2016 Inbound – Yamagata, Japan

Journey #12570

FFNEO Journey Coordinator
Amy Kostka

July 31 to August 6

FFNEO was fortunate to have the opportunity to give reciprocal hospitality to our friends from Yamagata, a club we had an outbound exchange with in October 2014. Thank you to Jackie Stimpert, Nancy Allman, Felisa Anthony, Jim Helm, Claire Brugnoletti and Jackie Herriman who helped me plan and carry out this exchange.

In summary from Amy Kostka to members of FFNEO: I want to thank everyone for hosting and planning the activities for our friends from Japan. And thank you to all of the dinner and day hosts. Thank you for the wonderful potluck picnic at Lakewood Park – it was GREAT! The food that everyone brought to share was generous and delicious!

Jackie S. and her committee did a wonderful job with the activities, especially with all of the options and with NONE of them beginning too early in the morning! It gave us enough time to have a relaxing start to the day with the Ambassadors and maybe a second cup of coffee or tea. It was worth all of the planning.

I think some of the Ambassadors were a little scared coming to the U.S. as much of the news they see from the U.S. is about negative events. But I think they no longer feel that way. It was so touching that they took the time to learn our National Anthem and sing it for us at the Welcome Party. I will never forget that or the touching speech from Masuko.

Bill and I had the best experience ever as our two guests were so EXCITED to see EVERYTHING! It was so WONDERFUL to show them around our city and to have them meet some of our friends and family. They were always smiling and laughing. Kaoru has been to Europe, Australia, China, Taipei and Taiwan on organized tours. She has also been to L.A., Disneyland and Universal Studios. She said that this was her BEST travel experience and she would not mind living here!

Yasuko wrote me when she got home, “Thank you so much for everything. I can’t find any words to express my feelings. I miss you! I want to be back to the place you and Bill live. America is Amy and Bill for me so I love America. I won’t forget the time we had with you in the U.S.A.”

7/31 – First HELLOs as Hosts meet Ambassadors at CLE Hopkins Airport	8/1 – At the Welcome Dinner, the Ambassadors sang The Star Spangled Banner	8/2 – Eietu and Michiko with dinner hosts, Chuck and Carole
8/2 – new experiences for Yasuko and Karoru during dinner hosting at Jackie’s – Cornhole Game, a hammock, seeing hummingbirds and eating gravy!	8/3 – Yoshiro and Yoko at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Plaza, looking back at Cleveland’s skyline	8/3 – A relaxing trip up the Cuyahoga River and lunch on the Goodtime III
8/4 – Eietu and Mark at the top of Holden Arboretum’s Emergent Tower	8/4 – Tomiko and Masuko sitting in a buggy while visiting Lehman’s in Amish country, Holmes County	8/4 – Amy and Bill took Yasuko and Karoru to a Cleveland Indians baseball game – we won!
8/5 – Eietu and Yoshiro at the Farewell Potluck at Lakewood Park	8/5 – The Ambassadors did a beautiful and fun line-style fan dance/singing for us. We taught them the Cupid Shuffle!	8/5 – One last group photo at the Farewell Potluck – what a wonderful exchange for us all!!