MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State University's long-standing involvement in Japan expands in October when a primary education professor visits the Far East as part of the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.

Theresa Greenwood, who teaches at Burris Laboratory School, joins about 200 distinguised educators and administrators for three weeks in Japan to promote a greater intercultural understanding between Japan and the United States. Last year, Burris and Japanese elementary school children participated in an educational exchange program.

Burris, a K-12 public school operated by Ball State, is the only laboratory school in Indiana and serves as an educational laboratory for the university's teaching majors.

"I view this as an exceptional opportunity to see Japan first hand, to meet the people, to learn their culture and to begin to become aware of their sensibilities," Greenwood said. "I feel humbled to be counted among the teachers who will get this opportunity to get a close-up view of Japan in real time.

Greenwood said she hoped to get a feel for the heart of the culture and pick up subtle nuances about Japanese life.

She said she wants to learn more about Japanese people, including family life, traditional dress, customs, schooling, industry, how they use their free time, ceremonies and festivals.

Fulbright participants begin their trip with a visit to Tokyo, receiving a practical orientation on Japanese life and culture and meeting with Japanese government officials and educators.

They will travel in groups of 20 to prefectures, or states, outside of Tokyo where they will have direct contact with Japanese teachers and students during visits to primary and secondary schools, and a teacher's college. Participants are also scheduled to visit cultural sites and local industries.

Greenwood said staying with a host family is an extraordinary opportunity.

"To be able to observe the interactions between parents, children and the elderly is of high interest to me," she said. "I know that Japanese families are very respectful of the wisdom of the elderly. I'd like to bring back some of that respect."

Greenwood plans to implement a special curriculum on Japan that will be primarily based on the nation's children and their activities.

If weather permits, Burris officials are planning a winter festival. Students will emulate their Japanese counterparts by creating ice sculptures and snow lanterns, Greenwood said.

The trip is funded by the Japanese government that launched the program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. government-initiated Fulbright Program. About 6,000 Japanese residents have visited North America for graduate education and research. An estimated 600 American teachers and administrators will visit Japan in 1998 under the program that provides thousands of primary and secondary educators with the opportunity to visit Japan over a five-year period.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Greenwood by E-mail at tgreenwo@wp.bsu.edu or by phone at 765-285-1131.)