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The Brown Bag Lunch at the North Platte Public Library today at noon will have a touch of culture from the east. Terri Johnson, a computer technology assistant at the library, will be sharing photos and stories from her two trips to Japan in the '90s.

Johnson's contact with Japan began with her family hosting Japanese exchange students as part of a 4-H program. She is calling her presentation "A Look Back at Japan."

Johnson took two trips to Japan, each three weeks long. She went to the country first in 1994 and again in 1999. The trips were to visit families of students who had stayed with Johnson in the exchange program. For Johnson the experience of the trip was unique because she got to live with families as opposed to having a tourist experience. The people of Japan impressed her.

"How friendly people were, how generous people were and how patient they were," Johnson said. "What I remember most is becoming part of their family."

The contrast of the old and the new in Japan also impressed Johnson. She explained during her trip she visited buildings nearly 700 years old, next to modern buildings. The trip to Japan and taking exchange students into her home was just a part of something bigger for Johnson.

It wasn't just one family Johnson stayed with, but a number of families. She explained during her trip she stayed with a Buddhist priest and with a family in public housing.

The trip was also about learning new things. Johnson said she learned how to do a tea ceremony during her stay in Japan. The tea ceremony is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking tea influenced by Buddhist traditions in Japan.

There were a number of unique restaurants Johnson experienced during her visit. She talked about a sushi restaurant where plates passed around on a conveyer belt and patrons took plates off the belt as they passed. When patrons finished their meals they were charged based on the number, and the color of the plates. She said there was also a restaurant operating like a buffet, but where diners had to pay for the amount of time they spent eating.
During her trip she tried new foods, such as fried eel and octopus pizza.
Johnson spoke little Japanese, but said communication with people in Japan wasn't a problem.