Variety of Peculiar Items

Friday night we went out to dinner at a Korean BBQ. I wasn't sure if i was going to be able to handle the meal after i head read the menu and saw some rumen, abdomen, and tongue were all listed. But we ended up getting a set where we could sub out the tongue and rumen for some other pieces, so i was safe, until the pickled raw beef came with the raw egg on top of it. I did manage to try a few pieces and it was actually not too bad. It came with a salad and some soup and then the main dish was a bunch of raw meat. There is a grill in the middle of the table and you take your meat and cook it to how you want. There also was some sausages that came with the side but i wasn't very fond of that. Overall, it was surprisingly good. Top picture is the view from our house that looks out into the China Sea.

Today, we got all of our snorkeling gear and headed out to the Kadena Marina. We planned on going out to this island that is a little ways off of the shore, but you have to swim across this deep part of water before it gets shallow. So i swam out a couple times into the deep to get used to the feeling of not being able to see the bottom and then we all started to head over. Not even a quarter of the way there, i thought i saw a jellyfish and ended up paddling back into the shallows. Turns out to be some algae type stuff (I made my dad go look at it). So next we decided to try again, this time holding hands (because I'm a little afraid of the water). Turns out those pictures of 'the dangers of the seas' really work on me, a little too much. Hopefully I'll get my courage up a bit soon, it is all new to me. We did make it out to the island and swam around a little bit to look at some fish and what not. There was a school of fish that kept jumping out of the water, because there was a bigger fish trying to each them. We ended up in the middle of that school and they were running into us and jumping on us. Tomorrow we are planning to just go swimming at a beach and have a picnic, stay tuned.The picture is of me and my outfit.

*At the restaurant they had piles of salt in little dishes outside of their building. This isn't uncommon at all, they are to believe it helps keep away the evil spirits. They are very superstitious and have many different things that they hang up to keep away spirits. If there is a car accident someone sprinkles salt around the area. Also, this is commonly seen in sumo wrestlers before they get into the ring they sprinkle salt. Many have dream catcher like items which they hang off their rear view mirror.

Finally I'm In

I finally have got put into the system at the hospital so now i could do my health/physical to do my volunteering. So after 6 hours of being at the hospital finishing up my classes and getting my health work started I'm finally closer to getting my department assignment. I had to get my titers done to make sure i actually have the antibodies for the shots i already have received. It is kind of a relief getting that part done. We went looking for a fellow to talk to and couldn't find his office and ended up running into another man that was actually the one we needed to speak to about the health system and he helped me get into the system, as it seemed to be no big deal to him. Which then the lady in the records office made it seem like it was as piece of cake too. I think I'm done with the computer training things too hopefully. I don't know what else they can teach me about because they had covered everything from voting to hand washing.

We are still trying to unpack all of our boxes and finding room for everything that is here. Luckily nothing was broken or damaged.

*The cars and especially the larger hauling trucks all have curtains in them, not only on the sides but they tend to have one that goes across the windshield that has fringe and scalloped edges. Many people have curtains too that can unroll on their window so that it protects them from the sun a bit, but i don't understand how they can see the traffic with the curtain closed. Also, the taxi cabs have white lace covering on their seats and they are able to open the doors from the driver seat.

Familiar Looking Stuff

We finally got our house stuff delivered. After sleeping on a half deflated twin mattress I'm definitely ready for my queen size bed. The movers got here bright and early and started unloading the truck. My dad checked off what stuff arrived and i was to look for damages and tell them where to put it. And then in a couple of hours everything was inside and most everything assembled. After they left we had to unpack all of the boxes, which they are still not all undone, but it was sort of like Christmas, you pick a box and then start unwrapping the many layers of newsprint and then you are surprised with what you got and then you have to put it away somewhere, or what i did was just put it on the counters and had some one figure out what to do with it. It is more like home now that we have familiar looking items in it.

Monday i went to commander's orientation for way to long. Pretty much consisted of presentation after presentation sitting on hard pews. After we were done I swore my butt was broken, and couldn't sit for the rest of the night. But i got another training crossed off my volunteer list and now have 2 more. We went to look at tropical beach to check and see the water level when it is low tide to see if we would be able to swim still. We also went the 100 yen store and looked around there. It is kind of like a dollar store basically where stuff isn't actually a dollar but a little more. They had lots of stuff in it and didn't quite get done looking at everything before i decided i was super tired.

*On the Japan roads, you never go right away when the light turns green because there seems to be a common law of at least three cars can go through the red and not get in trouble. However, Americans don't try it because they are more at ease in pulling them over. Also, if you get into an accident you get in huge trouble and they tend to happen quite frequently.

Dancing, Eating, Snorkeling, what more can you ask for?

Saturday night we headed out to the Flightline Fair that the MCCS was putting on. It was out on Futema, and they closed down the runway and that is where it took place. They had lots of different types of food there and a variety of entertainment. I some yakitori, which is basically marinated chicken on a skewer, some octopus, which was cooked in a hush puppy type texture, and an egg and fish dish. It was all very tastey as well. The entertainment varied from some Mexican dancers who did a variety of Mexican type dances. Their costumes were very beautiful and flowing. So we watched them for a while trying to stay out of the sun.



Next was the Eisa dancers which is pictured. They have giant festivals with this type of music and movements they do. Then we ended up watching a hip hop dance group which consisted of mostly girls and some little kids whom were very good. It was really entertaining and how they all performed so well. Finally, we listened to part of a band from the Philippines, they sang mostly cover songs of popular bands, but they did have very beautiful voices. Then we went home and passed out, because the sun just zaps every ounce of energy you might have had stored up.

Sunday, we got up and went down to the Awase fish market again and picked out a Mauhi Mauhi and they fillet it all up and got it ready for us. Which is what we are having for dinner tonight. We then got some groceries and cleaned the rental furniture because they are picking it up tomorrow and our house goods will be here on Tuesday. Wanting to try out our snorkel gear we gathered it and headed out to the marina for a few hours this evening. It was really eerie at first but i adjusted. I'm still a little scared of actually being able to see, first i wanted to be able to see what my feet were touching, and now I'm not to sure i actually want to see what is down there. I'm sure I'll get a little better over time, and we have already planned for our next trip. Tomorrow I have all day training at the hospital which will probably suck the life out of me.

Now I'm Ready

Last night we went to a home store called The Grace and MaxPlus, they had some very futuristic looking storage and home devices there. It is one of my new favorite stores, I have a list of stuff that I would like from there. The place is similar to Bed Bath and Beyond but has twice as many items. Also, earlier I went to a Ramayan, which is a little furniture/gift/clothing store. So I had to buy a couple of skirts, but their fabrics and curtains there are very beautiful and I have a couple picked out as well. Then that evening we went to this Chinese restaurant, it was very very delicious. We were basically the only ones there along with a few locals that were at the bar. The owner was very talkative and new English and was sharing many stories with us, which i guess they were comical so i just chuckled with him. I could mostly understand him but he couldn't say his th's and they sounded like z's. Overall, it was very good and he even came to the door when we were leaving and was waving as we left, like we had known him for years, I found it kind of comical.

This morning we got up at 630am and went to the Kadena Marina and bought the rest of our snorkel gear. So I got the fins, a vest, and a snorkel. I also got a rash guard shirt and later we are going shopping for maybe some longer pants that I could wear in the water for protection since it is box jellyfish season. Tomorrow we are going to try it all out and make sure it works for us.

Continual Headache

I went to one of my many to come hospital orientations to figure out where i want to volunteer at and start doing my computer training classes. Today was a surprise I made it home alive. First, I was told to get to the Red Cross office at the hospital at around 9 because she would be coming in early today to help me out, turns out she didn't actually make it there 'til 9:40. But once she got there me and this other lady went done to get a computer; however, all of the computers were filled and they were busy doing a conference training. So that failed, so then I had to go up and talk about places I want to work in, which is basically anything for me, so my choices now are special care unit, family medicine, ER, and sports medicine. They all interest me and i wouldn't mind getting some skills in all of them. But that still is in the air of what i want to do and the red cross lady is checking some options for me. So with that going on I went to sign up for yet another orientation on Monday which is only offered once a month; however, you need to complete this computer training first, and which the red cross lady doesn't work on Fridays.

I went back down to check out the computer lab and low and behold there was two computers open, so i jumped on one and started with the training. Next door was some sort of party going on so trying to concentrate and take the tests was a bit tricky, until they told us we had to leave and come back in an hour. So then we went back up to the office and the lady wasn't there, she had taken lunch, so we just sat there. Finally 45 minutes later she appeared and we got the computer thing figured out. And 2 hours later I had figured out how to use the printer, and finished the class so now i'm able to do the training on Monday. I ended up walking home, and not getting lost, and had a giant headache. The picture is the gate to where we live and the hospital in the background.

After my dad got home we went down to a Sunset beach. It had a pretty big swimming area so we went swimming for a while and soaked in the warm waters. There was some sort of event going on near by do to all of the chanting and shouting. Tomorrow i'm going to go do some shopping at this Asian store, hopefully get some neat fabric skirts.

Jobs and me

Well the job situation was not looking so good for me over here, despite to what they had previous told me in that i would be able to find something for my hours was not necessarily true. Turns out there are a few hidden details and what not that makes me not able to apply for most jobs unless i want to work at a concession stand or be a cashier, which there are many openings if anyone is interested. Unfortunately these jobs do not satisfy the schooling requirement I am here to reach. But today looked a little more positive in that i went to the Red Cross orientation to become a volunteer and they are finding a way that i will be able to get into the hospital system and be eligible to volunteer. Tomorrow I have to set up an appointment to meet with the hospital chairman to figure out what I want to do. So until all the finer details come through I am going to start getting all of my orientation done. Also, i finally got all the paperwork in to apply for my school job, so i'm waiting to hear from them.

*Japanese people love this game called Pachinko. It is EVERYWHERE too. and not just in small buildings but in these large 3-4 story buildings. Pachinko from what i take is similar to Plinko on the price is right. My dad says he doesn't really know what they win, either money or they have it for kids too. Also, they are starting to reroof our house and the workmen just came with the scaffolding and soon the burning tar smell will be wafting in through the windows. Haven't gone swimming again since the weekend but hoping to again this week.

Snorkeling Here I Come

We got our snorkel gear today, well some of it. The booties and the mask as of now and then we are going to get the fins and snorkel this weekend when they go on sale. Also, I looked into getting an underwater camera today too so hopefully you may be seeing some pictures of fish and my findings.

Next we went to Cape Zapa since it was nearby and looked around there. There was a lighthouse and a point that you could walk around, which was covered with lava rock like most of the island. I bought an ice cream, which I still don't know what the actual flavor was i just know part of it was vanilla and the other part purple, but it was tastey. At the area they have a giant Shisa dog, which is a statue that you will see a lot around here. The Shisa dogs come in pairs, one having an open mouth and the other with a closed mouth. They are said to keep away evil spirits, open mouth one allows the evils to enter and the closed mouth keeps the evils in.

I am currently applying for a civilian job with a school here which basically is a school nurse. It is a pain to apply for these jobs because there is so much papers and questions and if you dont have the numbers on your resume or paperwork, they can throw it out. So hopefully it will go through since my other options have been ruled out because i'm not physically on my dad's orders. I still am looking at the Red Cross and there are some other options for me if they open up or are posted.

The North

Today we ventured off to the Northern part of Okinawa called Cape Hedo, which is the northern most point of the island where the Pacific Ocean and China Sea meet. The water is so clear and blue every where you go you just want to jump in. You can look down from above and see the colors of the fish swimming below. I also had my first encounter with the toilets in the floor; however, i was able to open every stall until low and behold there was but one normal toilet.

After we milled around up at Cape Hedo, we went down to Okuna, which is where there is a military beach resort area there. So we ate lunch and got into the water. It was so warm and comfortable, and I discovered I CAN FLOAT! It is the first time i've ever been able to so i was very pleased. After a nice sunburn and a long soak in the water we headed home to relax.

The South

Wednesday we went to get my SOFA status finalized with immigration, which all seemed way to easy, but now I have the stamp that says I can stay here longer than 90 days. So after that we decided to make a drive down to the southern part of Okinawa. We drove down along the coast and out to this little island. There was a bunch of fishing boats in this area and long strings of barbed wire where there was cut open squids that were left there to dry. They make a sort of jerky out of it.

Then we continued on to Ryukyu Glass Village, which is a place where they make a lot of glass and pottery. it was really pretty, some of the pieces that were in the gallery where amazing in the size and detail of the pieces, but it was all pretty expensive, however, you can buy these pieces all over the place here. There is also a store in the PX on Camp Foster. The building was very colorful in that the covering was pieces of glass tiles as well as the light fixtures in the stores. They also had a place where you could buy a ticket and blow your own glass piece.
Yesterday, my dad and I went to the Aosse Fish Market. When you go in you grab a tray and then go and grab which fish you want. Which you have no idea what each of the fish are because it is all in Japanese. Then you take it to the counter and they weigh the whole thing and then fillet it or fix it for you. They have a variety of different types of tools which all do a different type of cleaning of the fish. I found it comical watching some of the older mama-sans carrying around these large fish by the tail, and they are all so serious in getting what they need, my dad had advised me to watch out for them or else they will push you out of the way. We ate it last night and it turned out to be sea bass which I actually liked.

So these are pictures of the view out of my window. We live up on a hill and look over to the China Sea. The black van and the white cube are ours. Everyone drives little cars because some of the roads get really skinny all of a sudden and people just pull over to park where ever they feel like it. Also, there are vending machines EVERYWHERE, and they also serve hot drinks out of them as well as cold. So far my favorite drink is a passion fruit drink where you scrape out the center of the fruit and put it with water and some sugar syrup. It is very refreshing. There are also TONS of ants here and I finally just saw the geko that lives in our house. I am starting the job looking process today and we'll see how that goes. Wish me lots of luck.

Made It!!

Well everyone, I'm happy to say that I've finally arrived here to Japan. It was a really long flight time but it all kind of seemed like a dream and I don't know what I was really doing for the past 18 hours plus some. But got here and I got all my passes completed and my SOFA status is on its way so I will be legal to work. My parents drove me around the city today and got to see a lot of interesting places. It all seems to appear in a cartoonish way, from their cars to their buildings. Went to the Kadena Marine and looked at the beach area and the water, which I saw lots of different fish from the dock. It was very interesting to watch. Also, we went to a grocery store and a store similar to a Walmart, where there is lots of random stuff which is very pricey and chincy. It is confusing for me to be driving on the other side of the road but as long as i'm not driving i think we are all safer.

And I'm Off!

So I'm about ready to begin my adventure, although it is for only a year, it is a lot harder than I thought. I finally have all of my bags mostly packed, and let me tell you that only being able to fit all your stuff into two bags and under 50lbs is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'm not looking forward to the long, long flight but when I arrive I will be seeing some familiar faces. I'm very excited about getting my experience in, which I will be starting with the Red Cross, although there is a job that fits everything I need to do for some health care experience but the description closes a few days after I get there so hopefully I can get all of my paperwork and get my app in. I'm really excited and can't wait, will let you know when I get there.