Dream catchers
Music and Tai Ji teacher Janet Swigler leaves for Japan
By Jackie Perrone jacper@juno.com

Janet Swigler's interest in Tai Ji led her to China and Tibet. She teaches Tai Ji at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

Janet Swigler got an early start on all things Oriental. As the child of a traveling U.S. Air Force family, she lived in Japan for four years. Last spring, her interest in Tai Ji (or Tai Chi ) led her to visit China and Tibet.

Now, as recipient of a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund, she will spend 19 days in Japan on a cultural exchange, which she will share with her students at Rosewood Elementary School.

"This is my third application, and I finally made it," she said. "I teach music at Rosewood Elementary, Kindergarten through 5th grade, and when I return I will plan some activities to pass on what I learned."

This program differs from the Fulbright Scholars program, which enables students to study all over the world. The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund is sponsored by the Japanese government for specially- chosen U.S. primary and secondary school educators to foster greater intercultural understanding.

The teachers travel in a group of 200, chosen from a pool of 1,700 applicants. They will begin their visit in Tokyo, meeting with a number of government officials and educators. Next they will travel to selected host cities where they will have direct contact with Japanese teachers and students during visits to primary and secondary schools and a teachers' college. They will also visit cultural sites and local industries in addition to a brief homestay with a Japanese family.

"The 'follow- on' plan is a key element of this program," said Swigler. "Since I teach music, I plan to incorporate Oriental music into my follow- on, but also there are many other ways, such as in art and science, to learn from the Orient.

"Rosewood School has a festival every year, and I would like to see it feature a lot of the Japanese influence next year. We could include music and costumes and food booths. We are expected to work with classroom, school, and community."

Swigler teaches a Tai Ji class at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. She took part in this discipline in her trip to China and Tibet last spring. "We got up early each morning and headed for the park, and we would find many others there, going through the exercises. Not many young people, they say it's for the old folks. It's a mental and physical and spiritual discipline, which can benefit everyone."