NAFSA at Seattle, Washington (May 30 - June 4, 2005)
LEAPers and MSU program staff traveled to Seattle from late May to the beginning of June to attend the NAFSA conference. In additiona to the conference, the group visited the University of Washington and the Japanese Consulate. NAFSA is the Association of International Educators. It promotes the exchange of students and scholars between colleges and universities in theUnited States and the rest of the world. Its members share a belief that international educational exchange advances learning and scholarship, builds respect among different peoples and encourages constructive leadership in a global community. Its members number nearly 9,000 individuals from all 50 states and 84 countries on more than 2,000 campuses worldwide. Taking business cards to NAFSA is good way to network with people. During the conference, a reception was arranged for the LEAPers to meet representatives from each host practicum site. It was a good opportunity to get to know the supervisors and ask them questions. Additional conference-week activities included a dinner cruise of the bay, a tour of the Boeing manufacturing facility, a dance party, and watching a Seattle Mariners baseball game. It was amazingly fun and learning-filled week!

Dinner cruise on Elliott Bay.	Visit to Japanese Consualte in Seattle.

Washington D.C. (March 25 - 30, 2006)
The LEAP participants, along with MSU and A.C.E. staff, will visit Washington, DC at the end of LEAP program. While in DC they will do several educational field trips, take a final TOEFL test, attend a farewell dinner, and conduct a final evaluation and debriefing.