Driving in Japan

I took my driver's class to earn my Japanese Driver's License. I learned some differences about driving in Japan:
- Narrow roads
- Slower speed limits
- No shoulders
- Deep ditches
- Concrete poles along the roadways
- Minimal signage (and all in Japanese of course!)
- No street lights
- Drive on the left side of the road
The last is the biggest difference as I now do everything opposite even turn my head the opposite way as I back up and use my right hand to put the blinker on.  Josh has had my start driving on base first and I only one time went into the right lane.  Watch out Japan, here I come!

Japanese language on the signage.  This sign is on base.  Off base there is no English translation

Top is a stop sign.  This one is strange to me as it looks like a yield.  Good thing it is red.

Exploring Misawa

Josh took us outside of base on our second day in Misawa.  Right away I could tell I was not in the US.  The roads are narrow, the signage is all in Japanese, the architecture is different, the bushes are manicured in the houses, and the cars are different.  We went to Universe, a Japanese grocery store.  We could not read a single label and we had fun guessing at what to buy for lunch.  We did a pretty good job and the food was tasty!

Universe Market food

Josh took us to Homac, a store like Walmart, and then it was out to Miss Veedo Beach to see the memorial of the first Transpacific flight made by two American Pilots.  This is a big deal in Misawa and many of the street signs have the plane pictured.  I loved to see the ocean.  I love the sounds, the smells, and the feel of the moisture on my skin.  It was a foggy and chilly day but the kids had no trouble collecting shells on the beach.

Miss Veedo Memorial

The concrete slabs are used slow the riptide

We ate dinner at Kappa Sushi where no one spoke English but it did not matter as we ordered on a touch screen and all the sushi came around to the tables on a conveyor belt.  When we did make a touch screen order, the food was brought out on a tiny train.  The kids were thrilled to see the food go around and hear the train as it traveled from table to table.  I think this will be a favorite restaurant just for it's novelty.  So, we had a taste of Japan today. I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I will be living in this beautiful place for three years.

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

From Nellis to SLC, awaiting Misawa

I find myself in a unique time while I wait to join Josh in Misawa.  We decided that we wanted to wrap up things in Las Vegas and visit family in Salt Lake before the kids and I flew out.  Bear and Bub needed to finish school, we needed to hold a birthday party for Bub so he could spend the day with good Las Vegas friends, and Bear and Bub had a dance recital that they had been preparing for all year.  It is important to do these things for our closure on this Nellis chapter of our lives.  We were grateful to spend lots of time with family and good friends both in Las Vegas and Salt Lake.

Turner Cousins on Las Vegas get away.  We did not have to go far to attend the party!

Special Great Grandparents- Grandma Marr and Grandpa Earl

Bear Lake get away with family

The hard thing about waiting to join Josh is the disconnect I feel with him and the world that he is currently experiencing.   I do not know how to picture him there as it is foreign to me.  I do not know where I fit as we do not currently live anywhere.  I do not particularly enjoy saying my goodbyes to our precious family and friends on my own.  Saying that, I realize that Josh did not get a change to say goodbye to most people as he left straight from Las Vegas.  So, I have decided that most of these things are out of my control and all I can do is enjoy my kids, enjoy our family, and enjoy our friends.  This is a unique and precious time.

The Long Flight to Misawa

Josh has now arrived in Misawa but it took him six days to get there when it should have just taken him two.  

Day 1-

We dropped him off at the airport in Las Vegas with no hitches or worries. Little did we know that this would be the only smooth portion of the trip. He arrived in Seattle at 10:30pm and went up to the USO to check in and take a shower and get some rest. 

Day 2-

Josh went down stairs at 1:45am to wait in line for the 2:30am check in. He turned in a copy of his orders and checked his bags and then it was waiting until 8:30am to board.  The plane was scheduled for an on time departure and had pulled back from the gate when the pilot came on the overhead speaker and said that an indicator light had come on.  All the passengers needed to get off the plane so the crew could look at it. They thought it would be an easy fix and should be back on schedule in about an hour. They were boarded a second time and pulled away from the ramp and taxied toward the runway but stopped short and sat for a while. This was about 1:00PM in the afternoon. The pilot came back on the radio and said that the issue was not resolved and they could not fly at all and the flight would be cancelled that day. Josh was instructed to pick up my bags and we would be given further instructions at the baggage claim. The bags arrived after about 45 min of waiting. The airline said we would be given a travel voucher that would cover food and a hotel.  They were told to report back at 2:30am to check back in. 

Day 3- 

Josh checked and was told the flight was delayed until around 1:30pm. He hung around the terminal until 1:00pm when they were told that the flight was not going to be going that day and they should go back to the hotel. They were told that a second aircraft was being flown in because the first one was not going to be fixed that next day. 

Day 4-

Josh checked in at 6:30am.  The new plane arrived and everything was looking good. Then the Airline rep announced that during the pre-flight inspection of the new jet, a fuel leak had been discovered and the flight was cancelled. Yes, two airplanes stuck on the ground and back to the hotel Josh went. This time without his bags because they were checked and the airline was not going to release them.

Day 5-

Josh was told to check in at 4:30am.  About 45 min before loading the plane they were told that the flight was not happening and they should go to the baggage claim to get their stuff. The long processional of tired travelers shuffled to get bags and another voucher for the hotel because they had cleared the rooms. At that time they were told that the hotel was not available and they might be stuck in the airport. That made people angry but the airport staff called and found rooms for everyone. Some of the younger airmen doubled in rooms for the night but Josh was able to get a room on my own. They were told to check back in at 6:00am the next day. 

Day 6-

After a good night sleep and the beginning of stomach issues Josh made it to the airport. As the departure time of 1:30pm grew closer people become more nervous. At 12:30pm, a functioning aircraft pulled up to the gate but they were still not convinced because they had seen this before. Then the call for strollers and other large items was made. The air started to become electric as we may just get out of our current state in a few moments. Then the call for families was made and people became even more excited. Soon they were seats but still not totally relaxed because they had been here twice before. The pilot came on and said that we had been cleared for takeoff- 9hr and 30 min. of flight time. They were given two hot meals and encouraged to walk up and down the rows when the ride was smooth. The land of the rising sun was finally in view and it was GREEN- no brown or dirt, just tall green trees with real grass and humidity. 

Since his arrival, Josh has worked fast.  He has gotten our house, a car, some yen, and new phones as Japan has it's own carriers.  He should have everything all set up for us when our arrival time comes.

Enjoying our time time in Las Vegas while Josh is working hard in Japan.  With our cousins, the Berger's, at the Bellagio Gardens.

 

The Business of moving to Misawa

Day 1- Long Term Storage
The movers came to pack up our things that are going to be sent to Long Term Storage and loaded them on the van.  These are items that we want but that we are afraid we will not have room or use for in Japan.  We sent things like our photo albums and scrapbooks, my hope chest, my decorative dolls, our fine china, and the piano.  We will need a piano in Japan so we will just have to buy a keyboard.  It is a lot more expensive to rent a storage unit in Japan but it does make me a little nervous that we will not see any of these precious items for at least three years. 

Day 2- Household Goods
To prepare for the movers, we set up a “Safe zone” in our kitchen. It is a blue taped area that holds all of the items we will take to the temporary living facility, that we need for school, ballet and yoga, and that we will take on the plane.  We also have placed all the unaccompanied baggage into our playroom.  They will be picked up on Day 3. These items arrive to Japan faster and they consist of our clothes, pro gear, kitchen necessities, and toys for the kids.  All of this has taken a lot of prep and a lot of Zip Lock bags (for little items) but I think it will pay off on the flip side.
The movers came and worked fast.  They both boxed and loaded and filled three storage crates.  I have begun leaving “an offering”, as I call it, on the front porch of the items that the movers will not take.  I have left cleaning supplies, food stuffs, kitchen items, lawn care, and car care items out.  Then I post on the Nellis Wives Face Book page and watch people come with wagons to haul the stuff away. It is quite amusing to me. 

Day 3- Household Goods, Unaccompanied Baggage, Temporary Living Facility
The movers are going along well and we have been happy with the fact that they pack the boxes and then load them into the van. This did not happen in Springville and it seems to be a more organized and efficient way of loading.  They took the Unaccompanied Baggage today.  We sorted the kitchen items that we wanted onto the table so they could easily box them and the playroom was full of the rest of the items- toys for the kids, pro gear, our clothing.  At the end of the day, the only things left to pack in the house were the remaining kitchen items and the coat closet. 
We were able to move into the Temporary Living Facility a day earlier than we expected.  We are on the same side of base as our housing so I will just drive the kids to the bus stop in the mornings.  The TLF is roomy enough with laundry facilities, kitchenette, internet, and cable.  Bear was thrilled to have her own little bedroom as the TLF has three.  I told her to soak it up because that will not be the arrangement in Japan.  It was surreal to leave our house and drive down the street to another living arrangement.  I am starting to feel melancholy.  I am starting to say goodbye to people as my yoga classes whittle down and the school year starts to end.  

Day 4- Household Goods, Cleaning Day
The movers took the last of the items and drove the truck away.  All of our memories and belongings are spread between three shipments now and we hope to see them again in time.  We went to the house to say goodbye and reminisce on some of our favorite things about the house and Nellis.  I will miss hearing the kids laughing out on the trampoline.  I will miss watching the kids dance in the living room.  I will miss teaching ballet to the neighborhood kids.  I will deeply miss our across the street neighbors and best friends, the Bloom’s.  I wish there was a way to know what I would have been attached to when we first moved in two years ago.  Then I would have held on to those precious things and savored every moment.  

Bucket List Spring Break 2016

This year for Spring Break we decided to have a little Staycation, check off lots of things on our bucket list before we go to Misawa.  Las Vegas has a lot of fun to offer and there will definitely be things that we will miss.

Yoga at Valley of Fire State Park

After almost two years of living here, we finally took a photo op in front of the famous sign.

Towne Square Train

Flip N Out Xtreme

Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur

Cheesy fountain show at the Forum shops

Luxor Hotel stay

We enjoy traveling to the National Parks to take advantage of the free Military entrance.  We went to Joshua Tree National Park and then stayed at 29 Palms, the Marine Base.  It was very nice. We stayed at the Sleepy Turtle Inn and explored the base.  It was a quiet Friday night there but Josh spent some time at the Officer's Club and we checked out the BX and the Commissary.  Surprise, they look pretty much like ours!

Skull Rock at Joshua Tree National Park

 We drove back to Las Vegas through the Mojave Desert National Preserve.  We have really come to appreciate the desert landscape during our two years in Las Vegas.

Scaling the rings at Hole in the Wall, Mojave