Catching up!

There has been so much.  We just got internet today.  Couldn't update blog, as we were out of the Navy Lodge, and the military snoops on base don't like me using my laptop for personal business.  Yes, they check.  Fair enough.  Let's catch up!

Here's Baby J being introduced to Soba.  He's still eating his way across Japan.

This was taken at the local mall, Daie.  It's right near base, and is a convenie

nt place to meet after work.  The boys' favorite restaurant is a place called Ducky Duck.  I love dept. stores here in Japan-grocery store, white-gloved parking attendants, lots of restaurants, train access, oh, and anything you need to buy is there.  My special favorite is the 100 yen store-that's right-a dollar store.  A great place to get your cheap dishes, japanese housewife necessities, and hello kitty chopsticks.

Oh, and the rumours are true- check it out....yup, it's a $15.00 melon!  But, it is wrapped pretty.

All fruits and veg are not this expensive!  In fact, I try to buy my veg and some fruits locally.  Oh, and dai

ry is so much better here too.

Here's what you've been waiting for......drum roll.... the apartment.  This has to be the last pic due to storage, but I'l post photos on snapfish soon.  Sorry, Teeny, no flickr.  Snapfish is much easier with Ms. Mac.   The apartment!

The view is breathtaking.  About 1500 sq. ft.  SO MUCH storage.  15 minute (hilly) bike ride to work.  Train station is very close.  Oh did I mention it's the penthouse?

Teehee..

I'll post next time about David's first week of Kindergarten.  Too much too add.

WE ARE READY FOR VISITORS AND HAVE MORE ROOM THAN EVER!!!!

Love to all,

Tricia

8.16.08-get this party started!

Well, it's been crazy-busy since I last posted.   We've now been in the crusty Navy Lodge Yokosuka for 10 days and much has been accomplished and experienced.  This past week has mainly been taken up by the Area Orientation Brief and Inter-Cultural Relations courses.  The kiddos went to a fine home day-care provider whilst we were indoctrinated for 8 hours per day.  Simply put, I'm not working for the Marines any more.  Because of cultural tensions over the arrival of the George Washington (the Japanese understandably do not want yet another American nuclear device anywhere near their soil) and the general party attitude of many sailors here, a culture of fear was the order of the day, especially yesterday during our "safety course".  Yesterday we were treated to many, many videos of car crashes, tours of the yokosuka prison, and tales of past hardship and woe revolving around sailors and "just one drink".    We were lead to believe that imprisonment could happen to just any one and we shouldn't ever, never leave base if we wanted to make it home.

Oddly enough, I feel safer and more at home off base.  Yes, children stare at us, but the Japanese continuously choose civility.  Their manners reflect a deep respect for their fellow man, and they are indeed achingly polite.  It agrees well with me, I think.  My first impression of Japan was this:  "It's just so quiet!".  The airports and train stations are eerily quiet-no one would think of using a cell phone or eating.  Now, if I can just get my little American Neandrathals with the program...luckily, the Japanese love kiddos too.

We have purchased a 97 Honda Stepwagon with the help of our new lovely friend, Wills.  His real name is William (he's my mentor at the HS), but we call him Wills because he's such a prince.  Oh, and he's also the Japanese teacher-very convenient for buying cars off-base, where they are much cheaper.  Anyway, back to the Stepwagon.  It has 55,000km on it and is in mint shape.  We are paying about $3500 for it-yipee!  We should have the little sweetie in action (both the Japanese and the base have their beaurocratic hoops) by the end of next week.  We like the idea of purchaing a japanese-owned car rather than something from the lemon lot.  We know that it has been cared for quite well.

The apartment is coming along nicely, with some delays.  We have had some problems with the Housing Office's willingness to write the lease.  It seems the condo association where we plan to live will no longer rent to any rank lower than a Chief Petty Officer (for understandable reasons, after hearing the tales of partying).  The Navy has a large problem with this, as they won't accept "discrimination based on rank".  HA!  Everything here, including housing, where one parks at the commissary, and where one eats is determined by rank!  We're not ready to let the apartment go, so we should be moved in by the end of next week either way.

Oh, and I start work on Monday.  Really, everyone seems so nice and helpful at work, and the kids that I've met so far are wonderful, so there is really no need to panic.  I'll probably spend some time sorting my thoughts and my room over the weekend.  What really gets me hyperventilating is the idea of Jim leaving in a few weeks-it scares me to tears.  I have my Japanese drivers license, but feel unready to drive outside of base.  Okay, I don't feel safer off base in that respect.  The constant motorcycle swerving, red-light running and the like really unnerve me.  Oh, yeah, and driving on the left side of the road.  

After 6 hours of "safety lessons" and a 50 question written test, Jim was called up to the front of the auditorium.  He had scored 100% on the test and was given the honor of taking his driving test immediately!   Everyone else had to sign up for some time next week.  Apple-polisher.

Other highlights for the week include lunch at the 100 yen sushi-go-round and a trip to the "hard-off" store, which is where they have all the gifts the Japanese didn't want.  The Japanese have a very organized culture of gift-giving.  It's estimated that we will need 17 small gifts just to move into our apartment...more than most, but not unheard of.

Anyway, Clifford is over and I need to get to the day ahead.  Thinking of and missing you all.

Love,

Tricia

8.10.08-The fog lifts

There are just some things that one should not do one's body-and flying halfway around the world is at the top of my list.  We have arrived safely in Japan.  The flight really was as good as it could be-including a sympathetic stewardess who reseated us to have a whole row to ourselves.  20 short hours later, we were here!

It is astounding to me how one's body can fight itself and do things that are not in it's own best interests.  Like waking itself at 1 am after only 5 hours of sleep when it needs nothing more than the aforementioned sleep.  Flying to Japan is NOT like flying to Europe-for starters, the time difference is double.  The high-tech toilets are another, but we'll discuss that more later. We are all now happily sleeping through the night and going about our business.  More details shall follow, including pictures (I promise!), but here is the quick version:

1.  We have found an AWESOME place in which to live.  How awesome?  Just wait....

2.  After 2 days and many hours of waiting, Jim has received his dependent ID and been proclaimed a "real person".

3.  Our children have been fondled, pinched, caressed and crooned over in epic proportions by Japanese women.

4.  The above-mentioned children have already learned to work it.  Baby J has discovered that a simple "Konnichiwa" followed by some eyelash batting can be an important source for his daily candy supply.

More later.  Love to all.

Tuleesha Hanunanuh