The Bridge Club Oakland 3^rd Annual Dinner Meeting on 08-Mar-2020 included a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the APCC Mission, Bridge Club Common Activities, Doors+, and Oakland’s past and future activities. The meeting was followed by a buffet-style Japanese dinner. President Brittany (JA 2009) and the Liaison Officers (JJ and Linda) added some new ideas to change up the annual event. This year each JA could bring a +1 friend so the friend could learn about APCC, Bridge Club, Omoiyari, and Japanese culture. Also added this year was an Undokai activity that modeled the Japanese Undokai (sports festival) but with American and APCC variations. The Undokai began with everyone singing “We are the Bridge” together. Then everyone was divided into four teams that wore color-coded wristbands. There were five competition events for which points were awarded

1.   Origami crane folding (most beautiful crane won)      

2. Relay race where everyone had to carry a small plastic ball on a spoon, “jump rope” using a round Hula Hoop, transfer little slippery Jelly Belly Bean candies from one Japanese lacquer bowl to another Japanese lacquer bowl using Japanese chopsticks (fastest team won)    

3. Hula Hoop twirling around the waist (longest duration won)    

4. Recognition of Japanese words and phrases useful for JAs to know for homestay (highest number won)    

5. Name of countries and regions that attend APCC Summer Camp (highest number won)

The competition was intense but accompanied by many smiles and much laughter as everyone bonded. The points were tallied to determine the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams. The 1st place team members were first to choose their prizes from the prize display followed by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place team members. The prizes had Japanese themes and included mugs, lacquer trays, facial masks, origami paper, key chains, musubi makers, snacks, and petit blocks. It was amazing how quickly the time passed because everyone was having such fun!

Bridge Club Oakland Members 1^st row: Prathana (JA 2020); 

Middle row: Alexa (JA 2014), Chiara (JA 2018), Holly (JA 2019), Lewanna (JA 2019), Watson (JA 2020), Luke (JA 2019).

Back row: Finn (JA 2018), Akilah (JA 2007), Chidimma (JA 2012), Brittany (JA 2009, Bridge Club President)

Not pictured: Camilo (JA 2001), Linda & JJ (Liaison Officers), and +1 friends.