First 2 Weeks in Okinawa

Two Fridays ago we stepped off the plane at Kadena Air Base dazed, disoriented and dependent on our sponsors to drive us to our hotel, show us around and tell us what to do. Today we walked out of our house on base, piled into the huge van which we are the proud owners of, and drove to school for a meet and greet with our kids' teachers.  All the days in between have been a whirlwind, but I have to say it has gone way, way better than I thought it would. I think expectation management was key to preparing for this move, and my expectations were way, way, way low.

Our plane landed around 5 p.m., and we had a whole entourage meet us at baggage claim, making us feel like VIPs. Tim's boss was there pushing a cart full of our luggage, and our sponsors too (they weren't actually our assigned sponsors, but people Tim will be working with who were helping out in our sponsor's stead since he was away at the time.) They drove us to our hotel in two carloads, waited while we got checked in, helped us get our six suitcases and six backpacks inside, chatted with us for a bit, and then left, telling us they'd be back the next morning at 10.

Tim reconfigured the furniture (we had adjoining rooms with a door between) to our liking and then I got Joey to bed. Tim and the other kids continued to buzz around but I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. I changed, got into bed, pulled the covers up to my chin and told them, "I'm ignoring all of you and going to sleep now."  Tim said, "Seriously?" I said, "Yep. Goodnight." Once I did that, the rest of them settled down soon after to bed. That was about 8 p.m.

We were up for the day at 3:30. Breakfast didn't start until 8, and we were waiting at the door at 7:55. So much coffee was consumed by Tim and me that morning. Breakfast at the restaurant next door was included with our stay at the Westpac Lodge on Camp Foster, and we were really happy for that.

Waking up at 3:30 was acceptable for the first morning, but not for the second. Every time Joey woke up in the wee hours I'd tell him it was still nighttime, he had to lie back down. He was very sad. At 6 a.m. I opened the shade and took him out of his crib over to the window so he could watch the sunrise. I hoped this would help reset his little clock.

One of the people who had picked us up the day before, had us over to his house out in town. We met his wife and kids and walked to the seawall and ate dinner at a pizza place. I did not go all the way to Japan to eat pizza, but it was delicious. And now I know where to go if I'm ever in the mood for pizza. People were scuba diving right off of these rocks while we were there. It is a scuba and snorkeling paradise from what we hear, and that (the snorkeling at least) is something I'd love to try.

Tim went to the housing brief that Monday, and within a day secured us a house on base in a great location convenient for his work and where friends of ours lived. I was ecstatic. We went out for sushi with those friends and their two kids soon after. There was a lot more food there than we expected to get. We tried valiantly, but we could not finish it all. Delaney could not believe the size of her rainbow roll, but she ate every last bit.

I took the kids to the pool on base one day, I forget which. I told you it was a blur. The rule at this pool was that you couldn't be out of arm's reach of a parent if you hadn't passed the swim test. Delaney and Timmy were ordered out of the pool because I wasn't in with them. The girls were not keen on taking the swim test here even though they had passed it on Parris Island (I made sure to mention that they had passed the test at a Marine Corps Community Services -- MCCS -- pool. That didn't help.). Timmy eagerly volunteered to take the test even though he had failed at PI, and once they saw him pass, the girls took theirs too. Triumph!

Tim and I passed our SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) driving tests on that first Tuesday and Wednesday. We bought a Nissan El Grande from someone on Facebook, and Tim christened it "Rank", for Rachael's Tank. He says we are definitely getting a Suburban after this. I keep telling him it's not anywhere as long or wide as a Suburban. It's really just tall. I wouldn't want to take a turn too fast in this thing, although as slow as traffic moves around here, that would probably never happen.

Last weekend we were invited to a birthday party in our neighborhood-to-be, and it was fun to meet more of our neighbors.

So many people recommended Coco's Curry House that I decided we had to try it a few nights ago. When we drove up we were surprised to see that it was a fast food place, basically. Tim and I are kind of food snobs who avoid fast food, but it was Japanese fast food at least. The curry was alright; I've heard it's an acquired taste. But for as short of a time as we're going to be here, as seldom as we go out to eat once we're in our normal routines, and as many different places as there are to try, I don't see us making our way back there. If we get curry again, we want it to be at a local place that looks like a complete dive. Oh, and is full of Japanese people, not Americans.

I had to change Joey before we left, and the single stall bathroom had a nice changing table that even had a cushion for his head. The toilet had so many buttons you'd need a pilot's license to use it. 

Um.. I think I'll wait till I get home.

I have no words.

We moved into our house this past Wednesday, after giving the housing people a chance to fix the air conditioning, clean it up and fill it with government loaner furnishings. Our express shipment arrived first thing in the morning which was wonderful, given that the window they gave us was between 8 and 5. Tim took the boys to the commissary while Delaney, Annie and I unpacked and put everything away. It is so nice to have a home again, if only for a few months!

Tacos.. and coffee? Tim says they'd better have good bathrooms there. It's right down the street, maybe we should try it.

Sign at the beach across the highway from our neighborhood. Swimming prohibited during swimming hours -- got it!

The kids start school Monday, Tim's first real day of work is on Monday, and he'll be traveling a lot in the coming weeks. I'm hoping to find a good routine myself, and get more comfortable with driving around. Driving on the left side of the road is still weird and some of the lights are not what I'm used to at all. But it's going to be no fun if I stay at home all the time. So wish me luck.