Trip to Japan

[P3D Bill C Walton <bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx>]

I just returned from a two week trip to Kiryu,Japan.
I was one of the 20 person delegation to participate
in the Columbus-Kiryu Sister City Exchange Program
this year.

Had a great time, friendly hospitable people, good
food (although some of it I did not recognize)  We lived with
families during our stay.  My host family was a high school
teacher  whose wife is a dietician (and amateur photographer)
 and who spoke good english (fortunately).

As part of our visit we prepared a display titled "A Stroll through
Columbus"  My part of that display was a stereo exhibition of 60 cards 
covering Columbus people and places, with lorgnette viewers hanging
beside each 20 card frame.  Apparently the folks around Kiryu were 
nor familiar with stereoscopic photography, because it really created 
a "sensation".  One lady and her teen age daughter kept coming back to 
look  at the cards, time and time again.  I had explained to the daughter

several times how stereo works. but her english was limited and my 
Japanese didn't exist.  Finally she said "I told my mother that it is
magic 
and she agrees and we will leave it at that"   

We took gifts from the city to give to our host families and to city
officials.
My gift to Mayor Shigeru Hino was a dozen stereo cards (in BW of course)
of places he had seen when he visited Columbus last year during the 
Olympics.  I modified my standard Columbus label by adding "
Stereographed
and printed for Mayor Shigeru Hino- -  Columbus Sister City Visit 1997" 
I 
included a couple of lorgnette viewers so he would be able to look at
them.
The next time I saw him he told me that he had been able to fuse them
just 
fine and they were a most unusual and personal gift.

Next year is the 20th anniversary of the Columbus-Kiryu Sister City 
Relationship
and I have invited my host family to visit us in Columbus.  She will
retire next spring 
and indicated that they are looking forward to the visit.

BILL C WALTON


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