trip to Japan with my students each day through a daily journal that has been posted on a website. In fact, the photo taken right now will be viewed by them tomorrow.

(This is the photo!)

I share this with you as a way of proving just how small this world has become. We feel it is more important than ever, and probably easier than ever before, to share our cultures, and foster understanding and friendship. My students want to know the details- things like: what does the paper look like that students learn to write on? Does it have big lines like ours. Is the Japanese maple called a Japanese maple in Japan? Do the students get letter grades on their report cards? As I visit with you today, I will be searching for the details, as well as the big picture. What are the wonderful things that cause us to constantly hear about the excellence of the Japanese educational system? What can we learn from you as well as what can we share with you. We know it's not easy to allow strangers into your classroom, especially those that don't speak the same language as you. But I've learned throughout these last few weeks that a smile is a smile and a laugh is a laugh anywhere in the world. We love children; we love teaching, and that is something we all share.

We are very honored to be brought here by your government and treated like royalty. Your admiration of the teaching profession is a lesson we need to take back to the United States!

I'd like to finish with a quote by John Steinbeck, a famous American writer, that I am sure my fellow Fulbrighters will agree with- "people don't take trips, trips take people". Thank you for the trip of my life. Domo arigato gozaimus.(Thank you very much)