Nara, Japan – Oct. 3 – 10, 2019 – Inbound

On our first day with our ambassadors, we enjoyed a Welcome Party at the Park Avenue Club House.  We enjoyed delicious pulled pork, smoked by our famous certified SC judges, Ellen Brazauskas and Chuck Stevens.  Our home hosts provided delicious salads and desserts.

Our members welcomed the Japanese ambassadors into their homes for the week.  The ambassadors also experienced two home hosted dinners. Many of our members were day hosts and dinner hosts. I also would like to personally thank Kay Manley for all the support she gave us.  She helped as a day host and was a backup wherever she was needed.

Susan Harvey and Becky Reid put together the gift bags and Becky also made hot pads for the gift bags. Thanks to Ron Partin for putting together the program and getting the final version printed.

A highlight of the week was the meeting with the Hendersonville mayor, Barbara Volk. While at the mayor’s office, our ambassadors were delighted to hear Japanese spoken by one of the city employees.

Bill Hogan took photos of our guests with their home hosts as gifts to the ambassadors.  Bill also gave a walking tour of Asheville when our tour leader was not able to be with us.  Thank you, Bill, for saving the day!

We ended the week with a Farewell Party at the Carriage Park Club House. We enjoyed a whole hog with salads and banana pudding for dessert.  Also, a big Thank You to Bob and Debbie Wood for all their help with arrangements for the farewell dinner.  The Japanese am

On our first day with our ambassadors we enjoyed a Welcome Party at the Park Avenue Club House.  We enjoyed delicious pulled pork, smoked by our famous certified SC judges, Ellen Brazauskas and Chuck Stevens.  Our home hosts provided delicious salads and desserts.

Our members welcomed the Japanese ambassadors into their homes for the week.  The ambassadors also experienced two home hosted dinners. Many of our members were day hosts and dinner hosts. I also would like to personally thank Kay Manley for all the support she gave us.  She helped as a day host and was a backup wherever she was needed.

Susan Harvey and Becky Reid put together the gift bags and Becky also made hot pads for the gift bags. Thanks to Ron Partin for putting together

the program and getting the final version printed.

A highlight of the week was the meeting with the Hendersonville mayor, Barbara Volk. While at the mayor’s office, our ambassadors were delighted to hear Japanese spoken by one of the city employees.

Bill Hogan took photos of our guests with their home hosts as gifts to the ambassadors.  Bill also gave a walking tour of Asheville when our tour leader was not able to be with us.  Thank you, Bill, for saving the day!

We ended the week with a Farewell Party at the Carriage Park Club House. We enjoyed a whole hog with salads and banana pudding for dessert.  Also, a big Thank You to Bob and Debbie Wood for all their help with arrangements for the farewell dinner.  The Japanese ambassadors put together a fun entertaining program.  Larry Harvey led us in song to end the evening.  Another successful journey was completed!

–Judi Wondolowski and  Chuck Stevens, Co-Journey Coordinators