Ms. Bonica is a third grade teacher in the Fanny Meyer Hillers School located in Hackensack, New Jersey. She traveled to Japan in October 2000 with a group of teachers representing the United States. Ms. Bonica was selected as a participant in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.

Participants in the 2000 FMF Program spent 3 weeks in Japan. At seminars in Tokyo, participants were introduced to the Japanese culture and education system and met with Japanese government officials and educators. Participants also visited urban schools, museums, and historical landmarks. Then, they were assigned to small groups which spent 10 days visiting Ogaki, Gifu outside of Tokyo. There, the participants visited local schools, and teachers' colleges, where they interacted with students, teachers, and parents. For many, the highlight of the study visit was a short homestay with a Japanese family. The program concluded with debriefing sessions in Tokyo where all participants shared their experiences and insights. Throughout the study visit, participants were encouraged to discuss their "follow-on plans" and developed strategies for sharing their experiences with their schools and communities in the U.S.