We find ourselves in Misawa

We started our journey to Misawa in Salt Lake and flew to Seattle.  We arrived in time to get some dinner and go to bed as we were required to return to the airport between 2:30am-5:30am. We were sleepy as we arrived at the gate at 4:30am.  Then it was waiting until 7:30am to load the plane.  I had given the kids new Kindles as we had a long haul in front of us and I anticipate other long flights as we return to the states or travel abroad.  Unlike Josh, we had no problems loading and taking off.  I urged the kids to sleep and Pants was the only one who took me up on it. Bear and Bub spent the whole nine hour flight on their tablets.  The blessing and curse of technology!  We were given two meals on the plane, lunch and dinner, and that helped to pass the time and break the monotony.

We arrived in Misawa at 10:00am so we had skipped Sunday night and moved on to Monday morning. The customs officer inspected the plane first and then we were allowed to unload, collect our bags, and fill out the customs form.  We could see Josh but were not able to go to him until we had passed customs.  It was definitely a happy reunion.  Josh had flowers for me and we had hugs and kisses for him.

Our Japanese Porch

 Josh then played tour guide for us.  There were some advantages of him arriving before we did.  He had a car and our house and he knew some of things that we might want to see like: the library, the Potter Fitness Center where I will be teaching yoga, the school, the Mokuteki Community Center, the North fitness Center and North side of base housing, the 8 mile running track around the base, the post office with our PO Box, the BX (home of Baskin Robbins, yay!), where to get yen, the Weasel's Den (large indoor playground and track), ITT, Outdoor Recreation, the Youth Center, and Airmen Family Readiness Center.  We also saw the base beach at the Lake Ogawara.  There is so much to do on base!  This is very different from Nellis in that Nellis is right in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world.  Since we are out of the country, the base provides all the entertainment since outside the gates it is Japan.  The base commander has the goal to make Misawa the base of choice for the pacific air force.  We did sign up for a Japanese language class to help us get around outside.  I was struck by how green the base is.  The drive around to the North side is really beautiful and lush.  I am no longer in the desert!

Weasel's Den playground