Sayonara Japan

Last night's dinner and meeting was the final event on our trip for this year.  I want to thank Yoshi Tomita's father, Hiraaki, for all his help in making last night's event possible.  We gathered at the Grand Central Station Oyster Bar, a real replica of the same restaurant that actually is in Grand Central Station, New York City.  A thank you also needs to go out to Kyle Riley's dad, Paul, for his help too with our trip.

Seated L to R: Tomoko Oyama ’03; Yuto Takahashi’s mother, Naoko Yuto; Kneeling L to R: Kyle Riley’s mother, Yuko Riley; Yoshiaki Tomita’s mother, Hiroko Tomita.  Standing L to R: Akito Wakamatsu’s mother and father, Yuko and Yasurhiro Wakamatsu; Raylene Davis; Jim Bastis; Ayana Yagi’s mother, Hiromi Yagi, Kanami Sugiyaa’s mother, Mayumi Sugiyama; Kyle Riley’s father, Paul Riley; Takuya Oida’s mother, Hiroe Oida; Mio Tanaka Yoshioka ’05; and Yoshiaki Tomita’s father, Hiraaki Tomita.

We had a very good turnout with seven families being represented at the dinner.  I believe the highlight of the evening was having Tomoko Oyama '03 and Mio Tanaka Yoshioka '05 join us.  Both alums shared with the parents how their Brewster experience helped them in college and in life.  The parents of today's Japanese students were extremely grateful for their insight and help.  Both Raylene and I are very appreciative of Tomoko and Mio taking time out of their busy schedules to help alma mater.

It is hard to believe that this year's trip to Asia has come to a close.  It has been a long, but very successful and enjoyable trip.  It was good to catch up with parents and alumni I've met on past trips and to meet new folks this time around.  I had the opportunity to meet with more than 25 families and about 10 alumni.  A hearty thank you to all those wonderful parents and alumni that helped us by being our point people.  Without them we would never have been able to accomplish so much in so many places and in so short a period of time.  Both Raylene Davis and I are thank you all and are extremely grateful.