Pacific Venture December 2006

Not waving but drowning- in a sea of experiences. From our first ' keep waving' as the bus took our ECC partners back to Kyoto station to our final keep waving' as we said 'good-bye' to Tomo and Hasegawa-san at Kansai International Airport our trip was a succession of sad goodbyes followed immediately by new and exciting 'hellos' to the next activity. All the reports show just what a superb experience IFA arranged for us and just as the members find it impossible to single out one 'favourite moment' so I am unable to highlight anything as being most special as each day was magical.

We also owe a special thank you to MOFA and the Political Section of the Japanese Embassy in London for designing the new format for the
reunion/orientation which set the tone for the trip and provided just the right spring board for the the swimmers setting out on this cross-cultural
expedition. I shall treasure many special memories of December 06 and the smiles of the waving members of the group will figure in them all.

Mary-Grace Browning

Reports

Alison Turner                   Cathy Magnus

Chris Morris                     Columba Strachey

Gordon Burniston           Guy Collins

Helen Tovey                     Jenny Simpson

Jens Steffen                     Karen Catling

Kaya Trevitt                       Laura Gander

Stephen Blamire             Thomas Caley

Gwen Gawthrop