Thank you, Holly, and all!

Letter from Holly's father

Sent: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 1:30 PM
Subject: Student trip to Japan

Dear Tachibana Sensei,
I would like to express my deepest thanks for taking my daughter Holly to Japan. My apologies for not sending this message to you sooner.

Holly has grown so much from the experience that I believe it will affect her future in a very positive way for the rest of her life. Holly has shared many of her experiences with the family and we too have grown richer by knowing more about the Japanese culture and Japan. I know that the students you took on this trip feel the same way and will be better people for having visited Japan. I also believe that student trips like the one you took Holly on brings people closer together by providing a better understanding of each others cultures and lands.

I am deeply moved by your incredible personal effort in organizing such a successful trip to Japan for all the students. This trip and others like it will have an effect on bringing the people of the US, Japan and other countries together that much closer as friends. You may not see the immediate fruits of your labor but you have touched the hearts and minds of many people and that makes you a very special person, a person that is working for peace for us all.

In a time when there is so much conflict and strife in the world, your efforts as an ambassador of good will shine and you are like a beacon of light to the students you take to Japan. You will change the lives of all those involved during the trips in a positive way forever. I applaud your efforts highly,

Respectfully,

Lester Sinclair ( Holly's father)

p.s. Also, please thank the host families and the guides and all the people that helped make the trip to Japan a success for Holly and the students.