Postcards from Jackson

Worth the trip by itself
Originally uploaded by Bob Clubbs.

Delivering the postcards made by students from Jackson to the kids at Kanazawa Elementary School was so much fun. They kids were just absolutely delighted and it was so touching to see them trying their best to read the cards and enjoy the pictures. But they all acted like they were precious material! They immediately began giving me presents back! Making that connection bewtween Jackson and Itabashi was so cool. Again and again, I am drawn more to our similarities than our differences. These kids are really no different from our kids. Same with the teachers and the education system. Sure, there might be some differences here or there, but the stereotype that we have of the Japanese and "how they do things" in their schools is just absolutely not true. Walking down the halls of their schools looks and sounds just like ours. It's really amazing.