Pre-Flight

So… my flight leaves for Japan April, 2nd.  That is just over a week away, and I am starting to stress a bit.  The process to be a member of this trip began this past fall, with an application submitted to my local Rotary Board in October.  Shortly thereafter I was notified of an interview at the beginning of November.   A couple of days after that interview I was invited to join the Group Study Exchange to Saitama, Japan.  Some e-mail communiqués later a meeting was set for us all to meet in Louisville at the beginning of January.  At the meeting I met the other members: Greg Fuchs, team leader, Stamping Ground, Kentucky; Erin White, Louisville, Kentucky; Amanda Murphy, Louisville, Kentucky; Todd Shomo, Bowling Green, Kentucky; and myself.  The group was given a timetable when projects needed to be accomplished.  As a group we have accomplished our tasks and are in the final sprint to the airport.So, if all sounds rosy what am I concerned about?  The exchange rate between Japanese Yen and thee Greenback has already fallen $.15 over the past week.  Will I be able to post to this blog while in Japan?  What will my access to the internet be?  How will my limited (putting it nicely) Japanese be received?   But my biggest concern is being away from my family for that long.  My wife, Manda, and I were married this past November.  How will I cope without her and our girls Caitlen, Courtney and Cara?  Manda’s birthday is in April, what can I do to make her day special? And more… these are just a few of the concerns I am having.